Attention Philippine co-ops!

Philippine co-operatives, join this first-ever and important National Summit. Experience why gender and development/gender equality is good for co-op growth and the empowerment of women and men members. Download the Summit brochure/invitation now!

Philippine co-ops hold summit on gender and development

The Philippines's “National Summit on Gender and Development (GAD) in Co-ops,” themed "Inspiring Change for Women and Men in Co-ops,” will happen on March 25-26, 2014, Subic Bay, PH. 

This is the first time that the country's co-ops will hold a summit to tackle gender GAD. Participants in the Summit will get informed of GAD's important role in co-op growth and development, and how co-ops can meet the requirements of the memorandum circular on GAD mainstreaming in co-ops. The memorandum circular was issued in November 2013 by the PH government's Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). 

The national GAD Summit is being organized by the Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) at CDA. Get more details from coopwomen.org and cda.gov.ph, or send an e-mail to gadsummit@coopwomen.org 

The Summit brochure/invitation is available here

Philippines holds national summit on gender and development in co-ops

Announcing: The National Summit on Gender and Development (GAD) in Co-ops, themed Inspiring Change for Women and Men in Co-ops
WHEN: March 25-26, 2014
WHERE: Subic Bay Travelers Hotel and Event Center, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines.
This National Summit for Philippine co-operatives is the first of its kind to be held in the country.  

http://coopwomen.org/downloads/summitbroch21k_upload_final.pdf (downloadable Summit brochure/invitation)

•    Summit Participants: Co-operators who want to enable change and make change work for the continuous development of Philippine co-operatives—Board of Directors; General Managers/Chief Executive Officers; Gender Focal Persons; Human Resource Officers; and Education Committee members.
 
•    Summit Organizers: Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)
AWCF (www.coopwomen.org) is a resource center and advocacy body on gender and co-op development. Since 1990, AWCF’s activities in the Philippines and five other Asian countries have aimed at helping support co-operative growth through the advocacy and practice of GE in co-ops. 

CDA (www.cda.gov.ph) is the lead Philippine government agency tasked for co-op development. As a government body, it is mandated to practice gender equality (GE) tenets and, furthermore, it actually believes that GE is good for co-ops’ growth. With this belief, CDA actively implements activities to help bring GE to the consciousness, operations, and systems of co-ops.

•    Summit Objectives:
To let the participants—
1)    Know the importance of gender and development (GAD) that leads to the integration of GE in co-ops and, ultimately, to greater co-op growth and development—economically and socially.
2)    Know how co-ops can comply with the requirements of Memorandum Circular (MC) 2013-22, pertaining to “Guidelines on Mainstreaming GAD in Cooperatives.” On November 18, 2013, CDA issued MC 2013-22 that aims at disseminating to the co-op sector the GAD mandate of the Philippine government so as to ensure the promotion of GE and the institutionalization of GAD in policies, programs, and other activities in co-ops.
3)    Be inspired by the sharing in the Summit by key organizations and resource persons, and join other co-ops in helping other co-ops nationwide in becoming even better and stronger co-ops.

•    The holding of the National Summit on GAD in Co-ops comes at an opportune time:
The Summit comes on the heels of CDA’s issuance of MC 2013-22 (Guidelines on Mainstreaming GAD in Cooperatives). The MC is a solid action of CDA for its GAD mandate as a government agency, aside from its already ongoing GAD activities in its Central and regional offices. The MC is also CDA’s positive response to a Call for Action issued in December 2012 to CDA by gender-fair Philippine co-operatives.
These gender-fair co-ops had urged CDA to support GE mainstreaming and integration in the co-ops to bring about even greater economic and social benefits to the movement. Setting themselves as examples, these gender-fair co-ops had put forward that co-ops practicing GE—
1) recognize that women and men have equal rights, benefits, opportunities for advancement, services, and access to and control over resources; and have equal roles to play in development as participants and as leaders; and
2) know GE’s important contribution in enabling co-ops to perform their dual economic and social role in development.
Gender-fair co-ops are gender-fair workplaces. Gender-fair co-ops enjoy even more economic and social benefits that GE brings forth to co-ops and their members.

The Summit is also being held during the celebration of “Women’s Month.”

For inquiries on the GAD National Summit, please contact (mobile) 0917-8436390 (Globe) or 0922-4685546 (Sun); (landline) (02) 438-7666 (Philippines).
Interested Philippine co-ops, hurry and register now! The two-page National Summit brochure/invitation is available for downloading and printing on the link below.

Click here to download the "National Summit on GAD in Co-ops" brochure/invitation

CDA and AWCF establish partnership for gender-fair, progressive Philippine co-ops

CDA and AWCF representatives on hand to witness the signing of the organizations' partnership agreement.

CDA Chairperson E. Santiaguel and AWCF Executive Director S. Ganibe lead their organizations in signing their partnership agreement for gender equality advocacy in Philippine co-ops. Looking on is CDA Board of Administrators member Ms M. Castillo.

The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) of the Philippine government and the Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) had forged a  Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) beginning mid-2013 for their partnership in gender and development (GAD) efforts in Philippine co-ops. AWCF is an Asian resource center and advocacy body on gender and co-op development, with its Secretariat based in the Philippines.

The MOA was recently signed by CDA Chairperson Mr. Emmanuel Santiaguel and AWCF Executive Director Ms Salome Ganibe at the CDA Central Office in Quezon City, Philippines. Ms Mercedes Castillo, one of CDA’s Board of Administrators (BOA), and other CDA and AWCF representatives witnessed the signing.

The MOA between CDA and AWCF is expected to boost the two agencies’ thrusts in promoting and institutionalizing GAD that will lead to having gender-fair co-operatives.

CDA and gender equality
Republic Act (RA) 6939 of the Philippines tasks CDA to formulate, adopt, and implement integrated and comprehensive plans and programs on co-op development, consistent with the national policy on co-ops and the overall socio-economic development plans of the country. CDA is also mandated to promote the viability and growth of co-ops as instruments of equity, social justice, and sustainable economic development.

