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Capitalization of experiences of NGO national platform (NPF)
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Unless you object to it, the information collected in this questionnaire will be put online in the International Resource Center 's website. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further clarifications. |
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I |
History and Task of the NGO National Platform |
II |
Function and Governing of the NGO National Platform |
III |
Internal and external relations of the NGO National Platform |
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Other Remarks on your NGO National Platform |
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| I. HISTORY AND TASKS OF THE NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
| 1) HISTORY OF THE NGO National Platform |
| a) Please describe the important factors connected to the creation of your NPF (important events: famine, arrival of an international NGO, political crisis, etc)? 10 lines or more |
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| CODE-NGO was launched in 1990 and formally established in 1991 to create promote greater effectiveness of development NGOs and increase their impact on national development. The Aquino government, which replaced the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, recognized the legitimacy and the important contributions to society of development NGOs. Most NGOs began to engage government and partner with government agencies to implement development programs and projects for poor communities. But NGOs generally remained small and their work was limited to specific communities and organizations that they worked with. NGO networks such as CODE-NGO were formed to facilitate joint efforts among these NGOs to increase their impact while maintaining the flexibility, efficiency and innovativeness that were related to their small size.
It was also a response to the need to ensure self-regulation of the sector to guard against fly-by-night NGOs. These fake NGOs had began to proliferate with the influx of foreign funds into the country from foreign governments and organizations eager to support the post-dictatorship government of Ms. Cory Aquino. CODE-NGO members jointly formulated a Code of Conduct for Development NGOs. This Code was ratified during the 1 st National Congress of the network in December 1991. The member networks pledged adherence to this Code of Conduct |
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| b) Please describe the significant growth of your NPF (extension of scope, increase in the number of members, activities, possible crisis)? 10 lines or more |
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Since 1991, CODE-NGO has strengthened and consolidated itself into the biggest network of social development non-government organizations in the country. Its 12 member networks and 2,000 affiliated organizations can be found all over the country.
CODE-NGO is now widely recognized by the NGO sector and the government as a reputable and effective network of NGOs. It has led in many innovative NGO initiatives in the past years including the formation of regional/provincial NGO networks, NGO funding mechanisms, engaging with local governments and the national government towards participatory and accountable governance and improving NGO governance. It has helped form 3 grant-making foundations for NGOs from foreign debt swaps and the local capital market. CODE-NGO was also a key member of a broad civil society alliance that was instrumental in the successful advocacy campaign to force former President Joseph Estrada to resign in 2001 following his impeachment for corrupt practices. |
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| c) What are the strong points of your NPF? |
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CODE-NGO's strengths include its many affiliated organizations who are located all over the country and who are actively doing social development work, its 12 member networks, around half of which are well established with stable funds and effective secretariats, its clear vision-mission-goals and strategic directions. CODE-NGO is also widely recognized and respected as an NGO network. Its members include the biggest and most respected NGO networks in the country and its Board members and other leaders are among the key NGO leaders in the Philippines |
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| d) What are the weaknesses and points to be improved? (For example, in terms of institutional or organizational reinforcement, communication material, strategy, financial management, etc) |
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We still need to strengthen our programs to help member networks and especially affiliated organizations become better governed and more sustainable. We also have to improve our database and ICT capabilities in relation to our NGO capacity building and advocacy thrusts. We also have to further develop our “successor generation” program both for new/young NGO workers and for second-line leaders of NGOs. |
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| 2) MISSIONS OF THE NGO National Platform |
a) What services does your NPF offer its members? Give a detailed account of the aims and activities organized (type of training, counsel, communication means, etc)–10 lines or more |
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| We have an NGO capability building program aimed at strengthening the governance, management and sustainability of member networks and organizations. We provide training seminars, learning exchanges/forums, documentation and sharing of good NGO practices and modest financial support.
We have also started to work on a common health and life insurance scheme for the staff of our member networks and organizations.
