Since its establishment, IPG has been working to promote and deepen participatory governance at the grassroots level. The Institute has implemented many programs that sought to ensure a more meaningful and more effective participation by civil society organizations (CSOs) in the different aspects of local governance. Special attention has also been given to encouraging women’s participation in local, and even national, governance processes. At the same time, IPG has worked with reform-oriented local officials in developing context-specific practices in good local governance.

Program History – Key Areas of Action, Programs, Services, and Advocacies

Participatory Local Governance: To ensure the active and effective engagement by people in the different governance processes, IPG has been implementing programs to heighten and widen people’s participation, enhance the skills of local leaders, ensure effective consultations with all stakeholders to development, and encourage effective coordination among different levels of government in the formulation of policy and the delivery of services.

• • Barangay Development Planning through Participatory Rural Appraisal (BDP-PRA)
  • Barangay-Bayan Governance Consortium (BATMAN, later BBGC)
  • Barangay-Bayan Municipal Development Planning
  • Urban Governance: Bayanihan sa Kalunsuran (BAKAL)
  • Active Citizenship Education

Women in Politics and Governance: IPG not only seeks to encourage more women participation in governance, but also to enhance the skills of women who are already serving in government. Recognizing the achievements of women also works to inspire other women to follow suit. An empowered women sector will also ensure that policies and budgets will take into account their needs and demands. Women organizations banding together will likewise help in spreading good “women in governance” practices around the country.

• “Just Budget” capacity-building training for women engaging in Gender and Development (GAD) planning and budgeting processes in order for them to better access services and link with allies inside local government units, especially women politicians, to ensure more meaningful GAD projects for their localities.
• Capacity-building on Gender Sensitivity, Gender Audits, targeting women local government officials, in particular
• Bayi Centennial Awards for women with valuable contributions to the promotion, protection and development of women’s rights in the Philippines.
• Bayi Exemplary Women Leadership in Politics and Governance to honor outstanding women in government
• Bayi Academy trainings and seminars focusing on capacity-building and mentoring for women leaders in local governments and CSOs. Trainings are mainly on political leadership, political communications, negotiations, electoral campaign management, and emerging/burning issues for women.
• Women Organizing to strengthen or expand existing local women’s organizations, as well as to link these to allied networks at the municipal, provincial, regional and national levels.

Health, Livelihood and Local Governance: Community-based women are at the forefront of service-delivery projects of primary healthcare. They are also the driving forces behind income generating initiatives to supplement family incomes. IPG seeks to contribute to their efforts by enhancing the necessary skills through trainings and seminars at the local and national levels.

Table of  Major Programs and Projects