As a government agency, CDA is duty-bound to implement Executive Order (EO) 273, which pertains to the “Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development.” CDA has been actively implementing activities to help bring GAD and gender equality (GE) to the consciousness, operations, and systems of co-ops. CDA already has formed the Gender Focal System—which is required of government agencies—in its central and regional offices. CDA also set up in August 2013 a technical working group (TWG) (which began CDA’s working relationship with AWCF because the latter was made a member of the TWG) to help the agency in implementing its GAD thrusts and attaining its GAD objectives through the development of policies/programs/projects/activities. Sitting in the TWG are a member of the CDA’s BOA, representatives of the different divisions in the CDA central office, and partner-organizations.

Going a step further, CDA has issued a policy pronouncement as another one of its concrete actions toward actualizing its belief that GAD and GE are good for co-operatives’ socio-economic growth. In November 2013, CDA issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 2013-22 entitled “Guidelines on Mainstreaming Gender and Development (GAD) in Cooperatives.” The MC seeks to ensure the promotion of GE and institutionalization of GAD in the policies/programs/projects/activities of co-ops. With this MC, CDA thus becomes the first co-op development agency among ASEAN countries to issue such a policy for the promotion of GAD in co-ops in its own country.

Partnership thrusts
The partnership between CDA and AWCF, as stipulated in their MOA, will lead to close co-operation and assistance between the two agencies in the aspects of policies, plans, programs/projects/activities and other areas in relation to institutionalizing GAD in co-ops’ structure. The sharing of resources, expertise, and skills between the two agencies is expected to further strengthen development and sustainability of the Philippine co-op movement.
 
AWCF as partner
Since 1990, AWCF has been working on helping co-ops pursue the gender agenda. AWCF has been advocating co-ops to be aware of and to act on gender issues in their organizations, based on the conviction that awareness and action will lead to even greater socio-economic development for co-ops.

AWCF has been implementing gender-related projects in co-ops, in partnership with its members and partner-agencies in its member-countries, which are Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. AWCF implemented a project in 2010-2012 that promoted GE in Philippine co-ops. In December 2012, during a public awareness conference held in Quezon City for this GE project’s culmination, the project’s participating primary and federation co-ops issued a “Call for Action” to CDA to promote and advocate GE in co-ops (through policies and systems). The call was made for CDA to promote GE so that more co-operatives can become gender-fair and gender-sensitive, and thus benefit from the resulting socio-economic benefits.

After the co-ops’ submission to CDA of that call for action (through then CDA Executive Director Mr. Niel Santillan who was a guest in the public awareness conference) and later submitted by AWCF to the CDA Chairperson, CDA and AWCF had several meetings. They discussed how to work through the recommended actions contained in the co-ops’ call for GE. AWCF also later became a member of the TWG mentioned earlier. CDA’s main and first response to the co-ops’ Call for Action was its issuance of MC 2013-22.

A Primer: The Gender Equality Resource Center for Philippine Co-ops

What is gender equality? What is the gender equality resource center (GERC) and how can it help a co-op strengthen even more its implementation of gender-related activities that can benefit its own organization? How can other organizations tap the co-op's gender expertise through the GERC?

The Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF)'s new publication "A Primer: The Gender Equality Resource Center for Philippine Co-ops" gives the reader the basics on the setting up and operation of gender equality resource centers (GERCs). The GERCs will greatly help ensure that gender equality (GE) is mainstreamed and embedded in co-operatives. The setting up of GERCs in co-ops was among the thrusts of a GE project in the Philippines that the AWCF implemented in 2010-2012, with support from the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC). Fifteen progressive primary- and federation-level co-ops from all over the country took part in that project. Co-ops are viable business enterprises with social goals that reach out even to the remotest areas and to people of the simplest means who are building their future together through co-operation. GERCs will equip co-ops with even more structure and focus, through advocating and promoting GE, in improving the lives of the women and men members and all others involved in the co-ops.

Going beyond the 15 co-ops involved in its GE project in the Philippines, AWCF is urging any and all co-ops in the country to establish GERCs or, at least, to strengthen their gender-related services. Data and experiences show that GE advocacy, capacities, and practices of and by co-ops help them to contribute even more to the development of the members and communities that, as a whole, assists in nation-building. Inputs from AWCF's consultations with the co-ops involved in its Philippines GE project enrich the contents of this GERC Primer. The co-ops involved in the Project, as strong and committed GE advocates, help strengthen and animate the country’s co-op movement with their various gender-related activities and advocacies that benefit their own organizations as well as other groups that are increasingly utilizing their GE services and expertise. These co-ops are also in the various stages of setting up and operating their own GERCs.

For more information on the Primer and on gender equality in co-ops, please e-mail awcf@coopwomen.org

Resource centers to boost co-ops’ gender equality advocacy

 

The “AWCF National Consultation on the Proposed Gender Equality Resource Center/Service for Philippine Co-ops” was held June 7-8, 2012 in Hidden Valley Resort in Pinamungajan, Cebu, Philippines. The consultation conference was hosted by the Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC), which also developed, owns, and operates the Resort as one of its facilities and services.

The Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) convened the conference to enable discussion among co-ops on the possible setting up, operation, and support to their own gender equality (GE) resource center (GERC) or GE resource service (GERS). The GERC/GERS is seen particularly as a levelling up or expansion of the GE program that a co-op may be implementing currently or in the future. This levelling up includes, among other enhancements, the even greater visibility and impact of GE-related activities to an increased number of members and also to other organizations that may tap the co-ops’ GE expertise. Establishing the GERC/GERS is also one of the thrusts of the “Promoting Gender Equality Among Philippine Co-operatives” Project (2010-2012) that AWCF is implementing in the Philippines, with support from the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC). The Project is under the SCC’s “ACCESS to the Poor Program in the Philippines” for which other organizations, aside from AWCF, are implementing projects to benefit various Philippine sectors.

