Institution and Capacity Building


About ICB

In year 2000, CODE-NGO created the Commission on Institution and Capacity Building (CICB) to develop its Human Resource and Organizational Development Program for its member networks and organizations. As a directions-setting body, the CICB recommends and oversees the implementation of strategic HR and OD interventions, based on the CODE-NGO Strategic Thrusts and in consultation with its member networks. Since its inception, the CICB has brought about the delivery of training programs in strategic OD, HR and financial management, as well as in project development, implementation, management and evaluation. These programs were being designed to meet the capacity-building needs of the Governing Boards, network secretariat management and staff, and leaders and officers of CODE-NGO member networks and organizations to help strengthen the delivery of their programs and services.


Partners


Association of Foundations (AF) - for the "Building Successful Boards" Program

Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies (PhilSSA) - for "Successor Generation" Program

Students Formation Network:

- Office of Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI), Ateneo de Manila University and the Ateneo schools network

- Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA), De La Salle University and the La Salle schools network

- Institutional Network for Social Action (INSA), Miriam College; Center for Social Concern, Assumption College and the Consortium of Women Colleges

- UP Students Catholic Action (UPSCA)

 

Updates


Reflections on the sustainability of NGO networks

CODE-NGO conducted last March 9-10, 2010 a reflection workshop for its Board members and the executive directors of its member networks to discuss strategies in addressing its serious concern about the sustainability of NGO networks.  Many NGO networks and organizations, including some CODE-NGO members, are currently facing serious sustainability issues, mainly characterized by inadequate resources (financial, material and human) to sustain their programs and activities and by the increasing difficulty to access grants from funding partners. 

Among the key insights from the reflection session was that a network's sustainability does not only refer to availability of financial resources. A network is sustainable - and resources will be available - if the more important elements are in place, i.e. a system of internal governance and accountability, a critical core membership, clear mission and basis of unity and adequate and competent human resource.  

By the end of the workshop, the member networks set out their action plans to address their sustainability concerns.  Some networks set out to make their Boards and members more actively involved in program planning and resource mobilization. While some others identified a common agenda/project for their members or specific niche based on their network's core competencies.  The CODE-NGO Board members also committed to keep their "Peer Assist" system within a year after the workshop -  where the Board members of the more stable member networks will act as peer consultants for their colleagues who needed such assistance and will monitor the implementation of the latter's action plans.

General assemblies of CODE-NGO member networks

Several CODE-NGO member networks conducted the annual assemblies of their respective members recently:

Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD), March 4 to 6, Naga City
Cordillera Network of Development NGOs (CORDNET), March 3, Baguio City
Western Visayas Network of Social Development NGOs (WEVNet), March 23, Iloilo City
National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), April 9-11, Davao City
Association of Foundations (AF), April 16, Makati City, and
Central Visayas Network (CenVISNET), April 16-17, Dumaguete City.

The themes of the networks' assemblies revolve around actively engaging in the upcoming national elections, optimizing growth and responding more effectively to the social development needs of communities in a changing environment.  CODE-NGO supports the regular conduct of its members' general assemblies as a good governance practice, and as a venue for the networks to strengthen the solidarity among their members and consolidate their position on the pressing issues of the times. 

Committed to Good Governance

The CODE-NGO Commission on Institution and Capacity (CICB) completed  in 2007 a series of “Building Successful Boards Seminar” in the cities of Davao, Baguio and Naga. The seminars were developed and conducted by Carmencita Abella and Norman Jiao of the Association of Foundations (AF) for the board members of MINCODE, CORDNET and CBD.

The Seminar series is part of CODE-NGO’s commitment to effective governance of Philippine NGOs. Since 2006, the Seminar has provided orientations to 121 Board members of CODE-NGO member networks and affiliated organizations.

It is quite common among NGOs to invite Board members who are friends or relatives of founders, or because of their credibility, name or reputation. In some NGOs, Board members seldom meet, and have little knowledge of the programs and activities of the organizations they represent.

The Seminar gave the NGO Board members a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities in setting the vision and strategic direction for their organizations. “Fund-raising is also primarily a responsibility of the Board, contrary to many NGOs' perception and actual practice that it is the Executive Director’s or the management’s role,” said seminar facilitator Ms. Abella. Board members were likewise informed of their fiduciary responsibilities or contract liabilities, of running effective Board meetings and of managing relations with management and staff.

While many participants have long served as managers and leaders of their organizations, they confirmed gaining fresh insights from the seminar, especially from the sample case exercises on NGO situations calling for Board decisions discussed in the sessions.

CICB Members

Members of the Commission on Institution and Capacity Building 

Chairperson:  Benedict Balderrama, PHILSSA 
 
Vice Chairperson:  Paulina Lawsin-Nayra, EVNet
 
Members:
 
Ma. Rosario Lopez, AF
 
Joy Oropesa-Bañares, CBD
 
Abraham Mang-usan, CORDNET
 
Charmae Pyl Nercua, CenVISNET
 
Patricia Sarenas, MINCODE
 
Emelina Santos, NATCCO
 
Marian Opeña, NCSD
 
Presy Bombeta, PBSP
 
Macario Jusayan, PhilDHRRA
 
Emmanuel Areño, WEVNet

 
 
 

Member Networks