SDRC Participates in DSWD CDD-COP Consultation Meeting

SDRC Publications Unit members Connie Maraan and Maria Catherine Dacillo-Domingo represented the Center at the 1^st Community Driven Development Communities of Practice (CDD-COP) Consultation Meeting held in San Juan City on July 12, 2019. The CDD-COP is envisioned by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services National Community-Driven Development Program (KC-NCDDP) to create, share, and promote learning along community-driven development practices.

SDRC was among the academic/research institutions invited to participate in the consultation meeting, which was also attended by national government agencies, and non-government and civil society organizations. During the workshop, in which SDRC partnered with the University of Santo Tomas Research Center for Social Sciences and Education, feedback on existing and prospective knowledge building and sharing initiatives was generated. Ms. Maraan and Ms. Domingo-Dacillo suggested that the CDD-COP could conduct impact assessment studies on the KC-NCDDP’s current programs, as well as focus on the importance of resilience as a factor in citizens’ capacity to address poverty issues.

The KC-NCDDP is one of the flagship poverty alleviation programs implemented by the DSWD that employs a community-driven development strategy. Through a Community of Practice, knowledge and information exchange is given value, and new and existing connections between members are strengthened. Such connections also facilitate knowledge validation through peer reviews. In learning about knowledge management, members are able to address “sticky issues” such as accountability for results, responsibility for and commitment to defined goals, and ensuring accountability of members to other members rather than the whole network.