http://www.devcon-ngo.org

 A.             Brief Background: 

The development objective of the ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP) for Peace and Development is to foster sustainable development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by reducing poverty and by supporting mechanism for a peaceful environment in conflict-affected areas. Specifically, it seeks to finance small-scale subprojects of social and economic infrastructures with participation of local communities and by providing technical assistance for strengthening institutional capacity.  The ASFP has three (3) major components, namely: 1) Community Development Assistance; 2) Strategic Regional Infrastructure (SRI); and, 3) Institutional Strengthening and Governance/Development. Through its Community Development Assistance (CDA) component the project is expected to empower target communities and create opportunities for increased community participation in reducing poverty and promoting a durable peace.  Communities will be able to implement subprojects which will improve their prioritized basic services and development needs for their own community.  

The CDA has adapted Community-Driven Development (CDD) mechanisms, in order to ensure participation, accountability, and transparency among the stakeholders in the planning, implementation, operation and management, and sustainability of the Community-Based Infrastructure subprojects.  Its activities and strategies, popularly known as the CDA Seven Steps, guide the Municipal Team, Local Government Units, People’s Organizations and other stakeholders in carrying out development interventions in the communities.

Initially funded by the World Bank, the project was scaled up by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in December 2003. JBIC funded the 7^th and 8^th priority Barangays in 102 municipalities and thirty-three (33) SRI projects in ARMM.  To strengthen effectiveness and efficiency in the project implementation, the ASFP Project Management Office contracted the technical proficiency services of the Consortium of Katahira Engineers International (KEI), Kalasag Development Initiatives Foundation, Inc. (KDIF), and DEVCON (Development Consultants), Inc. The three firm were tapped to enable the ASFP accomplish its goals. The Consultants commenced its engagement with the ASFP in November 2005. The Consortium of KEI, KDIF, and DEVCON established the – Consultants Team Office (CTO) to provide development and technical assistance aimed at contributing good management systems and achieving the purpose of the ASFP, with special focus on harmonizing the procedures required from the funding partners to the best extent possible.  

THE PROFILING AND BASELINE STUDY IN MINDANAO CLUSTER 

On October 13 , 2008, the Department of Energy (DOE) and DEVCON (Development Consultants), Inc. signed a contract for the Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA)  project in Mindanao or Cluster 3 for the latter’s innovative approach on the Rural Power Project (RPP) implementation named the Project ACCESS. The contract was terminated on January 11, 2008, however, an amendment extended it until April 30, 2008 without additional cost to substantiate and achieve a more noteworthy project result.   

To implement the RRA field activities, DEVCON mobilized more than sixty enumerators, support staff and key personnels for the project. These were subdivided into four major Teams to simultaneously conduct the RRA field activities in nine provinces of Mindanao. The team employed several and varied strategies to hasten the field implementation considering that areas are prone to man-made and natural calamities. All the Teams finished their field works in fourteen days except for one team that went back to complete the remaining few works after more than a month for security reasons. 

Here you will be able to see the projects and services that we are implementing in support of people's initiatives for peace and development.

We hope to present the best practices for development work within the context of the unity of Christians, Moro, and the Lumads of Mindanao.

Development Consultants Incorporated or DEVCON was founded on December 12,1990. During that year, it established its first partnership with an international development agency, the Paris-based Comite Catholique contre la Faim et pour le Developpement (CCFD) .

DEVCON is open to similar partnerships with other development agencies in other countries to link with local partners. It also partners with other local NGOs as well as people's organizations in the Philippines, particuclarly Mindanao-based NGOs and POs based on a common faith in development strategies that will make this world sustainable for all.