CODE-NGO Congress on November 20-22

The Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) will convene nearly a thousand delegates from among its 12 member networks from all over the Philippines for its 5th Congress, on November 20-22, 2012.  This is considered the largest gathering of civil society leaders in the country, themed “Breaking Barriers in Civil Society’s Constructive Engagement for Development.

The event also serves as the culmination of CODE-NGO’s celebration of its 20 years of influencing public policy and contributing to increasing the effectiveness of civil society’s social development work in the country.

CODE-NGO holds its Congress every 5 years, to evaluate its work for the past years and set its directions for the future. The CODE-NGO Congress is set to approve the coalition’s Strategic Plan for 2013-2017.

Learning Sessions will be held on November 21 at the Institute of Social Order, Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.  Highlights include LGU-CSO-DILG Engagement: Challenges and Choices, People’s Participation in Local Poverty Reduction Action Planning and Bottom Up Budgeting, Rethinking Poverty Towards Sustained and Holistic Development, Mobilizing Citizens for Democratic and Responsive Local Governance, Aflatoun: Social and Financial Education for Kids and the Youth, Addressing Flood Disaster Risks of Vulnerable Communities, Promoting Social Enterprises in Renewable Energy, Legal Services and Fair Trade, and more.

Plenary Sessions will be conducted on November 22 at the Skydome, SM North EDSA in Quezon City.  This will be the culmination of the affair as President Benigno S. Aquino will speak to the delegates. The CODE-NGO Leaders will afterwards present the Code of Conduct of Development NGOs to President Aquino, signed by the 12 member networks.

Member Networks will affirm their commitment to the Code of Conduct for Development NGOs as a response to the greater demand for accountability by CSOs.  The National Confederation of Cooperatives is a member of CODE-NGO.

Plenaries in the afternoon include: The Role of Civil Society Organizations in the post-2015 Agenda by UN Resident Coordinator Luisa Carvalho and The Road Ahead for the Bangsamoro and Philippine CSOs by Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks.

Member networks will report on the coalition’s accomplishments for the past 5 years and present directions for the next years.

The organization will also launch its 20th year coffee table book that will feature the best practices of members on good governance.

Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) is the country’s largest coalition of non-government organizations working for social development. CODE-NGO is made up of 6 national networks and 6 regional networks, representing more than 1,600 development NGOs, people’s organizations and cooperatives nationwide.  CODE-NGO is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

For more information, interested parties may contact CODE-NGO at (02) 435-6616, (02)927-5886 and (02) 926-8131.