Canadian International Developmetn Agency
Website : http://www.lgsp.org.ph/lgspa/index.php

Canadian International Developmetn Agency (CIDA) through the Local Government Support Program for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (LGSPA)

The Local Government Support Program for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (LGSPA) is a five year capacity development program funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in partnership with the Philippine Government through the ARMM Regional Government. It is managed by Agriteam Canada Consulting, in association with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). LGSPA’s programs focus on five key areas: leadership and management, service delivery, resource generation and management, participatory governance and peace-building.

LGSPA provides resource support to Synergeia’s DIWA program in the provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. In particular, LGSPA finances programs geared towards building capabilities of local government units in carrying out education objectives in their Education and Legislative Agenda (ELA). The program was launched in April 2005.

Institute of International Education (IIE)
Website : http://www.iie.org

An independent nonprofit founded in 1919, IIE is among the world’s largest and most experienced international education and training organizations. IIE partners with corporations, private foundations, international and governmental agencies to address key challenges in education and development around the world. It implements over 200 programs and serves more than 20,000 individuals through scholarships each year.

In 2004, IIE partnered with Synergeia in implementing an education governance program for the municipalities of Rizal and Tuao in Cagayan; Diffun in Quirino and the city of Tanauan in Batangas. 23,583 grades one to three children from 129 public elementary schools participate in the program. The goal is to enable these children to read and understand English. In terms of test scores, the children should improve their proficiency level by 4 percentage points each year. The program incorporates performance assessment, community summits and training programs for teachers, parents and the local school board. It is currently in its third year of implementation.

The Ford Foundation
Website : http://www.fordfound.org

The Ford Foundation is an independent non-profit grants-making organization that supports programs on asset building and community development, peace and social justice, knowledge, creativity and freedom.

Synergeia initially served as a learning circle for Ford Foundation grantees that were doing work on education reforms in 2001. Upon closure of the Ford Foundation Manila Office in 2003, Synergeia took stewardship of its education reforms portfolio and was awarded an endowment and a grant to help underwrite its expenses for the next five years. From its initial circle of 17 municipalities, Synergeia has now expanded to cover 200 municipalities all over the Philippines.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Website : http://philippines.usaid.gov

The U.S. Agency for International Development is the lead organization within the U.S. government that provides assistance to developing countries to promote economic and social development.

To improve access to quality education and livelihood skills in areas afflicted by conflict and poverty, particularly in Mindanao, the USAID launched its Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) program in 2005. By joining with private sector alliances – corporate foundations and NGOs – the USAID pools not only their financial resources but their creativity, energy and expertise to improve education and livelihood in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Synergeia’s DIWA (Dagyawang Igpaw sa Wastong Agkataw) Alliance is part of the EQuALLS program. The words in DIWA’s name are taken from several Filipino dialects which mean “a collective leap to hurdle difficulties and educate children from Mindanao”. The DIWA program aims to improve achievements of children in reading and mathematics by increasing community support through training programs for stakeholders and reforms of the local school board. DIWA is being implemented in 8 communities, namely – Barira, Upi and Datu Paglas in Maguindanao province, Marawi City, Indanan and Siasi in Sulu province, and Bongao and Panglima Sugala in Tawi-Tawi province. More than 50,000 pupils from Grades 1 to 3 participate in the program.