Established in 2002, the Democracy Fund was created to support the advocacy initiatives of people’s organizations (POs) that are consistent with CODE-NGO’s Development Agenda.

About the Program

The Democracy Fund is intended to support the advocacy initiatives of POs, which are not normally funded by donor agencies.

The Democracy Fund is an expression of CODE-NGO’s support for PO empowerment and asset reform.

Who can avail?

Any PO that is duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or any other valid government entity, can apply for a grant from the Democracy Fund. POs, also called primary organizations, are composed of grassroots sectors through which “the poor majority exercises the prerogative to participate in the processes and systems of development work.” (Alegre A., “Trends and traditions”)

What activities can be supported?

The fund is intended solely to support advocacy activities of POs. The advocacy issue should be consistent with CODE-NGO’s Development Agenda. Eligible advocacy activities include:

• Mass mobilization
• Press conferences and public information/media campaigns
• Fora and meetings to present and discuss advocacy issues
• Training related to advocacy campaigns

All activities must be completed within one year from the time the grant was awarded.

On the other hand, activities which cannot be funded include:

• Any capital expenditure (even if it is related to eligible activities)
• Training programs not related to advocacy campaigns
• Livelihood projects
• Research projects
• Relief or welfare assistance
• Operational or institutional support
• Professional fee of project proponent staff and other administrative costs cannot be funded by the grant.

What is the size of each grant?

The grant size varies but maximum is set at Php 50,000.00.

A cash or in-kind counterpart from the project proponent is required. Counterpart should be at least twenty (20%) of total grant requested and should be reflected in the budget.

How are grants evaluated?

When reviewing and evaluating the proposal, the following questions will be asked:

• Is the proponent an eligible people’s organization, duly registered / with a legal personality?

• Are the proposed costs reasonable or within acceptable standards? Does the budget of the proposal follow the grant guidelines on maximum allowable grant and minimum required counterpart?

• Is there a Board Resolution stating that the proponent organization is applying for the Democracy Fund grant, identifying the point person or contact person for the application, and if needed, authorizing any third party’s bank account for the fund transfer transaction?

• Does the proposal contain eligible activities for funding (not included in the list of activities prohibited for funding)?

• Is the issue being advocated consistent with the CODE-NGO’s development agenda?

• Does the proponent have demonstrated track record to manage and implement the proposed activity?
• Is there a recent grant from the Democracy Fund to the proponent? (In the interest of maximizing fund utilization in the widest possible area, we encourage POs to submit only one proposal per year.  Also, any PO can access the fund also for a maximum of three (3) successive years.)

• Will the proposed activity be completed within one year from the time the grant is awarded?

• Does the proposal have clearly defined objectives, activities and outputs?

• If there were previous grants (from CODE-NGO or donors) to the proponent, were they utilized efficiently and effectively?

Proposals are acknowledged within one week from the time they are received, informing the proponent that they will be informed of the status of the proposal within one month from the deadline of the applicable period for proposal submission.

The proposal will be appraised within the month following the deadline for each period of proposal submissions. After appraisal, if the proposal does not comply with any of the above guidelines, the Program Officer for Advocacy informs the proponent for their proper action.

After appraisal, proposals which meet the evaluation standards will be recommended to the Executive Director or Deputy Executive Director who will make the final decision. Letters will be sent to proponent organizations to inform them of the decision.

How to apply?

There will be four periods of proposal review. The deadlines for receiving proposals for each review period are October 1, January 1, April 1, and May 1. Proposals received after these deadlines will be considered in the next review period. Results of the review will be announced within these months. However, in case a project proposal is deemed urgent by the CODE-NGO, the proposal may be reviewed sooner.

Proposals may be received in either hard or soft copies. Proposals should follow the format attached. Only proposals with complete information and attachments will be reviewed.

Applications should be addressed to:

Executive Director Caucus of Development NGO Networks 69 Esteban Abada Street Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108 Email caucus@code-ngo.org

How to get more information?

You may direct your queries to the CODE-NGO Advocacy Officer at telephone numbers 9268131, 4356616 or 9202595 local 105 or email caucus@code-ngo.org.

