Co-ops give update for GE Project

On July 25-26, 2012 in Antipolo City, Philippines, the Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) convened the “Third Monitoring Forum” of the "Promoting Gender Equality Among Philippine Co-operatives" Project. AWCF is implementing the Project (2010-2012) under the “Advancing Civic Capacities for Effective and Sustainable Services to the Poor (ACCESS to the Poor),” which is the country program for the Philippines of the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC), with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

Representatives of the 15 Philippine co-ops taking part in the AWCF-SCC Project attended the Monitoring Forum. They presented updates of the Project’s implementation in their respective organizations. The co-ops were represented by their General Managers/Chief Executive Officers, Board Chairpersons/Directors, Chairpersons/Members of their GE Committee, and some Gender Focal Persons (GFPs) (31 co-op representatives: 21 women and 10 men). Also present at the event, upon invitation by the AWCF, were the SCC Philippine Country Director Ms Anneli Leina (who was to leave her office in early August 2012), Ms Jessica Soto (Ms Leina’s successor), and Administrative staff Mr. Jun Gandingan. Representing the AWCF Secretariat were Officer in Charge (OIC) Ms Salome Ganibe, AWCF-SCC Project Manager Ms Emma Nieva, and Project Assistant, Ms Teresa Saliendra. Some of AWCF’s consultants were also present in the Monitoring Forum. 

The GE Project 
AWCF’s Gender Equality (GE) Project with SCC began with the signing in April 2010 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the 15 co-ops and the AWCF to work for the Project Objective of strengthening local capacities and creating favourable policies for the promotion of GE among these co-ops, located in the country’s Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions. From thereon, AWCF and the 15 co-ops together engaged in interventions related to human resource capacity-building; strengthening of plans, systems, and structures; research and policy advocacy; and project planning, monitoring and evaluation/capacity-building. Through these interventions, the Project intended to solidify the gender-related services and advocacies to be systematically offered to and participated in by co-ops. In turn, the co-ops were expected to be assisted in their transformation into being gender-fair co-ops and gender-fair workplaces. And being gender-fair, the co-ops were hoped to more effectively implement gender-related activities that will enable the promotion and practice of GE in the organizational areas of people, policies, systems, and structure.  


Talking about accomplishments

Before the 15 co-ops had their turn in reporting to the body the progress of their GE-related activities for the past 12 months, Ms Nieva gave a summing up or overview of the accomplishments of the Project since January 2012. She gave the following Project highlights:

• the 15 co-ops’ aggressive promotion of GE in their organization, with the coordination of AWCF in some activities, resulted in significant increase in the awareness on GE, and more positive perception by the co-ops’ leadership and management with regard to addressing the needs and rights of the members
• the 15 co-ops’ positive actions toward formulating and implementing gender-responsive and gender-fair policies/practices have brought forth these key results in the co-ops: formulated GE vision, mission, goals, and objectives; improved organizational structure, personnel policies (including GE-enhanced human resource policy manual, and GE manual); and improved services to address the needs of women and men members
• as to the quantitative indicators aimed at by AWCF’s GE Project, which are number of women-officers in the boards of these co-ops increased by 20%; at least 50% of these co-ops’ staff are women; and number of women members in these co-ops increased by 20%, the following results were achieved, so far, by the 15 co-ops (see Table 1 below):

• the Project capacitated the co-ops to prepare policies to ensure that women and men are always represented in the leadership: the increase in women’s number in the BOD composition indicates that women are given more opportunity to become leaders and to take part in the co-ops’ decision-making process
• the co-ops were able to identify a total of 15 GFPs, 15 alternate GFPs, and 35 gender role models/advocates, all of whom have undergone orientation on GE as the Project was able to help them be gender-sensitive; be capacitated to develop their own co-ops’ gender training modules and materials; and, most importantly, be trainers able to conduct GE-related training
• 10,816 participants from the 15 co-ops participated in 24 different roll-out GE- related training conducted by these co-ops’ GE Committee, GFPs, and gender role models/advocates
• the co-ops formed and instituted their GE programs; prepared their GE training modules; and integrated GE learning/sessions in their regularly conducted pre-membership education seminars for prospective members, and in their ownership seminars and other activities for members
• as indicated in record sheets of the 15 co-ops compared to results of the baseline study that AWCF had conducted among them at the start of the Project, these co-ops overall greatly improved in their efforts to mainstream gender in their organizations.

