“Panibagong Paraan” Project Grant Competition launched
“Panibagong Paraan 2006”, a multisectoral undertaking involving the Peace and Equity Foundation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the World Bank and other international and local development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector recently launched a Grant Competition for innovative development projects responding to the theme “Development with Equity.” Under this competition, people´s organizations, community-based groups, NGOs, schools, and 5th and 6th class municipalities are asked to submit project ideas that address equity issues in the country.
“Panibagong Paraan 2006” is the second competition of its kind and was launched last September, 2005. It is a unique competition of innovative project ideas, policy proposals and other creative entries that respond to the theme, “Development with Equity.” It urges people to look at the following equity issues:
- Increasing incomes/income opportunities
- Improving access to social services, infrastructure and utilities (e.g. energy)
- Improving access to/control of land and other assets
- Improving access to/ensuring fairness in market and financial structures and systems
- Strengthening participation in decision-making (voice and influence)
- Improving access to/ensuring fairness in political and justice systems
The new competition on “Expression of Ideas” is in line with Panibagong Paraan 2006´s objective of providing a venue for active and informed dialogue on the urgent and challenging issue of “Development with Equity.” It will culminate in an exhibit-social policy forum on May, 2006.
Two kinds of competition were announced: (1) Expression of ideas or sharing one´s views on how to bring about “Development with Equity.” Entries may be in the form of policy proposals, essays, poetry, artwork, song compositions, or multi-media presentations (Guidelines on this competition will be announced at a later date.); and (2) Competition of innovative projects, involving start-up project grants of up to PhP1 million for a one-year implementation period.
The competition for project grants is open to: people´s organizations, including community-based groups, sectoral associations and cooperatives; non-government organizations, foundations, civic organizations, faith-based and inter-faith organizations, and other civil society organizations (CSOs); private and public research and academic institutions, in partnership with people´s organizations or CSOs; and, 5th and 6th class local government units (LGUs), including barangays therein, in partnership with local people´s organizations or CSOs.
Project concepts have to address any of the major equity issues cited, and have to benefit marginalized groups, such as: women, men or youth in disadvantaged situations, the elderly, children, people with disabilities, small farmers and fishers, laborers, migrant workers, or even entire communities in remote areas or those which are usual victims of disaster. Proposals for project grants will be evaluated on the basis of innovation, scalability and replicability, and potential impact.
Peace and Equity Foundation partners involved in this competition include: the World Bank (WB), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) (lead partner agency), AusAID-PACAP, the United States Department of State, Embassy of Japan (EOJ), The Asia Foundation (TAF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mirant Philippines Foundation, Inc., Philippine Center for Population and Development (PCPD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), Consuelo Foundation, League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), Makati Business Club (MBC), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), and the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Program (UNDP GEF-SGP).
The official Panibagong Paraan flyer (in pdf format) can be downloaded here. Concept notes for proposed projects will be accepted until November 30,2005. Winners will be announced at the Panibagong Paraan 2006 culminating event on May 26-27, 2006 at SM Megamall. For more information, please visit the official “Panibagong Paraan” website or contact the PEF office nearest you.