Wednesday, February 22, 2012

UN Millennium Development Goals-Based Programs

DIASPORA PHILANTHROPY: LINGKOD SA KAPWA PILIPINO
(Link for Philippine Development Program or LINKAPIL)

...towards the realization of the UN Millenium Development Goals...

The unprecedented movement of Filipinos across national boundaries in the last several decades has led to a vision of a global community of more than eight (8) million people with a collective strength that can fuel Philippine economic development. While they have found gainful employment and even acquired permanent residency or citizenship in their host countries, overseas Filipinos have an abiding interest in the future of the Philippines. They remain deeply involved and maintain close ties by engaging in philanthropic undertakings and socio-cultural programs reflective of their continued concern for the motherland.

Inspired by the promise of this vision, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas designed the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino or LINKAPIL Program in 1989. It has resulted in the forging of broader and deeper partnerships between Filipinos beyond borders. As a vehicle of service to fellow Filipinos, LINKAPIL provides a mechanism for the transfer of various forms of resources from Filipinos overseas to support small-scale, high-impact projects that address the country's social and economic development needs.

In line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG), this philanthropic diaspora initiative or LINKAPIL supports projects that address:

• MDGoal #1: Eradication of extreme hunger and poverty

• MDGoal #2: Achievement of universal primary education

• MDGoal #4: Reduction of child mortality

• MDGoal #5: Improvement of maternal health

• MDGoal #7: Environmental sustainability


GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

LINKAPIL facilitates the flow of assistance from overseas Filipinos to specific beneficiaries in the Philippines.

• To encourage the participation of an ever increasing number of overseas Filipinos in the   national development efforts specifically in selected MDG targets

• To provide a mechanism for improved coordination and feedback among overseas donors, government agencies and beneficiaries

• To promote awareness and understanding of existing procedures and guidelines for the processing of donations from abroad

• To monitor and report regularly on the status or progress of projects to the concerned donors

• To build confidence among overseas donors through credible and responsible management of donated resources

• To cultivate productive partnerships between the overseas Filipino donor community and their beneficiaries to ensure the attainment of MDG targets by 2015

OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK

The LINKAPIL stakeholders and their respective roles and responsibilities are clearly differentiated.


COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS

  •  Serves as the principal conduit between overseas donors and local beneficiaries of the project 
  • Recommends to overseas donors, MDG related projects that can be undertaken in various localities in the Philippines
  •  Coordinates with government agencies that can provide project support services
  •  Identifies local counterparts with the capability and willingness to cooperate in the delivery of project components in areas of need
  • Arranges the transfer of resources from overseas Filipino donors to target beneficiaries and partners
  •  Assists in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects

OVERSEAS DONORS / SPONSORS


  • Provide financial, material or technical support directly to the beneficiaries or through the CFO
  • Identify and select the project/s and localities in need of assistance (as may be suggested by the CFO to realize MDG-based targets)
  • Identify local counterparts in the selected areas who have the capability to oversee project implementation
  • Conduct inspection trips to project sites with the assistance of the CFO

PHILIPPINE EMBASSIES / CONSULATES

  • Engage the overseas Filipino community as a direct partner in the mobilization of human and financial resources supportive of Philippine development projects/activities
  • Assist overseas donors in identifying doable priority projects in the areas of need
  • Promote unity among Filipino and foreign organizations and individuals to maximize and ensure continued interest in sustainable development initiatives in the motherland

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES / LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

  • Assist the beneficiary communities in identifying doable priority projects, including the preparation of feasibility studies and proposals
  • Provide technical assistance or training on project management as may be needed by prospective beneficiaries
  • Coordinate and facilitate the transfer and release of goods/services to beneficiaries
  • Participate in consultations and dialogues between and among other government agencies to address issues and concerns relative to the streamlining/improvement of the donation process and corresponding regulatory procedures

LOCAL COUNTERPARTS / NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS

  • Assist in the identification of potential beneficiaries and community projects aligned with MDG targets
  • Receive resources / assistance directly from overseas donors or through CFO
  • Coordinate with responsible government agencies and other institutions which can provide capacity-building trainings to improve the project management and implementation skills of prospective beneficiaries
  • Conduct periodic inspection, monitoring and assessment of projects to ensure compliance with objectives and performance targets
  • Prepare and submit to donors through the CFO regular progress reports to identify issues and concerns that may hamper project implementation

BENEFICIARIES

  • Submit to prospective donors, through the CFO, proposals with corresponding feasibility studies on doable priority projects in their locality/community that are in line with MDG targets
  • Receive financial and other forms of assistance directly from sponsoring individuals/associations overseas, through the CFO or through the local counterpart identified by the concerned donor/s
  • Provide donors, through the CFO, with regular updates on the status of the projects, including a terminal report that summarizes problems encountered, resulting best practices and their corresponding impact on the lives of beneficiaries/communities