ECOP attended a forum organized by the USAID entitled “Partnering for Market Led Development Solutions” last 10 October 2019. The USAID took the forum as an opportunity to present their strategic framework called “Journey to Self-Reliance”, which aims to reach a time wherein foreign assistance is no longer necessary. This is to transform the traditional donor-led approach towards a private sector-led approach where the private sector will be capacitated to initiate self-sustaining solutions for development. In this case, USAID will only facilitate the action while private sectors come up with development programs.

USAID’s 5-year project is aligned with the Philippine Development Plan of 2020-2024. USAID introduces three development objectives essential to the realization of the plan: (a) democratic governance, (b) inclusive, market-driven growth, and (3) environmental and community resilience. USAID emphasizes on the need to capitalize on the private sector as the primary driving factor towards the journey of self-reliance of the Philippines. Upon utilizing the potential of the private sector, it enables USAID to expand its approaches and achieve greater success in terms of propagating market-led development. It is a two-way approach in which the Filipino people will benefit from the efforts of the private sector and the private sector will generate income through the solution that they will come up with.

As to how the aim will be realized, USAID will provide a blueprint of market-based approaches to the private sector. Engaging the private sector gives them the central role in scaling and sustaining development outcomes that are most suitable in the Philippine context. As a case in point, private companies’ interests should be reorganized in order to address underemployment by taking into consideration not only shareholder values but also stakeholder values. Another is the role which ECOP can undertake by providing training or seminars that will capacitate the companies to partake in market-based developments. In turn, the increased partnership between USAID and private sector can help reduce poverty and generate more opportunities which are beneficial for both the Filipino people as well as the private sector.

ECOP was represented in the forum by Ms. Abigail Gorospe and Ms. Jhoyzel Nacisvalencia of the Advocacy, Research, and Communications Department.