Participants at the Cebu consultation conference were gender advocates (officers, management, and gender focal persons) of Philippine co-ops from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao island groups taking part in the AWCF-SCC Project. The 15 partner-co-ops of the Project now have gender-integrated bylaws, policies, programs, and services; and gender-aware officers, management, staff, and members. The AWCF-SCC Project had conducted orientation, consultations, and training activities aimed at developing or enhancing these co-ops’ GE awareness, capabilities, and advocacy.   

Also present at the conference as AWCF’s Officer in Charge for this GE Project was Ms Emma Nieva, Vice President for Internal Affairs of AWCF and who is also the outgoing Women Sector Representative in the Board of the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), AWCF’s member-organization in the Philippines. The current Women Sector Representative to the NATCCO Board Ms Divina Quemi was also at the Cebu conference because she was likewise one of the two representatives to this conference from the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC), one of the participating co-ops in the AWCF-SCC Project.     

At the Cebu conference, the co-ops in attendance recognized that a GERC/GERS can help co-ops in further living their vision and mission toward serving the people. These co-ops had given their various levels of commitment at the conference to establishing their GERC/GERS, and some of them, in fact, stated their plan to put up their GERC/GERS within 2012.

Also in 2012, AWCF will publish an informational primer and invite stakeholders to a national forum, all geared to further promoting the creation of GERC/GERS among Philippine co-ops.

Aside from LMPC and NSCC, the other Philippine co-ops involved in the AWCF-SCC Project are (Luzon) Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative [MPC]; Ligas Kilusang Bayan sa Pagpapaunlad; St. Martin of Tours Credit and Development Cooperative; and Sacred Heart Credit and Development Cooperative; (Visayas) Don Bosco MPC; Cordova MPC; Dumanjug MPC; and Metro Ormoc Community Cooperative; (Mindanao) Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) MPC; Paglaum MPC; Panabo MPC; Pantukan Chess Club Cooperative; and Tagum Cooperative. Only two of these co-ops were not able to join the Cebu conference. Meanwhile, Sta. Cruz Savings and  Development Cooperative, which had joined a previous AWCF-SCC gender project, was also present in the conference.

 

AWCF-FK exchange project’s Phase 4 participants get busy

The Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) and Fredskorp set (FK) Norway are holding the Phase 4 or fourth batch (October 2011-August 2012) of the “Capacity-building for Gender and Co-operatives in Asia” Project. The Project is funded under FK Norway’s “South-South Exchange” Programme. AWCF is a regional resource center and advocacy body on gender and co-ops in Asia. FK Norway is a Norwegian government agency that promotes international understanding and mutual learning through institutional co-operation and exchange of people between Norway and countries in the South.

This AWCF-FK human resource development Project is implemented among AWCF’s member-organizations in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Philippines. The Project started in 2008, aiming at developing capacities and skills in the co-op and gender fields of personnel from AWCF’s member-organizations while they take part as exchange participants. The AWCF members act as the participants’ hosts or Project partners. So far, the Project has had three batches of exchange participants, with each batch staying with their host-organizations for 10 months. Aside from gaining professional (work) enrichment to be used especially for their co-op involvement back home, each batch’s participants are also expected to have personal development as they learn to relate with the people, language, and culture in their host-organization and host-country. The participants may actually find themselves in some situations that may not be really be so far off from their own Asian background, but their greater understanding of certain aspects in different cultures and countries will hopefully be an asset to their professional and personal development.

Phase 4 of the AWCF-FK Project has the following participants, with their individual photographs and a snapshot each of their activities in their host-organizations:

Mr. Ranie B. Catimbang is Project Assistant in AWCF, Philippines. He has a Communications Art degree, major in Speech Communication, with further studies on communication research, journalism, advertising, and public communication. He was a debater in school, which he frequently represented in national debate competitions. He was also in the editorial team of school publications. His college thesis, which dealt on Senate legislation, garnered a school award for best research output. Ranie has work experience on areas like utilizing different computer software; documentation; academic research; technical assistance in project implementation; advocacy activities implementation; articles and reports writing; and training event facilitation and management, including training for gender and co-ops.

For his posting to the Credit Union Promotion Club (CUPC) in Malaysia, Ranie as Research Documentation Specialist will help CUPC staff in setting up the organization’s research and development center by: preparing recommendations for the center’s formation, in consultation with the immediately previous AWCF-FK exchange staff assigned to CUPC; studying and making an inventory of CUPC’s current documentation; and mentoring and assisting CUPC staff on research and development, and preparing documentation.

Ranie is also to have an understanding of CUPC and Malaysian experience on the co-op movement, gender program, and other development activities through his study of CUPC’s programs and services and of the Malaysian co-op movement as a whole; visit to CUPC chapters to observe co-op program field implementation; and immersion in activities of the CUPC Women’s Action Committee to learn more about the gender program. In the above photograph, Ranie is leading a discussion among CUPC officers on the organization's communication plan.

Ms Ella Marie Francia works as Project Assistant in AWCF, Philippines. Her posting is as Business Development Officer in the Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia) in Indonesia. She majored in Computer Secretarial Education for her Bachelor of Science in Office Administration course. After graduation in 2006, she briefly worked for a drugstore in her province before becoming a staff in a leading community-based co-op also in her province. In this co-op, Ella Marie held various administrative and management positions, and participated in different co-op-related training and workshop events. All this experience developed and widened her professional skills. Her work proficiencies are in the use of various computer software; accounting and financial management; office administration; analysis and planning; working knowledge of business development centers (BDCs) and services; leadership, organizational, communication, customer service, and marketing skills; conduct of co-op related training; organizing of women work groups in a community; working knowledge of managing a micro-finance program; and other proficiencies.

In FORMASI Indonesia, Ella Marie is tasked to help in reviewing for improvement her host-organization’s policies, systems and procedures. She is also to help in facilitating the organization’s BDC operation (e.g., assist in systems installation, especially on fund and financial management; prepare training modules on co-op and micro-enterprise training and to catalog the same; teach how to promote the BDC; and do other BDC tasks, in cooperation with the BDC staff in-charge). She will also gain exposure to micro-enterprise service in agriculture through her visits to FORMASI Indonesia’s non-government organization (NGO) members that have this service. She will also learn more about co-op development work in her host-organization and in Indonesia by reviewing existing documentation and visiting co-ops. In the above photograph, Ella Marie is facilitating a trainers training for FORMASI Indonesia staff.