The Democracy Fund Proposal Template may be downloaded from this link: https://code-ngo.org/home/reports-a-resource-materials/item/democracy-fund-proposal-template.html

Projects Supported by Democracy Fund

In its continued support to strengthen and empower the participation of People’s Organizations (POs) in social development work, CODE-NGO’s Democracy Fund was able to support various advocacy projects and activities of POs for the past years.  Below is the list of proponents, as well as their respective projects and approved DF grant amount.

[toggle title_open=”Projects in FY2010-2011″ title_closed=”Projects in FY2010-2011″ hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”white”] For fiscal year 2010-2011, CODE-NGO supported the advocacy projects of 16 People’s Organizations (POs) amounting to a total of PhP 571,000. These projects were as follows:

1. PAKISAMA, “Campaigning for Land Distribution in Hacienda Luisita”, Php 50,000
2. Anak Teatro, Inc., “Community-Based Education and Mass Advocacy Campaign on Sexual Education on Adolescents”, Php 24,750
3. Tanghalang Bonifacio Rizal Inc (TBR,Inc), “Community-Based Youth Education, Advocacy and Campaign on Health Warning for Tobacco Users”, Php 22,750
4. PAKISAMA – Visayas, “Tacticizing legal and meta-legal responses for Caluya demolition victims”, Php 40,000
5. Kahugpungan sa Lumolupyu sa Makabug Alang sa Kalambuan, “People’s Empowerment Through Voters’ Education”, Php 17,000
6. Samahan ng mga Artisanong Mangingisda sa Calatagan, Inc. (SAMMACA), “Stakeholders’ Consultation on the Coral Triangle Initiative”, Php24,000
7. Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK), “Talakayan ungo sa Pagpapalakas ng Pamayanang Nagsakahan upang Harapin ang Negatibong Epekto ng Pagbabago ng Klima”, Php 20,750
8. SINDAW KO KALILINTAD, “Renewing our Commitment in the Strengthening of Zones of Peace”, Php 50,000
9. Manggagawa para sa Kalayaan ng Bayan (MAKABAYAN), “Campaign of Hanjin Shipyard Workers”, Php 30,000
10. Progresibong Alyansa ng Kabataan ng Sauyo, Inc. (PAKSA, Inc), “Advocacy Campaign on Global warming and Climate Change and its effects on young people in urban communities”, Php 36,750
11. Samahan ng mga Settlers sa San Luis, Aurora (SASESLA), “Two Day Caravan of the People of Casiguran Against APECO”, Php 40,000
12. Panaghiusang sa Lalawigan Maguuma sa Bukidnon (PALAMBU), “Consultation on Accessing Government Programs and Resources to Address Farmer Issues”, Php 40,000
13. La Mesa Ville Homeowners Association, “Expanding the Social Protection Systems: A Local Response to the Country’s Poverty Reduction in line with the MDGs”, Php 40,000
14. Sultan Kudarat Active-People’s Network (SKAN), Advancing People’s Participation and Agenda in Sultan Kudarat Province and Organization Capacity and Capacity Building, Php 45,000
15. Stella Maris Women’s Association, “Strengthening the Partnerships Between CSOs, the DSWD and Local Government Units in Order to Localize the Implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya, KALAHI-CIDDS and the SEA-K Program of the DSWD”, Php 50,000
16. Calagan Multi-purpose Development Organization (CAMPDO), “Promoting Transparency and People’s Participation in the Government Budget Cycle”, Php 40,000

[/toggle] [toggle title_open=”Projects in FY2009-2010″ title_closed=”Projects in FY2009-2010″ hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”white”]

For fiscal year FY2009-2010, CODE-NGO has supported 19 projects of People’s Organizations amounting to a total of Php 496,000 as summarized below:

1. TriPartite Farmers’ Federation (TriFFED), Local People’s Agenda-Building towards a more enlightened voters in the May 2010 Elections, Php 40,000
2. Nagkakaisang Mamamayan sa Kanlurang Batangas MPC (NAGKASAMA MPC), “Sugar Industry Stakeholders Forum on 2010 Tarriff Reduction”, Php 40,000
3. Informal Sector Unity Towards Empowerment (IS-UNITE), “Consumers’ Forum on the Laiban Dam Campaign”, Php 40,000
4. Oriental Mindoro NGO/PO Network (ORNET), “Mindoro Hunger Strike Against Mining”, Php 40,000
5. MILAMDEC, MPC, “Stakeholders Consultation on Agenda ‘Pangantucan 2020”, Php 40,000
6. Kasarinlan Development Cooperative (KDC), “Supporting UP-ALL 2010 Election Activities”, Php 29,000
7. Agusan Resettlement Peoples Organizations Federation (ARPOFED), “Voters’ Education and Electoral Campaign Planning”, Php 45,000
8. Maguikay Womens’ Association, Inc (MWO), “Allow Women Together We Can”, Php 10,000
9. Anak Teatro, Inc., “Mobilization for Clean and Honest Elections”, Php 6,000
10. Ifugao Global Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IGEMCO), “Changing Politics in Ifugao”, Php 12,000
11. Katibyugan, Inc., “Voters Education in Capiz”, Php 12,000
12. SACARBEMCO, “Dissemination of Local People’s Agenda on the Road to a Unified Vote on May 2010”, Php 25,000
13. PAGBAG-O, Inc, “CPM General Assembly and Congressional Forum”, Php 15,000
14. Change Politics Movement, “Boto Ko Sagrado, Hindi Produkto!”, Php 50,000
15. Kamao, Inc, “Strengthening Constituencies and Advocacy for Peaceful 2010 Elections”, Php 12,000
16. Farmworkers Agrarian Reform Movement (FARM), “Campaign for Agrarian Reform in the 2010 Elections”, Php 15,000
17. AKKAPKA Foundation, Inc., “Prayer and Fasting for Credible Elections through Parallel Manual Count”, Php 15,000
18. Tanghalang Bonificio-Rizal, Inc, “Youth Assembly in NCR”, Php 30,000
19. Coalition for a Citizens’ Constitution (C4CC), “Advocacy for FOI Bill ratification”, Php 20,000

[/toggle] [toggle title_open=”Projects in FY200-2009″ title_closed=”Projects in FY2008-2009″ hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”white”] For FY2008-2009, CODE-NGO supported 19 People’s Organizations for their advocacy projects, amounting to PhP 919,000.  These organizations and their respective projects were as follows:

1. Nabua Dev. Multi-Purpose Coop., “Provincial Consultation on Economic and Environmental Concerns”, Php50,000
2. Kilusang Mangingisda, “Campaign for Fisherfolk Tenurial Rights”, Php44,500
3. Bukluran ng mga Maralita sa Camarin, “Voters’ Education”, Php50,000
4. Center for Youth Advocacy & Networking, “I Am the Future” Registration Campaign, Php50,000
5. Katipunan ng Bagong Pilipina, “Adbokasiya Ukol sa Pagsususog ng Saligang Batas”, Php40,000
6. Parents’ Organization for the Protection of Children, “Adbokasiya: Brgy. Council for the Protection of Children”, Php44,000
7. Anak-Teatro, “Participation in the Campaign to Stop ConAss”, Php50,000
8. PARBA-Guimaras, “Advocacy on Charter Change”, Php50,000
9. PILIPINA, Inc., “PO Mobilization for the Anti-Con-Ass Prayer Rally”, Php50,000
10. KAGABAY-PO, “Multi-Sectoral Mobilization and Vigil at the HoR”, Php50,000
11. PAKISAMA, “Disaster Response Campaign in the Bicol Region”, Php50,000
12. PAKISAMA-Mindanao, “The National Situation Implications of the May Elections”, Php50,000
13. Agusan Resettlement PO Federation, “Voter’s Education and Electoral Campaign Planning”, Php49,500
14. Lumbia Women Self-Help Association, “Involvement of POs: Good Governance and Electoral Reform”, Php45,000
15. SAMBILOG, “Forum on Bataraza and Balabac’s Fisherfolk Electoral Agenda”, Php50,000
16. KASAMMA-BAY, “Basic Sectors Taking Stock on their Environmental and Development Agenda in the May 2007 Elections”, Php50,000
17. MARBEMCO, “Voters’ Education for Basic Sectors”, Php46,000
18. PIGLAS, “Child Labor Forum”, Php50,000
19. BINHI, “Farmers’ Summit and Multi-Stakeholders’ Dialogue”, Php50,000

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