ADMU-SEDPI Conducts “Branch Viability” Trainings to ARDCI

The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) conducted five simultaneous trainings to ARDCI NGO Group, Inc. (ARDCI) on March 17 – 27, 2012. Key management officers and operations staff of ARDCI attended the “Branch Viability” training. The course aims to provide metrics that could be monitored at the branch level to ensure sustainability of branches.

Alma T. Villanueva, ARDCI’s Operations Head explained, “In our effort to serve more clients, we need to be certain that each branch we open will be able to sustain its own operations”. This goal prompted the organization to strengthen its branch operations through building the capacity of their staff. ARDCI currently has 32 branches in its areas of operations covering six provinces in Southern Luzon serving nearly 50,000 poor households.

Feedback from the participants showed positive response to sessions delivered and to the facilitators as well. One of the participants commented, “the training course gave valuable information for our branch operation.” In addition to the trainings, SEDPI staff went to each ARDCI branch to mentor the staff in the branches. This is to ensure application of the learning from the training. During the mentoring, the branch managers expressed that the training will certainly help them on monitoring the actual performance of their branch versus their targets.

The training is one of many collaborations of SEDPI and ARDCI. In 2007, SEDPI played a pivotal role in the turning around the performance of ARDCI. ARDCI was at he verge of collapse then. The organization was swamped with challenges in governance as a result of frequent change in leadership. For four consecutive years, from 2003 to 2006, ARDCI experienced consecutive net losses. The losses incurred reached approximately PhP20 million. Through the SEDPI’s capacity buildings services, ARDCI was able to turn around its performance. Today, key measures of performance show that ARDCI is performing excellently. The institution scored a peso rating of 83 out of a possible 100 for 2011. In 2006, ARDCI only scored a measly 21 points. Operational self sufficiency soared to 138%, better than the industry best practice of 120%. Portfolio at risk ratio is also within the industry best practice of less than 5%.

ARDCI continues to avail SEDPI’s services to keep it abreast with the latest trends in microfinance as well as maintain its stellar organizational performance. SEDPI provides numerous trainings, conducts various researches and facilitates strategic planning to ARDCI as needs arise. Through continuous improvement, ARDCI is poised to become the forerunner in grass-roots led delivery of service for the economic empowerment of the poor in the Philippines.

SEDPI Obtains DAR Accreditation

Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) is now an accredited professional service provider for the projects under the Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) of the Department of Agrarian Reform. The department posted the result on their website last March 13, 2012.

The accreditation includes SEDPI to the pool of development service providers eligible to bid for projects that will provide services to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) of DAR. The components of PBD include the Social Infrastructure and Local Capability Building (SILCAB), Sustainable Agri-Business and Rural Enterprise Development (SARED), and Access Facilitation and Enhancement Support (AFAES). In addition, DAR recently launched the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCESS) project. Through developing synergy between entrepreneurship and social responsibility, this project aims to create an environment that will transform ARB organizations into sustainable agricultural enterprises.

The services SEDPI is accredited to provide nationwide are the following; Production and Technical Management Services, Financial and Organizational Management, and Progress Monitoring. Through this opportunity SEDPI will share its knowledge on rural finance and social entrepreneurship for the benefit of the ARBs.

PDTF Renews Accreditation of SEDPI

The People’s Development Trust Fund renewed its accreditation to the Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) as a service provider effective for two years. This is the third renewal of SEDPI as a service provider since 2008. The renewal is a sign of continued trust of PDTF to SEDPI’s quality delivery of services.

As an accredited service provider, PCFC and PDTF grantee institutions may tap SEDPI’s services. Grantee institutions, such as microfinance institutions, local government units, micofinance councils, networks and basic sectors, requiring funding for training and capacity building services.

Several organizations tapped SEDPI as service provider in the past years such as the Abuyog Saint Francis Xavier Credit Cooperative (AFCCO), Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes, Inc. (ARDCI), Community Rural bank of Catmon (CRBC), Mount Carmel Rural Bank (MCRB), and Progressive Bank, Inc. (PBI).

CRBC Crafts 5-Year Strategic Plan

“An innovative and caring bank that fosters economic transformation of its clients.” This is Community Rural Bank of Catmon’s (CRBC) vision statement as a result of its strategic planning workshop. SEDPI facilitated the workshop in Catmon, Cebu on March 9-10, 2012.

The strategic planning workshop was a bottom up approach. During the internal analysis, the result of various consultations with majority of its management staff regarding their sentiments and future plans were presented. An impact assessment of the clients as well as the overall organizational performance was presented as well. CRBC’s board of directors, top management and key officers attended the actual workshop. SEDPI provided the external analysis that contains recent trends in microfinance.

CRBC’s President, Mrs. Armida Caguitla, said, “the workshop is an opportunity for the bank to determine where the organization is at present and what path it will take in the future.” Key management officers of the bank have added that a strategic plan is imperative to the growth of CRBC since it will determine what the organization will do and is the foundation of crucial decisions that the management will make in the years to come.