From being Project Assistant in AWCF, Philippines, Mr. Jason P. Isidro’s posting is as Information Officer at the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT) in Thailand. Jason brings to his assignment in CULT his various experiences as an officer/staff and volunteer for youth activities, for a local co-op, and for business enterprises. He majored in Management for his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. He gained many awards as a student and was active in school activities. Jason describes himself as having, among other traits, self-motivation, ability to deal well with people in various levels of an organization, and diligence in carrying out tasks from beginning to end. His rich work experience in information technology (IT) gave him knowledge of and skills in IT hardware and software, and also in properly dealing with fellow IT professionals as well as clients. Even with his hectic IT and business work, Jason still had time to do activities as a member and volunteer for a local co-op and for the youth sector. Some of these activities were in promoting co-op membership and youth involvement; coordinating linkages of the co-op with local government units; and participating in as well as conducting training for co-op members and young people like co-op orientation, savings, micro-finance, gender and development, and other topics.

In Thailand, Jason is to assist CULT’s International Relations Section staff in producing information tools in English (e.g., audiovisual materials, brochures developed through interviews, and data collection from primary credit union [CU] members); teach presentation skills to CU staff for visitors, using English information tools; and assist in conducting gender equality (GE) training to CUs, including teaching about how to promote GE in two pilot CUs with a developed GE plan, allocated budget, and appointed gender focal person. Jason will also have the chance to study CULT’s online platform (e.g., e-coop, IT@coops, etc.); and to give orientation on the Philippines’s co-op movement and, in turn, learn about CULT and the CU movement in Thailand. In the above photograph, Jason is giving a lecture on gender issues to CULT staff.

Mr. Oung Mean is Assistant of Administration and Team Leader of Kampot and Kep Province of the Socio Economic Development Organization of Cambodia (SEDOC), in Cambodia. Mean’s assignment is as Credit Union Technical Officer of CULT in Thailand. He majored in human resource management, finishing his studies in 2010. But he already started to work in SEDOC in 2007. Mean enhanced his skills in project appraisal, and in computer software and computer repair by attending training and seminars on organizational development, global economic issues and credit union (CU) leadership, basic accounting and financial management, and other topics.

In CULT, Mean is to develop English or Thai manuals on CU federation formation, operation, and monitoring; and also on mutual benefit services (applicable to Cambodia’s context); study formatting and computerization of CU records, and analysis of statistics; and enrich his awareness of the CU movement’s different aspects by studying CULT services/programs and Thailand’s involvement in CUs. In the photograph above, Mean is interviewing co-operators in the Soon Klang Thewa Credit Union, a member of CULT.

Mr. Hoang Viet Muoi is a Technical Staff and Project Accountant in the Center of Agricultural Extension Volunteers (CAEV), Vietnam. He is posted as Extension Programmer and Researcher in AWCF (Philippines office) and National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) in the Philippines. Muoi has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Veterinary Medicine. He has work experience in the organic agricultural field; knowledge of agricultural extension work and co-op development; and skills in various computer programs and in report-writing.

Muoi brings his expertise to AWCF and NATCCO where his tasks are to visit demonstration farms and learn about high-technology organic agriculture program for fruits and vegetable production; do hands-on use of high-technology organic vegetable and fruit farming, food processing, and storage; study biogas tank system construction, use, and environmental protection aspects; document best practices on high-technology agriculture management, monitoring, and evaluation; know about the co-op movement in the Philippines, such as through orientation meetings with AWCF and NATCCO on their programs and services; and participate and assist in AWCF’s gender training so as to learn about gender equality in community development. On his return to Vietnam, Muoi is expected to share his learning with CAEV staff, and the farmers assisted by CAEV’s agricultural extension technicians and specialists. In the photograph below, Muoi is being oriented on the bookkeeping system of the Abra Diocesan Teachers & Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a member of NATCCO.

Gender focal persons of Philippine co-ops hold seminar

“Global300 Report 2010” announces world’s largest co-op enterprises

The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) launched on October 31, 2011 in New York City, USA, the “Global300 Report 2010,” which announced that the largest 300 co-operative enterprises in the world have a collective revenue of USD 1.6 trillion, comparable to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the world’s ninth largest economy.

The Report detailed that although co-operatives were affected by the global financial crisis in 2008, they provided stability and security due to their measured risk model and their emphasis on services to members–not just profits. As a result, the co-op model represents an important contribution to the economic and social well-being of populations and their communities. As ICA President Dame Pauline Green has said, “The diversity and robustness of the co-operative business model is based on principles and values. This is why co-operatives were resilient during the global financial crisis, employing over 100 million people worldwide and enabling the development and welfare of societies in the most competitive economies.”

The Report analyzed the co-ops by seven sectors: Agriculture/Forestry, Banking/Credit Unions, Consumer/Retail, Insurance, Workers/Industrial, Health, Utilities (and others). It detailed how the global financial crisis affected each industry. While co-operatives were not immune to financial hardship, their flexibility in responding to the shifting markets and the trust of their members enabled these businesses to survive and thrive.

The launch of the Report coincided with the United Nations (UN) “International Year of Co-operatives” in 2012, a monumental year that will provide a platform to educate the public on the strength and socio-economic value of co-operatives. Over the course of 2012, co-operatives around the world will join together in a series of events to raise awareness of the impact and importance of the co-op model on societies and economies around the world as well as promote their growth.