We also have a policy advocacy program that is involved in researches, training seminars, forums/consultations, lobbying and civil society monitoring of selected government programs and projects. |
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b) Does your NPF take a stand with respect to government policies, regional or international institutions? YES/NO
If yes, which ones? In which domain (education, health, Human rights)? How? (meetings with the Ministry, Letters to the Editor, organisation of seminars, etc)
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| CODE-NGO focuses on national and multi-sectoral policy concerns such as anti-corruption, participatory governance, government budget reforms, ODA reform, and bureaucracy reform. Our policy advocacy work includes researches, training seminars, forums/consultations, lobbying and civil society monitoring of selected government programs and projects. |
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| c) How are its stands elaborated and adopted (organisation of campaigns, creation of permanent commission or work group within the NPF, etc)? |
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| The stand of CODE-NGO on policy issues is based on its Covenant on Philippine Development which was approved in 1991 and reviewed and amended in 2001. The Covenant contains the development vision, goals and principles of CODE-NGO.
Its stands on issues are also discussed and approved by the Board of Trustees and the annual National Assembly of the network. There is also an Advocacy Commission which studies these issues and provides recommendations to the Board. The member networks also discuss these issues at their Board meetings and in membership consultations. |
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| II Functioning and Governing of The NGO National Platform |
| 1) Functioning of the NGO National Platform |
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| a) What is the legal status of your NPF? Is it registered or declared with the authorities? What laws govern NGO activities in your country? Are there different laws for different kind of organizations? (NGO, association, union, collective group, etc) Specify in 10 lines |
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| CODE-NGO is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in accordance with the Corporation Code.
Most non-profit organizations in the country are covered by the Corporation Code and are registered with the SEC. Cooperatives are governed by the Cooperative Code and are registered and regulated by the Cooperative Development Agency. Labor unions and rural workers associations are covered by the Labor Code and are under the Department of Labor and Employment.
NGOs also have to comply with particular laws and be licensed or accredited by particular government agencies depending on their programs and activities. Thus, social welfare and development NGOs have to secure a license with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. NGOs operating a school or a hospital have to secure a license or permit from the Department of Education and Department of Health, respectively. |
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| b) What are the decision-making bodies of your NPF? (General Body, Administrative Board? Executive Administration? Ethical Board? How are these bodies designated? |
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| National Congress – convenes once every 5 years, composed of representatives of the affiliated base organizations
National Assembly – meets every year, composed of authorized representatives of the member networks
Board of Trustees – elected by the Assembly, 14 members, term of 3 years, meets every quarter
Commissions (3) on Institutional and Capability Building, on Internal Reform Initiatives and on Advocacy – meets quarterly, oversees the related program and activities, provides related recommendations to the Board
Executive Committee – elected by the Board, 6 members, terms of 3 years, meets as required in between the Board meetings
Secretariat – headed by an Executive Director who is appointed by the Board |
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| c) Internal rules and ethics
Does your NPF have internal rules? YES/NO (If yes, please attach the document)
Does your NPF have code of ethics or other similar documents? YES/NO (If yes, please attach the document)
Have you changed the code of ethics or internal rules in the last 5 years? YES/NO If yes, please specify: |
YES. The internal rules were amended in 2004. The code was last amended in 2001. |
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| d) What are the conditions for membership in your NPF (financial membership, charter, participating in a commission or a work group, tasks relating to development or human rights…)? |
- must be a regional or national network of development NGOs
- must be endorsed by at least two members
- must support and adhere to the Covenant on Philippine Development and the Code of Conduct
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e) Do you have international institutions as members (associations, NGO movements)? YES/NO If yes, how many? Are they specifically organized within the NPF? |
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f) How many members receive information about your activities and your members (letter, e-mails, meetings, web site, Intranet…)? |
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Thru our e-newsletter, 1,000 of our member organizations and around 1,000 other organizations, government officials, academics, etc. |
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| 2) GOVERNING OF THE NGO PLATFORM |
a) How are the Administrative Board members elected? What are their duties? (Drawing up strategic perspectives, follow-up of activities and budget…)? Specify. |
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- Elected by the National Assembly