During the workshop, CRBC was able to provide a unique character to its vision and redefine its mission. The bank will provide financial products and allied services for the economic transformation of its clients. The objectives include increase in outreach through expansion, provision of allied services, and ensuring both the financial and organizational sustainability of the bank. Moreover, CRBC was able to generate a set of strategic options steered towards achievement of its objectives. Such strategies focus on market consolidation, product innovation and organizational development.

With the new strategic plan, CRBC will remain true to its core values to set itself unique from its peers. Through this, the institution hopes to play a significant role on the economic transformation of its clients.

SEDPI Kicks Off New Training Hub in Cebu

The Social Enterprise Development Partnerships Inc. (SEDPI) and the Community Rural Bank of Catmon (CRBC) of Catmon, Cebu recently inked its partnership for the establishment of the training hub in Cebu. It is SEDPI’s third training hub in the Visayas.

The Community Rural Bank of Catmon is a rural bank in the municipality of Catmon in the north of Cebu City. The partnership with CRBC started in 2010 as a capacity building and technical and mentoring assistance (TAMA) partner. In early 2011, talks were conducted about the proposed training hub in Cebu City. It was inked late 2011. The partnership is SEDPI’s answer to the need for capacity building services for microfinance institutions and organizations in the region.

Microfinance courses to be held in the Cebu training hub are already on schedule. Courses offered this March are Fundamentals and Methodologies of Microfinance (March 26-28) and Customer Care for Microfinance Institutions (March 29-31).

For details, you may contact SEDPI at (02) 4338795.

Asia Summit on Social Entrepreneurship Held in Bangkok

“Is Asia up to the challenge?” This is the theme of the Asia Summit on Social Entrepreneurship. Seventy four delegates from 17 countries in Asia attended the event in Bangkok, Thailand on March 1-2, 2012. As the fastest growing region in the world, the summit aims to examine the potential for social innovation and how social entrepreneurship can be raised to an even higher level.

Dr. Kriengsak Chareonwongsak, Chair of Social Entrepreneurship Institute in Thailand delivered the keynote speech to open the summit. In his speech he stressed the importance of social entrepreneurship in contributing to the development of Asia as a region. I-genius’s CEO and summit organizer, Mr. Tommy Hutchinson presented the asia wide survey results on social entrepreneurship. He highlighted that social enterprises in Asia have a positive outlook since they generally expect higher sales, create employment and improve impact in the coming years.

The summit provided a platform to surface and respond to seven challenges. Mr. Romy Cathyadi, director of Provisi Education in Indonesia, facilitated the first challenge which identified the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of Social Entrpreneurship in Asia. In brief, the strengths include a strong demand for social enterprise products and services; a few countries, such as South Korea, Singapore and Thailand, recognized social enterprises as agents for social development. The weaknesses include lack of management skills, limited market understanding and limited finance. Increasing interest from the government, civil society and the consumers to support social enterprises is the most pronounced identified opportunity. Lastly, threats include lack of regulatory framework; competition from traditional businesses; and varying definitions of social entrepreneurship hinders collaboration, policy creation and access to resources.

Sunit Shrestha, director of  Change Fusion in Thailand and Vincent Rapisura, CEO of SEDPI Group of Social Enterprises facilitated the second challenge: Customers First. The session stressed the importance of market orientation to sustain social enterprises and making sure that institutional capacity is developed to provide the preferences of the market. Vincent Rapisura stressed that, “there is no such thing as competition in social entrepreneurship.” He explained that social enterprises offering the same products and services have the same vision or mission towards social development and therefore should collaborate to achieve each others vision or mission. “In a world where poverty is high and the environment is compromised, competition in social entrepreneurship should be transformed to collaboration,” he added.

Yuan Gu, founder and CEO of Aha Social Innovation Center, drew from the participants the third challenge on skills and know-how. His session highlighted the need for continuous innovation to provide products and services to the market.

The fourth challenge on finance and investment was presented through active participation. Mr. Edwin Salonga, Chairperson of SEDPI Group of Social Enterprises, and Vincent Rapisura teamed up to facilitate the session. They shared myths and facts in resource mobilization as well as shared their actual experience in raising capital that grew their social enterprise from a mere USD 500 company to an almost USD 3 million company in seven years. Mr. Alan Johnson, a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust fellow wrote, “Brilliant! Great fun!” in his evaluation of the session.

Penny Low, President and Founder of Social Innovation Park in Singapore, stressed the important role of the government as enabler and as an entrepreneur in supporting social enterprises. She presented the fifth challenge on designing a legal and regulatory framework for governments. Ed Rebusch director of the Centre for Social Enterprise of Thammasat Business School in Thiland tacked the sixth challenge on developing networks, partnerships and engaging stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of the entrepreneur as the “middle person” in bridging the gaps of seemingly polar ideas, actors or events. HOP – Happy, Optimistic and Personal was the main message of Kristine Oustrup, CEO of Qi Global in Singapore. She delivered the seventh challenge on good communications.

The summit also presented actual social enterprises from China, Philippines and Thailand. Huang Ke of China presented her social enterprise in transforming building roofs in Shanghai to green gardens. Orapin Sinamonvech of Thailand showcased Kokoboard Company as a producer of furniture and construction boards from rice husks, peanut shells, coco fiber and other indigenous materials. Roberto Crisostomo of the Philippines presented how his social enterprise on Cocoa farming could benefit farmers. All of the cases presented were winners of competitions on social entrepreneurship that the British Council organized.

View photos of the summit here.

SEDPI Take North Through Partnership with Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives

SEDPI (Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc.) inked a partnership with Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC) on February 2012. The institutional partnership, in line with shared vision of eradicating poverty, hopes to foster development of cooperatives in Northern Luzon.

The Archdiocese of Neuva Segovia organized NSCC in 1992 to create a viable and integrated program that would catalyze development of cooperatives and its members in the Ilocos Region. The consortium was formally registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in the same year. Since then, NSCC has widened its area of operation to include the whole of Luzon. NSCC currently serves 15,000 microfinance clients and has 66 cooperatives under its network.

The collaboration covers several components. These shall include SEDPI’s provision of capacity building services to the staff members of NSCC. SEDPI aims to provide NSCC its grassroots experience in providing technical and mentoring assistance to cooperatives. Through this, NSCC is hoped to develop its human resources for more sustainable operations. The partnership also includes the establishment of a training hub for the Ateneo Microfinance Capacity Building Program in the north. The training events that will be delivered in the hub shall focus primarily on standard cooperative courses. NSCC and SEDPI target to run the courses by second quarter of the year.  In addition, SCCI will place PhP20 million developmental deposits to the cooperative. NSCC will use this to support the growth of its members and fund its development programs.

SEDPI Chairperson speaks about Social Entrepreneurship in the 8th Mindanao Business and Management Youth Congress

Mr. Edwin Salonga, Chairperson of Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc (SEDPI) motivated young business and management students in the 8th Mindanao Business & Management Youth Congress held February 17-19, 2012 at the Grand Caprice Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Mindanao Business and Management Youth Congress or MBMYC is an annual congress of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Mindanao, organized by the School of Business and Management of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. On its 8th year, the chosen theme of the congress was “Moving Towards The Paramount of Infinite Possibilities through Unified Diversity”, highlighting the role of business and management in creating more opportunities and uplifting the quality of life in Mindanao.

Mr. Salonga shared the SEDPI experience on Social Entrepreneurship. Other speakers include Inspirational Speaker Bo Sanchez, DOT Secretary Mon Jimenez, Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez.

SEDPI and SCCCI Take North Through Partnership with Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives

On February 2012, SEDPI and SCCI marked its partnership with Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC). The institutional partnership, in line with shared vision of eradicating poverty, hopes to foster development of cooperatives in Northern Luzon.

NSCC was organized in 1992 by the Archdiocese of Neuva Segovia to create a viable and integrated program that would catalyze development of cooperatives and its members in the Ilocos Region. The consortium was formally registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in the same year. Since then, NSCC has widened its area of operation to include the whole of Luzon. The membership of the cooperative now includes over 15, 000 clients in at least 66 organizations.

The SEDPI-SCCI-NSCC collaboration covers several components. These shall include SEDPI’s provision of capacity building services to the staff members of NSCC. SEDPI aims to NSCC its grassroots experience in providing technical and mentoring assistance to cooperatives. Through this, NSCC is hoped to develop its human resources for more sustainable operations. The partnership also includes the ADMU-SEDPI Microfinance Strategic Partnership Innovation which established NSCC as an ADMU-SEDPI training hub in the north. The training events that will be delivered in the hub shall focus primarily on standard cooperative courses. NSCC and SEDPI target to run the courses by second quarter of the year.  In addition, SCCI will place PhP20 million developmental deposits to the cooperative. NSCC will use this to support the growth of its members and fund its development programs.

SEDPI, SCCI and NSCC are positive that this partnership will produce fruitful results for the progress for all stakeholders.

ADMU-DS and ACSent Train Consuelo Foundation Partners

The Development Studies Program and the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship conducted a five-day social entrepreneurship training for Consuelo Foundation partners from February 4 to 8, 2012 at the Ateneo de Manila University.

At the end of the five-day workshop, the participants were able to come up with workable ideas for social enterprises. The first day of the training provided an orientation on social entrepreneurship and helped participants prepare presentations of their social enterprise ideas. On the second day, the participants presented before a panel which will provide comments on the participants’ social enterprise ideas. During the last three days, speakers ran workshops on key functions of social business enterprises including marketing, operations, accounting, and stakeholder management.

The trainers are faculty of the Development Studies Program and the John Gokongwei School of Management. Mr. Mariel Vincent Rapisura and Mr. Edwin Salonga were one of the resource persons for the event.