ICA is the global voice for the values-based business model of the co-operative, uniting co-ops worldwide and providing a forum for knowledge and concerted action. ICA was established by co-operatives in 1895, with current members in almost 100 countries representing one billion people. Co-ops are successful values-based businesses owned by their members. Whether they are customers, employees or residents, the members get an equal say in the business and a share of the profits. Employing 100 million people, co-ops are significant economic actors in many different sectors like agriculture and fisheries, retail, banking and financial services, housing, production, transport and tourism, and other sectors. The theme of the 2012 “International Year of Co-operatives” is “Co-operative enterprises build a better world.” More information is available at ica.coop

--Press Release from ICA, October 31, 2011

AWCF-FK exchange staff's experiences, so far-2010-2011

Being uprooted from one’s own homeland to live in another country (in Asia in this instance) and interact with people of another culture for 10 months can be quite a challenge. Seven co-op personnel are doing just that and facing the challenge from 2010 to 2011 as they participate in the third round of AWCF-Fredskorpset (FK) Norway’s “Capacity-building for Gender and Co-operatives in Asia” Project. The Project started in 2008, where co-op personnel are deployed to AWCF member-organizations in Asia in a staff exchange activity designed to boost human resource capacity in co-op and gender development.

Of the seven participants in the third round, there are three Filipinos, two Thais, an Indonesian, and a Malaysian who are all demonstrating the reciprocal model of doing volunteer work while exchanging knowledge and skills through learning and teaching as part of their office and/or community activities. Here is a look at the AWCF-FK Project participants' major achievements, so far, for this period:

Ms Lilibeth Liguden—FORMASI Indonesia, Indonesia
Ms Lilibeth Liguden assigned to the Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia)-Indonesia as Business Development Officer (BDO) initially learned about the programs and services of her host-organization through a meeting with her supervisor. To deepen her understanding of FORMASI Indonesia’s work and to facilitate the establishment of a business development center (BDC) for its business initiatives, Ms Liguden conducted exposure visits, attended co-op meetings and activities, accomplished a needs assessment, and facilitated a BDC orientation for 12 FORMASI Indonesia member-organizations and their partner-co-ops. She also studied Bahasa, Indonesia’s formal language, to facilitate her communication with the locals.

Ms Liguden also had the chance to share her knowledge and experience when she took part in a strategic planning workshop for 10 member-organizations of FORMASI Indonesia, which is a network of non-government organizations (NGOs) and co-ops. Ms Liguden further shared her particular expertise and experience on transformative leadership (TL), co-ops, facilitation skills, and biogas technology through activities she had conducted like a project proposal preparation training and TL training for the FORMASI Indonesia network.

Ms Pakialakshmi d/o Maniam—AWCF Philippines office
Ms Pakialakshmi d/o Maniam, Communication Specialist assigned to AWCF Philippines office, learned about documentation, publications, and methodology on compiling documents by coming up with documentation/proceedings of AWCF-initiated meetings and training events that she had attended. Ms Pakialakshmi familiarized herself with the AWCF library’s catalog system and documents, and also visited different learning institutions and co-ops to study document inventory and cataloguing. Thus she provided herself with ideas in setting up a research and documentation center. She also helped AWCF in the preparation of a gender equality (GE) comic book.

In her reflection, Ms Pakialakshmi said that the exposure she had gained from these activities develop more her self-confidence, increased her gender-sensitivity, and improved her presentation skills through the use of audiovisual presentations and the Powerpoint software. She also attended learning classes for basic Tagalog language, which is spoken in her assigned location.

Ms Piranrut Thoykham—SEDOC, Cambodia
Ms Piranrut Thoykham deployed as Credit Union Promotion Specialist to the Socio-Economic Development Organization of Cambodia (SEDOC)-Cambodia, had familiarized herself with SEDOC and FK activities by attending a basic orientation on SEDOC, participating in the seventh sub-regional network meeting of FK, attending meetings with SEDOC’s international project partners, and conducting study visits to SEDOC’s partner credit unions (CUs). Ms Piranrut aimed at improving her relationship with SEDOC staff and also her communication skills by learning and conversing with them in Khmer and English. At times, she also taught them, in turn, the Thai language.

Ms Piranrut also taught the SEDOC staff some accounting systems and procedures; and how to promote, set up, and manage CUs using her learning and experience in the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), her homebase. She was instrumental in consolidating 50 savings groups under SEDOC’s supervision into 12 CUs, for a more efficient and effective delivery of SEDOC operations and services.

Mr. Somantri—CUPC, Malaysia
Meanwhile in Malaysia’s Credit Union Promotion Club (CUPC), exchange participant Mr. Somantri was deployed as Information Technology (IT) Specialist. He observed and studied the use and implementation of CUPC’s latest management information system (MIS) known as FMIS (financial management information system) software. He shared this knowledge with the CUPC staff. He also assisted them in recording the members’ data in the FMIS. Mr. Somantri likewise provided IT technical support to the staff of KKP (Koperasi Kredit Pekerja-Pekerja, one of the two organizations that form CUPC) through computer repair and maintenance (hardware); use of different computer software; and the revival and enhancement of KKP’s website. He regularly attended KKP’s weekly meetings to update himself of KKP activities while deepening his relationship with the other staff members.

Ms Janjila Nuansri—AWCF Philippines office
Ms Janjila Nuansri, assigned in AWCF Philippines office as Credit Union Promotion Officer, has really improved her English writing and conversational skills as manifested in her written reports and as attested to by her supervisors and peers. Ms Janjila’s visit to different primary co-ops in the northern and central areas of Luzon island in the country gave her learnings on co-op enterprises and business development. Her four-week visit each to two NATCCO (National Confederation of Cooperatives)-affiliated primary co-ops exposed her to local culture; work experience with other co-ops; and an appreciation of Philippine co-ops’ branching operations or the co-ops’ ability to offer housing, co-op mart, hotel and training facilities, and other services other than what is usually offered by Thailand CUs, which are savings and credit operations.

Ms Janjila also kept herself busy by attending training conducts that enhanced her knowledge on gender, including gender equality (GE). Likewise, she improved her research and documentation skills through the reports and presentations she had done in relation to her FK tasks. She also assisted AWCF staff in preparing training materials and a GE comic book; and in designing covers for different project reports.