- approves policies and strategic plans of the network; approves annual plans and budget, oversees the implementation of the programs and projects; appoints the Executive Director
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| b) What are the functions of the General Body? Specify. |
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- sets direction of the network; elects the Board
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| c) Are there other governing bodies in your NPF? YES/NO If yes, what are their functions? |
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| III. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE NGO PLATFORM |
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| 1) RELATIONS WITH THE MEMBERS |
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| a) How many members are there in your NPF? |
| 2004 : 11 networks, 2,400 organizations
2005 : 10 networks, 2,300 organizations
2006 : 10 networks, 2,000 organizations
2007 : 12 networks, 2000 organizations |
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| b) Do you have work groups or thematic commissions? YES/NO If yes, on what themes do they work (example: nature, health, objectives of the Millennium for Development, access to funds…)? |
| We have 3 standing Commissions:
- Commission on Internal Reform Initiatives – to oversee the promotion and implementation of the Code of Conduct
- Commission on Institutional and Capacity Building – to oversee the seminars, forums, exchanges and other efforts to improve NGO capacity and sustainability
- Advocacy Commission – to oversee the policy advocacy program and activities of CODE-NGO
In addition, we form technical working groups or other bodies as may be needed. Right now we have a Working Group on the Inter-Network and Multi-Sectoral Regional Anti-Poverty Partnerships, a Committee on the Membership Databank and we are forming a Technical Working Group on Life/Health Insurance for NGO Workers. |
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| c) Do you assess the expectations or needs of your members? YES/NO If yes, in what way? |
| YES. Our Board and member networks are actively involved in the formulation of our 5-Year Strategic Plan. We have also started to give out feedback forms to them at the end of our fiscal year |
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| 2) RELATIONSHIP WITH SPONSORS |
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| a) Does your government provide reinforcement policies for NGOs? What are the arguments that justify this policy? What are the functions and special tasks attributed to NGOs by your Government, that justify the funds for reinforcing their capabilities? |
| The government does not provide NGO capability building policies or programs |
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| b) Is there a specific financial system to reinforce the NGOs in your country (example: funds, special donations)?
If yes, what kind of capabilities do they support? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these funds?
Else, how does the NGO fund its capability-reinforcement programme (staff training, research, strategic plans, organizational diagnosis…)? |
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| No.
These have to be funded by the NGO's internal fund (from trust fund earnings or membership fees or incomes) or by funds it has solicited or by grants from local and foreign donors. |
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| c) Who are your sponsors? For each sponsor, specify the project you are working on and the duration. |
- Misereor/ Germany – Civil Society Advocacy for Constitutional Reform, May 2006 - April 2009
- Peace and Equity Foundation - Pork Barrel (PDAF) Watch, August 2005 – December 2007
- Charity Commission of England and Wales – Piloting of NPO Sector Assessment Tool, November 2007 – February 2008
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| d) How would you summarize your relation with the sponsors (easy/difficult access or communication problem of co-financing, flexibility or not, project pace, evaluation, unsuitable problems, financing of the general expenses of the establishment…)? |
| Generally, we have had good relations with our donors. They have been flexible and supportive. |
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| 3) RELATIONS WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS, NGO'S |
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| a) Do you work with international NGOs, international networks, and national NGO platforms from countries other than yours? YES/NO If yes, please specify the names and the nature of relations: |
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| YES.
Civicus World Alliance for Citizens Participation – member
Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA), linked to Civicus – member and Co-Convenor of the Steering Committee |
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| b) Are there other NPFs or national NGO networks in your country? YES/NO
If yes, what are they? Do you work with these NPFs and/or national NGO networks? YES/NO
If yes, on what themes, what projects? |
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| YES.
There are other NGO coalitions in our country that focus on particular sectors (e.g. NGOs for Fisheries Reform, Upland NGO Assistance Committee, Women's Action Network for Development) and on particular advocacy issues (e.g. Philippine NGO Support Program for HIV/AIDS, Philippine NGO Council on Health, Task Force Participatory Local Governance, Transparency and Accountability Network)
We work with these national NGO networks on particular projects / activities as may be mutually agreed upon. |
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| IV OTHER REMORKS ON YOUR NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
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