Challenges remain
Ms Nieva also stated the challenges that the 15 co-ops and also AWCF are facing in their gender journey, in relation to the Project and even beyond. Some of these challenges are:

• intensive learning for the co-ops on setting up in their organizations a project implementation, monitoring, and evaluation (PIME) system for GE
• need for the co-ops to train more GE trainers to reach the big number of membership
• need for the co-ops to have continuous gender-sensitizing activities/training, especially for incoming/new officers because leaders change periodically in co-ops; the same activities/training should also be given to staff/new staff
• need to address rural women’s demands on addressing their lack of knowledge and skills on business and enterprise development as well as on other livelihood projects, and developing these into family enterprises.

  
Co-ops update on progress
The aforementioned accomplishments for the GE Project reported by Ms Nieva found validation in the updates given later by the 15 co-ops’ representatives in the Monitoring Forum for their Project-related activities. In acknowledging the reports that lasted the whole two days of the Forum, Ms Ganibe underscored to the body the highlights of the co-ops’ presentations as the additional notable major accomplishments of the GE Project, such as:

• the growth of the co-ops in their ranking from having low scores (or even “zero” for some co-ops) in the GE rapid assessment survey conducted among them at the Project’s start—currently, (in the Project’s third year) the co-ops have moderate to almost full ranking in the different components of the assessment survey. The improvement in ranking comes from the efforts of the co-ops themselves aside from the personal efforts given by the co-operators who have undergone the different capacity-building activities of the Project (directly or in roll-out activities/training).
• the co-ops are now enlarging their GE advocacy as they reach out to even more members, and even extending and sharing their GE expertise with other organizations like local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs), among other organizations
• with the budget for GE having been approved by the co-ops’ Boards, the co-ops are doing many more gender-related activities such as continuing the GE education given to much more numbers of members
• the co-ops, in general, have put in place the appropriate systems to enable their GE program’s sustainability and continuity. As such, the GE program will continue to exist despite certain factors that may otherwise affect it such as leadership and staff changes. For instance, a co-op’s GE Committee has been made in-charge of the GE program, and the GE Committee has been made a standing committee of the co-op; a co-op’s GE resource center (or GERC, with the GE program operating with it) has been put under the Business Development Services (BDS) of the co-op, with the BDS being part of the co-op’s structure; or a co-op has tasked its Human Resource Department to take care of the GE program. These are just some of the ways by which the 15 co-ops have institutionalized the GE program/advocacy in their organizations.
• the co-ops’ clear delineation in their structures/systems of their GE Committee, GFPs, and gender models/advocates have helped strengthen their GE resource services. Furthermore, a number of these co-ops have leveled up by starting to establish their GERC, after securing their Boards’ approval of their GERC’s plan and budget (Note: The co-ops’ establishment of the GERC or, at least, the strengthening of the co-ops’ GE resource services, was discussed during a national forum on the GERC that had been held by the 15 co-ops, as organized by the AWCF in line with the GE Project’s objectives, in June 2012 in Cebu.)
• whereas there was not even a mention of the co-ops’ possible linking up with LGUs when the AWCF GE Project was just starting in 2010, now some of the co-ops have established partnership with their LGUs. For instance, the LGUs are now tapping a number of these co-ops as GE experts who render GE services, such as by being the LGUs’ trainers or resource speakers. The co-ops may not be earning largely from their partnership with the LGUs at this point, but the benefits for the co-ops from this partnership are manifold. With the co-ops’ additional experience and exposure gained from working together with the LGUs, they further firm up their reputation as both co-op and GE experts. Also, with the co-ops’ tie-up with the LGUs (which are mandated to have a gender budget), they are able to conduct GE training in different barangays (villages) that give them more opportunities to reach the co-op members as well gain more members.
• in relation to being tapped as GE experts by LGUs and other organizations, the co-ops have gained recognition and awards for their expertise
• the 15 co-ops, located in different areas of the Philippines, have established “friendships” among themselves as they share learning, experience, and efforts in helping and supporting one another in simple GE-related partnerships (e.g., conducting GE activities)
• one of the manifestations of the increased importance given by the co-ops to GE is their development and offering of products/services accessible to both women and men members, even if these products/services were initially offered to women only. Thus the co-ops have become gender-fair by giving access to both sexes to these products/services. For some of the co-ops, this situation has even led to the increased number of both women and men membership.
• the co-ops have also shown in a variety of ways that the BDS and GERC within their organizations can be integrated together to maximize social and economic benefits for both co-ops and members (e.g., integrating GE education in the members’ activities like livelihood training and loan seminars) (and which also puts to fore the co-ops’ “corporate social responsibility”)
• with all their commitment, activities, experience, expertise, and recognition gained in and through GE, the 15 co-ops are now able to proudly say that they are “GE Champions” in the Philippine co-op movement.