Ms Mary Dilanie Llarenas—CAEV, Vietnam
Ms Mary Dilanie Llarenas was deployed to CAEV (Center for Agricultural Extension Volunteers-Vietnam) as Project Development and Documentation Officer. Ms Llarenas was able to learn about CAEV’s operations, programs, and services through an initial orientation meeting with her supervisor. She followed up her orientation with exposure studies done in selected partner communities/pilot areas, and attendance in project meetings where she learned more about and observed CAEV’s program implementation. CAEV promotes improved agricultural development in Vietnam with assistance from expert technicians and community resource people, and also through the co-op model of poverty alleviation especially among agricultural communities.

Ms Llarenas attended classes on basic Vietnamese language, conducted a project proposal writing training for CAEV staff, and mentored CAEV staff on basic conversational English to further boost their use of this language.

Ms Charisse Anne Fernandez—CULT, Thailand
Ms Charisse Anne Fernandez was deployed as International Relations (IR) Officer to CULT. She increased her knowledge and perspective on CULT’s programs, services, and policies by attending CULT’s basic orientation. She participated in CULT’s numerous organizational activities, and visited different CUs to know more about CULT’s program implementation and also the relationship between CULT and the different CUs. She also attended a basic Thai language course to help her better communicate with her fellow staff, and also to help her increase appreciation of Thailand’s rich and colorful culture and people.

Ms Fernandez’s deployment in CULT also enabled her to conduct English writing courses for its IR department and other departments; enhance its lending brochures (English version); and assist in its media visits, press conferences, and on-air program.

ICA MESSAGE--Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women

“Equal access to education, training and science and technology:

Pathway to decent work for women”

Message from the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the world's largest body of co-ops, for International Women's Day, March 8, 2011.

On the International Women’s Day, the United Nations calls on local, national and international communities to focus on the importance of equal access to education, training and science and technology as crucial pathway to provide women with decent work opportunities.

Investing in women’s education has well recognised benefits not only for women’s own well-being but also for society as whole. The link between better education for women and the reduction of poverty and improved human development is well documented. Women’s access to education provides significant opportunity for self-empowerment. More educated women lead to better nourished, healthy and educated children, girls and boys, thus breaking the vicious cycle of intergenerational poverty. Indeed, we know that educated and empowered women are agents of family and community well-being, and thus catalysts for socio-economic development at the national and local level.

Today, the United Nations is asking the international community to go beyond just promoting education and training but to also enable equal access to science and technology to provide women better access to decent work.

Undoubtedly, access to education, training and science and technology are closely related. With lower levels of education and less access to training, many women lack the skills and experience needed to develop, produce and utilise new technologies. Moreover, since women’s businesses generally tend to be smaller and have less access to capital for investment in these new technologies, acquiring science and technology education and training which can empower women in all aspects of their lives remains a challenge. Facilitating and promoting access to technology not only will spur economic growth, but will enable women and men, girls and boys to create, receive, share and use information and knowledge for their economic, social, cultural and political

development.

In today’s knowledge society, a truly socially inclusive society should make sure that it empowers all members of society without gender bias.

The co-operative movement’s principle on co-operative education, training and information is recognition of the important role the movement can play in this area.

Much has been done by co-operatives worldwide to provide women with life-long learning opportunities, not only through targeted programmes, but also through the direct participation in co-operative governance and management, representing important daily “learning by doing” experiences.

Many co-operatives have provided women with opportunities to become entrepreneurs and access decent work. They have enabled them to move out of informal and precarious job markets. They have improved access to credit, product and market information, technology and training in management skills and enterprise development.

The appropriate use of technology, especially ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has led co-operatives to create new opportunities for decent work, conquering new and more profitable markets and, and above all, improving access to information. We know for example that rural women co-operators in a number of countries are able to access information on best farming practices, pest and disease control, up to the minute market prices and weather forecasts through technology. This access has enabled them to improve both their agricultural productivity as well as

their livelihoods.

However, ICT not only improves economic efficiency, it has also provided an extraordinary way for co-operators, both women and men, to participate in technology development and create networks for sharing knowledge worldwide thus reducing isolation. Co-operators are using the technologies available to promote ‘co-operation among co-operatives’, another of the Co-operative Principles.

Consequently, co-operatives have an important role to play. By increasing women co-operators’ access to education and training programmes, they will facilitate more decent work opportunities for women. By taking advantage of the global co-operative network and fostering exchanges between co-operators worldwide with this enhanced capacity, they will be creating opportunities for collaboration among all co-operators. They will promote the transfer of know-how; they will promote the development and use of participatory and user-driven technologies and research programmes, to name only a few.

Therefore, 8 March 2011, International Women’s Day, we call on ICA member organisations and co-operators, to not forego the contribution of the large talent pool that women co-operators represent and to strengthen their commitment for fostering equal access to education, training and science and technology by providing women co-operators with targeted training programmes, particularly on new technologies, and promoting exchanges which can crucially work to build bridges and foster collaborations among co-operators worldwide.

Let us lead with good practice. Let us show what can be achieved when co-operatives enable women all over the world to reap the benefits of equal access to education, training and science and technology!

Dame Pauline Green

President, ICA

Stefania Marcone

Chairperson, ICA Gender Equality Committee

The ICA is an independent, non-government association which unites, represents and serves co-ops worldwide. The ICA was founded in London in 1895. Its members are national and international co-operative organizations in all sectors of activity including agricultural, banking, fisheries, housing, tourism, and consumer co-ops. ICA has more than 247 member organizations from 92 countries, representing nearly 1 billion individuals worldwide.

More on it@coops shared in Berlin

AWCF always welcomes opportunities to share among co-ops and other development groups its experiences and learning from its activities undertaken toward its advocacy on gender equality in and through co-ops. Another such opportunity came on November 18-19, 2010 in Berlin, Germany, when AWCF Executive Director Ms Salome Ganibe spoke to the development community on the impact and learning gained by AWCF from its “it@coops Project.” This Project was implemented 2004-2007 in member-countries of AWCF in Asia. Ms Ganibe attended the “ICT (Information and Communication Technology) for Rural Economic Development” conference in Berlin, organized by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

With participants from donor organizations, NGOs (non-government organizations) and the private sector, the conference convened 99 experts to discuss the support mechanisms to be provided to project implementers that will enable projects to reach the rural poor.

