Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum: GST and strategic planning: AWCF holds back-to-back training

Different co-ops in the Philippines sent a total of 29 participants to the first-ever open invitation training conducted by the Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) on gender sensitivity and on strategic planning for co-operatives. The training was held January 27-29, 2013 in Supreme Hotel, Baguio City, Philippines. AWCF is a resource center and advocacy body on gender and co-operatives, with members in six Asian countries.

The “Gender-Sensitivity Training (GST) for Co-op Staff” had 19 participants, and the “Seminar on Strategic Planning Skills for Co-op Board of Directors and Managers” had 10 participants.

Training objectives
AWCF conducts the GST as a way of promoting gender equality (GE) among Philippine co-ops, particularly in their training and education program, policies, and systems. In the Philippines, the “Rules and Regulations Implementing Certain Provisions of the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008,” specifically Section 5 (“Components and Social Audit Indicators”) of Rule 11, also requires co-op organizations to show activities and programs on their contribution to the promotion of gender-fair culture and practices.

Meanwhile, AWCF offers the strategic planning skills seminar to equip board officers and managers with skills, knowledge, and attitude needed in doing strategic planning for their co-ops. The conduct of this seminar is part of AWCF’s thrust of helping co-ops set their direction toward providing relevant programs and services that will improve members’ socio-economic condition. In conducting this seminar, AWCF integrates the gender perspective that is aimed at further enhancing co-op leaders’ skills in performing strategic planning.

Participants
The AWCF training was attended by Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Cooperative, Barangka Credit Cooperative, Cagayan Valley Development Cooperative, Coliling Cooperative, Cooperative Bank of Cagayan, Cooperative Bank of Nueva Vizcaya, Creative Cooperative, Diffun Saranay and Development Cooperative, La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post MPC, Metro Paypayad Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC), Mother Rita MPC, MSU-IIT MPC, NIA R1 MPC, Provincial Cooperative Office of Aurora Province, and Sacred Heart Savings Cooperative.

Facilitators
The GST was facilitated by AWCF’s Ms Maria Theresa M. Saliendra, Finance and Administrative Coordinator; Mr. Ranie B. Catimbang, Project Assistant; and Ms Dewi Nova Wahyuni, Business Development Officer (AWCF-Fredskorpset [FK] Norway Exchange Project participant). The strategic planning skills seminar was handled by Ms Salome A. Ganibe, AWCF Executive Director; and AWCF consultants Ms Merlene Q. Flores and Ms Wilma A. Ganibe.

As a training provider in the Philippines accredited by the country’s Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), AWCF will conduct more training to help co-ops in their objective of further developing themselves.