Ms Ganibe also commended the co-ops for the quality of their reporting in the Monitoring Forum. She said that the co-ops’ Powerpoint, video, live storytelling, and narrative reports in the Forum had shown how they apply to their GE advocacy the learning shared with them in the capacity-building seminars (e.g., trainers’ training) conducted through the GE Project. 


Joint activities  
The Monitoring Forum ended with discussions between AWCF and the 15 co-ops on their remaining joint activities of the Project for 2012 as well as on the continued promotion and establishment of the GERC among the co-ops and also with other co-ops in the Philippines. SCC’s Ms Leina expressed her organization’s continuing support to the co-ops for their GE endeavors.

The 15 partner-co-ops in the AWCF-SCC Project for GE are (Luzon) Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC); Ligas Kooperatiba ng  Bayan sa Pagpapaunlad; Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives; St. Martin of Tours Credit and Development Cooperative; and Sacred Heart Credit and Development Cooperative; (Visayas) Don Bosco Network MPC; Cordova MPC; Dumanjug MPC; Lamac MPC; and Metro Ormoc Community Cooperative; and (Mindanao) Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology MPC; Paglaum MPC; Panabo MPC; Pantukan Chess Club Cooperative; and Tagum Cooperative.

Gender Equality: A Challenge to Philippine Co-ops

This video looks at the role and importance of gender equality or GE in the development of co-ops in the Philippines; the challenges faced in advocating GE in the co-ops; and how women and men co-operators can benefit from and also do their role in GE-sensitive co-ops. The video is presented under the Project "Promoting Gender Equality Among Co-operatives in the Philippines," implemented by AWCF, with support from the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC). The Project is part of the "Advancing Civic Capacities for Effective and Sustainable Services to the Poor (ACCESS to the Poor)" Programme (2010-2012) in the Philippines, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

AWCF-SCC Project continues activities

In April-May 2011, more activities unfolded for the capacity-building of gender equality (GE) advocates in the Philippine co-op sector, in line with the “Promoting Gender Equality Among Co-operatives in the Philippines" Project. Activities conducted in this period were the continuing review of the human resource (HR) manuals of the Project’s co-op partners, continuing promotion of GE among co-op-partners, and organizational meetings and workshops. The Project is a partnership between AWCF and the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC), under SCC’s “Advancing Civic Capacities for Effective and Sustainable Services to the Poor (ACCESS to the Poor)" Programme (2010-2012). The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) provides fund support. The 15 co-op partners of the Project come from all over the Philippines.

Enriching HR manuals with GE provisions
As part of the efforts in integrating GE concepts in co-operatives’ systems, policies and procedures, thus making them gender-fair employers, AWCF is working with the Project’s co-op partners to review the “GE-friendliness” of their respective HR manuals. The Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ADTEMPCO) in Abra province was the first co-op partner to take part in the HR manual review. For the review process meeting held April 7-8, 2011 in Abra, AWCF representatives led by Executive Director Ms Salome Ganibe met with ADTEMPCO’s General Manager (GM), HR Manager, selected Board members of the Co-op, and HR consultant Ms Wilma Ganibe. They reviewed the contents of ADTEMPCO’s newly developed HR manual.

AWCF moved for the incorporation of GE provisions in at least 10 areas of ADTEMPCO’s HR manual: recruitment, working hours, equal pay for work of equal value, working conditions, development discussions/dialogue, sexual harassment, training and development, promotion or appointment, compensation and benefits, and maternity/paternity leaves.

With ADTEMPCO’s GE-enhanced HR manual, Co-op GM Ms Irene Bringas expressed gratefulness to AWCF for leading the Co-op in producing an HR manual that is sensitive to the needs and situations of the male and female staff.

Promoting GE in LMPC
AWCF attended the “20th General Assembly (GA)” meeting of Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC) on April 10, 2011 at the LMPC-managed Hidden Valley Resort in Pinamungajan, Cebu province. The GA had at least 6,000 participants representing LMPC’s co-op members and leaders, other co-op representatives and project partners, and government and non-government personnel. Also present in the GA were Ms Angelita Valdez, AWCF Program Coordinator, and Ms Janjila Nuansri, a participant of a staff exchange program in Asia being implemented by AWCF and Fredskorpset (FK) Norway.