Ms Ganibe’s presentation at the conference used the it@coops Project as model, wherein she stressed the importance of using information technology (IT) to empower people, especially women, in rural areas, such as what the Project sought to do. Because co-ops abound in rural areas, and knowing that women compose half or more than half of many co-ops’ total membership, Ms Ganibe encouraged the conference participants to help women by supporting the capacity-building activities of co-ops as well as by establishing business development centers (BDCs), particularly because women are, by nature, entrepreneurs. Emphasizing that IT can bring increased economic empowerment to co-ops and their members, Ms Ganibe reiterated the need to allocate resources for IT-related activities.

The it@coops Project or the “Information Technology for Southeast Asian Co-operatives Project,” was a collaborative effort of AWCF and the Capacity Building International, Germany (InWEnt)—an organization that seeks to provide advanced ICT knowledge to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East—with funding support from BMZ.

Gender experts build capacity in AWCF-SCC workshop

Identifying techniques in forwarding advocacies and mainstreaming gender in co-ops. Knowing the importance of storytelling as an essential tool in advocacy. Developing training modules and identifying methodologies useful in the conduct of training.

These were among the learning for 35 gender focal persons (GFPs), and gender trainers and advocates who took part in the “1st Capacity Building Workshop” held under the “Promoting Gender Equality Among Co-operatives in the Philippines” Project, October 19-21, 2010, in Hidden Valley Resort, Lamac, Pinamungajan, Cebu province. The Project is being implemented by AWCF and the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC) as part of SCC’s Philippine country programme for 2010-2012, which is the “Advancing Civic Capacities for Effective and Sustainable Services to the Poor (ACCESS to the Poor)" Programme. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) provides funding support. The Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC) owns and manages the Hidden Valley Resort.

The Project contributes to the Programme clusters on organizational development/capacity building and on advocacy and networking. The Project objective is to strengthen local capacities and create favourable policies for the promotion of gender equality (GE) among co-ops in the Philippines, to benefit 15 co-ops in the Philippines’s three island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The October Workshop was the first of the Project’s series of capacity-building activities to enable participating co-ops’ GFPs, and gender trainers and advocates to deepen knowledge and skills on GE, and also to enhance their communication and facilitation skills in conducting gender training in their respective co-ops; and to develop gender training modules suitable to co-ops’ needs.

Ms Bonnie Bërnstrom, Gender Consultant of SCC from Sweden and one of the Workshop facilitators, introduced various techniques in forwarding advocacies and mainstreaming gender in co-ops.

She informed the participants about some legally binding international declarations that promote and sponsor GE as a cause, such as the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The learning from this session will strengthen the participants’ platform or basis in forwarding the GE advocacy.

Ms Bërnstrom also made the participants compare the Gender Gap Index between Sweden and the Philippines, and to assess the areas of strength and weakness of the two countries in terms of politics, economics, education, education and training, and maternity and childbearing.

To focus on what is and how GE advocacy should be promoted, Ms Bërnstrom discussed the value of the core message, the use of “handbreaks” or learning when and when not to say something, and process questions that create better understanding of people with different worldviews and to explicate the underlying reasons of a person’s belief or disbelief of a concept or an issue.

Ms Bërnstrom also stressed the importance of storytelling as an essential tool in advocacy. How stories, as a combination of facts and emotions, send the message across and how they appeal to people of different culture and orientation.

Meanwhile, the Workshop’s session on developing training modules and identifying methodologies useful in the conduct of training was facilitated by Ms Salome Ganibe, Executive Director of AWCF. The session’s outputs were a) development of different training modules on GE; b) enhanced use of different training methodologies, such as role plays, buzz sessions, group discussions, and storytelling; and c) listing of various unfreezing activities and their description.

As the Workshop exemplified participation and teamwork, daily host team-members co-managed the day and evening social activities to perk up the learning sessions.

Important guests accentuated the Workshop’s significance. Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha graced the opening program, and LMPC Chairperson Delfin Tuquib and Lamac Parish Priest Fr. Dennis Acedo were present in the closing program.

The next capacity-building workshop of the AWCF-SCC GE Project is slated for the first quarter of 2011.

AWCF joins FK activities: Phase 3 of project underway

The AWCF network joined two major activities of Fredskorpset (FK) Norway from September 29 to October 20, 2010, aimed at developing the capacity of FK partner-organizations. AWCF took part in the activities in the belief that young professionals play an important role in the development of any organization. AWCF has been implementing since 2008 the “Capacity-Building for Gender and Co-operatives in Asia” Project funded by the “South-South Exchange Programme” of FK. The Project, which is an exchange activity among staff of AWCF member-organizations, is now on its third phase to be held from October 2010 to August 2011.

The first FK activity was the “Homecoming Seminar (Debriefing)” held September 29-30, 2010 in Rajamangala Pavilion Beach Resort, Songkhla province, Thailand. AWCF was represented by eight participants from the exchange Project’s phase 2, and six representatives from the Project’s partner-organizations in the AWCF network. In the Seminar, AWCF and other FK project participants and partners from CAI (Clean Air Initiatives), Asia and POURAKHI conducted a project review that included a presentation of partners’ and participants’ experiences, learning, and challenges; and a sharing among the previous and new project participants (for phase 3).

The Seminar was followed by the “16th Fredskorpset Preparatory Course” held September 30-October 20, 2010 in the Prince of Songkhla University (PSU), Hat Yai Campus, Songkhla. In this activity, AWCF partner representatives were joined by seven participants for phase 3, representing Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. The Course was a prelude to the participants’ 10-month deployment to their host-organizations. The Course aimed at letting participants be introduced to FK and its vision; be prepared for living and working in Asian countries; be provided with information regarding development issues in the Asian region; and be enabled to learn through collaboration and peer discussion.

