CANADA has earmarked CAD$185,000, or about P7.25 million, to fund projects in the Philippines focused on advancing inclusive governance and human rights.

Its embassy in Manila said 11 organizations across the country would receive the grants from Canada Fund this year.

“By working with Philippine organizations through the Canada Fund, the Embassy of Canada is championing the values of inclusive and accountable governance…by promoting human rights, women’s empowerment, gender equality and respect for diversity,” Chargé d’affaires Crista McInnis said.

McInnis noted that advancing inclusive governance remains a strategic priority for Canada in the Philippines.

“We are partnering with civil-society organizations in addressing barriers that prevent marginalized groups from realizing their full potential and participating in the development, and prosperity, of their families and communities,” she explained.

The following organizations and their respective projects will receive the said Canada Fund grants:

Active Citizenship Foundation’s Safe Campuses Project—which promotes safe spaces by establishing desks for women, as well as students who are part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning, or LGBTQ+, communities in five universities across the Philippines.

Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran Inc. (or Spark! Philippines)’s Humanizing Sogie (sexual orientation and gender identity expression)—which aims to increase Filipinos’ willingness to accept, and recognize, the diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and LGBTQ+ expressions.

Ateneo de Manila University’s Ateneo Human Rights Center—in collaboration with the provincial government of the Dinagat Islands, which seeks to improve access to justice in the province by empowering barangay officials to promote peace and order.

Pakigdait Alang sa Pag-amoma sa Kalinaw—which is working with six communities in Lanao del Norte to sustain peace, and prevent violent extremism by organizing community dialogues with Bangsamoro women and youth.

League of Cities of the Philippines—which is establishing evidence-based mechanisms for its 145 member-cities to share best practices for implementing gender and development policies. The project will research examples of best policies and gather relevant statistics for publication in a database and guidebook for local leaders, which will allow cities to ensure maximum effectiveness of the existing GAD focal-point system.

University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies—which will continue the Phase 2 of its Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Program that supports and expands a network of Filipino women-political leaders committed to advance feminist and rights-based, democratic governance.

Foundation for the Advancement of Clinical Epidemiology’s Technological Intervention to Protect Teenagers Against Early Unintended At-Risk Pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Illnesses in the Philippines, or PROTECT—which is in its second year of researching of developing an innovative chat robot on Facebook Messenger.

Bahay Tuluyan’s continued work to empower marginalized youth by building their capacities to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation.

Pambansang Kongreso ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan Inc.’s Women in Emergencies Network in the Philippines’s promotion of women’s capacity in disaster-risk reduction management by boosting women’s leadership in decision-making and participation in disaster-risk reduction management, climate-change adaptation, as well as peace and security.

Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan’s work on a nationwide project that aims to increase active, and more meaningful, political engagement of community-based and civil-society organizations, parishes, and schools by conducting political and civic education, advocacy campaigning and local support networks building.

Government Watch (or G-Watch)—which will continue to train and mobilize officials of the Sangguniang Kabataan (local youth councils) to effectively monitor anti-poverty programs in their respective barangays to enhance transparency, participation, and accountability and improve outcomes for beneficiaries.

The Canada Fund is a competitive grants program implemented by the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, which provides direct financial support to local organizations for projects that promote inclusive governance, including empowering women and girls, strengthening democracy, advancing human rights and promoting the rule of law.

Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA