CODE-NGO Covenant for
Philippine Development
and Code of Conduct
Presentation Outline
- The Covenant and Code of
Conduct: rationale and brief history
- Role of the Code in policy dialogue
and access to donor funding
- Impact on partnerships with
European and International actors
- Impact on coordination among
CSOs
History
The need to scale up NGO
impact and to safeguard the
legitimacy of the Philippine NGO
community became the root
motives that led to the
development of the Covenant and
the Code of Conduct and formation
of CODE-NGO in 1990-1991
History
- 1971-1983 – More than 20 years of Martial
Law and restrictive environment for NGOs
under Marcos
- 1986 People Power Revolution – widening of
democratic space
- 1987 Constitution Article II, Sec. 23 – a state
policy to encourage NGOs, CBOs, sectoral
organizations and their role in nation-building
- 1991 Local Government Code – CSO
representation in local special bodies and
development councils
History
- 1988 - CIDA consultation with various
NGO networks in the Philippines as part
of its country program review, and
eventual formation of PhilippinesCanada Human Resource Development
Program (PCHRD)
- May 1990 – CODE-NGO was launched
by the 10 of the largest NGO networks
in the Philippines
History
January 1991 – CODE-NGO was legally
registered as a non-stock, non-profit
organization.
December 1991 - CODE-NGO held its 1st
National Congress, attended by close to
1,000 NGO and PO leaders
A Covenant on Philippine Development
and a Code of Conduct for Development
NGOs were ratified
History
The Covenant on Philippine
Development is the foundation
document of CODE-NGO
The Covenant expresses the
members’ collective vision for
development and their
commitment to uphold a standard
of conduct in development work.
Rationale
- to assert our identity and distinguish
legitimate NGOs from “fly-by-nights”
- to avoid cooptation and assert our
autonomy to identify our own priorities
- to influence development assistance
- to influence the way government is
working for development
Major Obstacles
- ideological, institutional and
personal differences (the process
“bloody”, the debates heated and the
Covenant served as a peace pact or
“bodong”)
- idea of imposing sanctions on
colleagues was not easily accepted
Development Principles
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Primary goal: people empowerment and
satisfaction of their basic needs
Development should be integrated and holistic
(material and non-material)
The people as the primary force of development
The people as the primary beneficiary of
development
Exercise of responsible utilization and
stewardship of natural wealth and resources
Recognition and enhancement of religious and
cultural diversity
Prevalence of cooperative spirit
Cooperation among peoples of different nations
on the basis of peaceful coexistence and respect
for each nation’s sovereignty and national
integrity
Development Goals
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Preservation of National Sovereignty
Environmental Protection/
Conservation
Equitable Access to Resources and
Employment Generation
Effective, Democratic and
Participatory Governance
Peaceful Resolution of All Armed
Conflicts
Safeguarding of Fundamental
Freedoms and Rights
Fostering a Culture of Involvement
Fostering Indigenous Cultures
Code of Conduct /
Responsibilities of
NGOs
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Serve clear development objectives
consistent with vision-mission and understood
by board members, staff and partners
Acknowledge accountability to various publics
and stakeholders
Ensure that financial policies and practices
comply with laws, generally accepted
accounting principles and agreements with
donors/fund sources
Remain relevant and responsive amidst
changing environments
Help CODE-NGO sustain its vital work of
consensus-building, innovation, leadership
and advocacy
Code of Conduct /
Responsibilities of
NGOs
Sets out NGO's responsibilities in relation to:
– Its Staff
– the Communities we work with
– Its Fellow NGOs
– Its Partner Funding Agencies
– Government
– Business Sector
Philippine Council for
NGO Certification
(PCNC)
“Seal of good housekeeping
among NGOs”
- 1998 – PCNC established by CODENGO and 5 other NGO networks
- born out of government's plan to
remove tax deductibility of donations to
NGOs
- related to reports of fly-by-night NGOs
and concerns about government's ability
to regulate non-profits
Philippine Council for
NGO Certification
(PCNC)
“Seal of good housekeeping
among NGOs”
- evaluation criteria: VMG,
Governance, Administration, Program
Operations, Financial Management,
Networking
- peer review system done by volunteer
evaluators
- recognized by government – donee
institution status by the BIR
Impact on Partnerships
with International
Actors
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Local NGO-managed funding
mechanisms were set up (FSSI for
Swiss debt-for-development and FPE
for US debt-for-nature swaps)
Continuing advocacy to influence ODA
policy
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Increased allocation to poverty alleviation
projects
increased transparency on its use
increased participation of NGOs and POs in
defining its allocation; and
increased ODA funds channeled through
Impact on Partnerships
with International
Actors
- increasing appreciation by funding
partners of the value of PCNC
certification as assurance of NGO
sound management and
accountability
- increasing recognition of the role of
civil society throughout the
development process
Impact on Coordination
among Local NGOs
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Covenant and Code of Conduct have
served to unify member networks and their
base organizations
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Covenant has also led to agenda-based
alliances among broad section of CSOs
(e.g. Development and Reform Agenda for
2010-13 - adopted by 80 CS networks and
organizations; and Citizens' Alternative
Roadmap for Poverty Reduction and
Achieving the MDGs: Recommendations
for the 2010-1016 Medium Term Philippine
Development Plan)
Impact on Coordination
among Local NGOs
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PCNC has facilitated consensus
building and coordination among
CSOs viz government policy on
NGO regulation (e.g. proposed Phil.
NGO Certification Office)
PCNC has also started planning how
to help improve the capabilities of
certified NGOs through common
capacity building programs
Caucus of Development NGO Networks
(CODE-NGO), Philippines
www.code-ngo.org