To help achieve the Course goals, the participants and their respective partner representatives attended a participants-partners meeting to clarify matters concerning the Project, the participants’ agreement, and the results-based reporting. They also participated in the indoor teambuilding activities that had hoped to foster camaraderie with the other FK partner representatives.

The next activities were the exchange participants’ attendance to lecture sessions on development topics like poverty alleviation, participatory approach in community development, and gender responsiveness. Other sessions were personality awareness such as personality and self-understanding; effective cross-cultural communication practices; and conflict management and resolution. To enhance the participants’ video-making skills, there was a digital story preparation activity. And to facilitate their understanding of the Asian countries’ culture, there was a country information presentation. Adaptability with Thailand’s culture and customs was also enhanced through the socio-cultural visits and two-day homestay with selected families in the provinces of Trang (Buddhist community) and Satun (Muslim communities), both in Southern Thailand.

Aside from AWCF, also present in the Preparatory Course were 17 young professionals representing four other FK project partners, which are CAI, Asia; Sunlabob, Prosperity Initiatives (PI), and ESCENIC. These young professionals will serve as volunteers—learning and/or sharing their knowledge and experiences—in their host-organizations/-countries from October 21, 2010 to August 20, 2011. After that, they will return to their respective organizations to share their newly acquired knowledge, skills, and orientation as a follow-up activity, from August 21 to September 20, 2011.

Phase 3 participants bared

The following young professionals from the AWCF network are taking part in the AWCF-FK exchange project’s phase 3. They will join the other 15 participants from phases 1 and 2 in the AWCF Resource Pool of experts.

Ms Lilibeth “Beth” Liguden is employed as Business Development Officer of AWCF, Philippines, and will be posted at the Forum for Indonesian Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI Indonesia) in Indonesia also as Business Development Officer. Most of her 16 years of work experience were devoted to the co-op sector, particularly, assisting co-operators on business development, project planning, development and management; co-op and community organizing; and involvement in enterprise, finance, and investment. She also worked with international non-government organizations and a municipal-level local government unit in the Philippines. Beth’s immense experience on business development will be put to good use when she assists FORMASI Indonesia in establishing a business development center (BDC) structure and policy, setting up business initiatives, and promoting the BDC and its services. She will also coach selected FORMASI Indonesia officers and staff in developing and planning project proposals. For her learning activity during her deployment, she expects to learn the agri-based microfinance program and model used by FORMASI Indonesia members.

Ms Piranrut “Poo” Thoykham works at the Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), Thailand, as Credit Union Development Officer. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics of Cooperative Science. She also has some Master of Business Administration units on Co-operative Management from some of Thailand’s prestigious universities. Poo will be deployed to the Socio-Economic Development Organization of Cambodia (SEDOC), Cambodia. As Credit Union Promotion Specialist in SEDOC, she will teach SEDOC staff about promoting, setting up, and managing a credit union. She will also assist SEDOC staff in identifying programs and services to attract primary credit unions to be members of SEDOC. As her learning activity in Cambodia, she will get to know about the credit movement, and gender mainstreaming in credit unions.

Another phase 3 participant is Mr. Somantri, currently working as Information Technology (IT) Specialist in FORMASI Indonesia. His knowledge and skills on Informatics Management and Information System will be useful on his assignment as IT Specialist in CUPC. He will be conducting computer training and providing technical support, troubleshooting computers, and monitoring and evaluating a management information system (MIS). He is also expected to assist in producing financial records and data using the MIS application. He also looks forward to learning CUPC’s programs at the grassroots level, particularly, savings mobilization, loan services, children’s savings, and gender training.

Ms Pakialakshmi “Pakia” d/o Maniam, is a General Clerk from Koperasi Kredit Pekerja-Pekerja (KKP), one of the two major grassroots-based credit union organizations of the Credit Union Promotion Club (CUPC), Malaysia. Pakia can converse in English, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil, and Hindi languages, and knows a little Mandarin. Assigned to be a Communication Specialist in AWCF, Pakia’s main task will be to gain knowledge and skills on documentation and publication. She will study how to compile, write and edit reference materials in English; catalogue documents; and prepare a documentation inventory. She will bring this knowledge back to CUPC, especially since the organization intends to set up a documentation center.

Ms Janjila “Kook” Nuansri currently works as Chief Education and Development Officer at CULT’s central branch office. Kook is a Mass Communications graduate and has been doing public relations work for CULT’s head office for almost 14 years before she moved to CUPC’s central branch office. Kook was heavily involved in setting up new credit unions, promoting co-op activities and events, and designing promotional materials. Kook will be posted as Credit Union Promotion Officer in AWCF. She will be visiting selected affiliate-co-ops of NATCCO (National Confederation of Cooperatives), Philippines, to learn about setting up and managing a co-op branch office, managing a BDC or a co-op enterprise, and mainstreaming gender in co-ops.

Ms Mary Dilanie “Mygirl” Llarenas is a Project Development and Documentation Officer in AWCF, Philippines. She has degrees in Nursing and Business Administration. She has extensive exposure on managing agricultural co-ops, and her project development skills were honed when she worked with a multi-purpose co-op. Assigned to the Center of Agricultural Extension Volunteers (CAEV), Vietnam, also as Project Development and Documentation Officer, she will help CAEV identify priority/potential areas for project development, and coach the staff in developing proposals as well as documenting their good practices and success stories. In Vietnam, Mygirl will also learn CAEV’s farming models and also their good practices that she can, in turn, share on her return to the Philippines.

Ms Charisse Anne “Cha” Fernandez is AWCF’s International Relations Officer. She has a five-year working experience with non-government organizations and international marketing and/or tourism organizations. Her core competencies include events management, media relations, sales and marketing, and promotions. Her expertise will be very useful during her deployment in CULT where she can help out in developing the international relations (IR) staff and also the other CULT staff especially when she starts her English writing courses. Furthermore, she can help the IR staff in implementing international relations activities. In turn, Ms Fernandez looks ahead to learning the Thai language, culture, and practices. She will also learn how gender equality is promoted at the primary credit union level.