In her greetings to the LMPC co-operators, Ms Valdez congratulated the Co-op for its advocacy work on gender and GE. She noted that LMPC has been actively participating in different GE activities, particularly for the AWCF-SCC project of which LMPC is one of the 15 co-op partners. She was delighted at seeing the participants who took part in LMPC’s gender training being recognized onstage as well as the inclusion of the Gender Committee Report in LMPC’s 2011 Annual Report. LMPC General Manager Ms Maria Elena Limocon, Ms Maria Fe Managaytay, and Ms Danila Fortunato sit in the LMPC Gender Committee, with Ms Limocon as the Committee Chairperson.

Discussing finances with PAPCOM representatives
On April 12, 2011 in Quezon City, Philippines, 10 organizational representatives of the Philippine Access Program Committee (PAPCOM) of the ACCESS to the Poor Programme met for the “Financial Staff Meeting,” which was facilitated by SCC-Philippine Office Country Director Ms Anneli Leina. The representatives came from the Programme’s five partner-organizations in the Philippines.

As the meeting looked into the financial management systems and procedures of these five partner-organizations, learnings emerged through the partners’ sharing of their financial practices and experiences. The meeting also paved the way for the clarification and review of financial requirements between SCC, the project funder, and the partners. These partner-organizations are the AWCF, National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), Multi-Sectoral Alliance for Development-Negros (MUAD-Negros), Davao Federation of Integrated Service Cooperatives (DAFISCO), and Institute for Philippine Cooperatives and Social Enterprise Development (IPCSED).

Holding AWCF’s Octagon assessment
On May 16, 2011, the AWCF Board of Trustees and Secretariat held the “Octagon Assessment Workshop” to assess the development of AWCF as a non-government organization (NGO) in the eyes of its officers and staff. The Octagon Assessment is an instrument used by SIDA to measure its support to Swedish NGOs. AWCF has adapted the use of this instrument as part of its partnership project with SCC.

The Octagon Assessment provides rapid and simple analyses of an organization’s strengths and weaknesses; and identifies necessary measures to improve its capacity to perform effectively.

AWCF first used the Octagon Assessment in year 2010 with separate conducts for staff, and staff and officers together, in line with the AWCF-SCC project. The result of those assessment conducts remained the same in this year’s conduct. AWCF obtained a general rating of “good” after the assessment of four basic aspects: objectives and management/administrative structures; activities with/for selected project beneficiaries; capacity to succeed in its work; and capacity to create and maintain relations with project beneficiaries and other actors in civil society.

Meeting SCC’s EuroAsia Regional Director
AWCF Board of Trustees (BOT) member Ms Emma Nieva (Vice President for Internal Affairs), and Ms Salome Ganibe, Executive Director, led AWCF representatives in getting together with SCC officials for the “Annual SCC Negotiations with Partners” meeting held May 17, 2011, Quezon City, Philippines.

The presence in the event of SCC’s Mr. Armando Costa Pinto, Regional Director for EuroAsia, and Ms Maja Norell, Assistant Team Development-SCC Stockholm, was particularly notable because it was the first time for Mr. Costa Pinto and Ms Norell to be participating in the AWCF-SCC project. Ms Nieva and Ms Ganibe were in the frontline of providing organizational background and project updates to familiarize everyone with the GE Project.

The meeting then discussed the accomplishments of the Project’s Year 1 (2010), namely, the cumulative project monitoring and regular project audit as well as the interrelation of the project stakeholders involved in the ACCESS for the Poor Programme. The meeting concluded by taking up clarifications on the level of collaboration between AWCF and SCC in implementing the Project’s Year 2.

Others in the meeting were AWCF’s Ms Aster Peñaranda, Finance and Administrative Coordinator, and Mr. Ranie Catimbang, Project Assistant; and SCC’s Ms Leina. At the meeting’s conclusion, Mr. Costa Pinto and his colleagues visited the AWCF office and exchanged views with the other members of AWCF’s BOT that was also having its conference at that time.

This poster is produced for the "Promoting Gender Equality Among Co-operatives in the Philippines" Project of the Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) under the "Advancing Civic Capacities for Effective and Sustainable Services to the Poor (ACCESS to the Poor)" Programme (2010-2012), supported by the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC), with fund support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).