On 26-27 January 2015 the Strengthening the Capacity of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Project had its Culminating Program at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City.

The 2-Day Closing Program brought together the Chairpersons, Presidents, and Executive Directors of all the participating CSOs as well as the Volunteer Mentors and Volunteer NUPAS Assessors nationwide.

The activity focused on the learning sessions on Risk Management, Philippine Socio Economic Outlook and the ASEAN Integration, Government Experience in Working with the CSOs, Reflection on Civil Society’s Role, Funding and Partnership Opportunities for CSOs, and Round table discussion on Participatory Assessment of Project.

The Volunteer mentors nationwide with Gloria Steele, Mission Director of the USAID, Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Co-Chair of the  Ayala Foundation, Incorporated and  Lourdes de Leon, President of the Ayala Foundation Incorporated.

Dr. Malu C. Barcillano, Director of the Center for Local Governance was one of the Volunteer Mentors of the project. She was assigned to mentor the Simon of Cyrene Children’s Rehabilitation and Development, Incorporated and Bicol Center for Community Development, Incorporated both in Daraga, Albay from 2012 to 2014.

The project was initiated by the United States Agency for International Development in collaboration with the Ayala Foundation Association of Foundations, Caucus of Development Non Government Organization Networks, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Council for Non Government Organization Certification, and University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance.

-Benita Michele C. Verdadero