95 New Development Entrepreneurs Gain Insights on Effective Policy Reform

The Coalitions for Change (CfC) program concluded the second offering of its Development Entrepreneurship: 12 Keys to Successful Policy Reform online course on February 18. 

Since beginning on January 24, 2022, 95 participants from 13 countries have completed the four-week course, marking an increase from 76 participants in the previous batch.

The course featured curated case studies from real-life stories of policy reformers as well as innovative tools on adaptive management. On Fridays, those enrolled were able to complement lessons through listening to veteran reform leaders, such as:

• • Dr. Raul Fabella, a National Scientist and former Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Economics, discussed how elites negotiated political settlements;
  • Jaime Faustino, CfC Strategic Advisor, explained how policy reform could be an effective development approach;
  • Filomeno Sta. Anna III, founder of Action for Economic Reforms, talked about finding the binding constraints to development challenges;
  • Rosalyn Mesina, Philippines Program Manager of UN Women WeEmpowerAsia, shared her advocacy in applying DE using the gender lens; and
  • Nastassia Quijano, Senior Program Officer from the Australian Embassy in the Philippines, who spoke from a development partner’s perspective on the benefits of adaptive programs

In his opening remarks, Sam Chittick, The Asia Foundation’s country representative said “The program is designed to help you [learners] pursue the positive changes that you want to see in your communities and give you the tools to look at those changes through a policy lens.”

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO congratulated the online graduates and encouraged them to practice what they have learned in pursuing their policy reforms. “Today signals the beginning of your future as reform leaders, ready to take up opportunities to create meaningful and impactful change in the Philippines and across the Indo-Pacific,” said Ambassador Robinson.

Feedback from learners on the online course was overwhelmingly positive. The participants were able to study at their own pace.

“DE elegantly weaves the fine line between accepting our roles as policy influencers and what it takes to bring about that desired change. It is a must for all those pursuing policy reforms,” enthused Martin Escobido, Associate Professor of Ateneo de Davao University.

Dino Abellanosa, Senior Manager and the Visayas Lead of the Ayala Foundation, Inc., shares, “I’ve always been fascinated with policy work. The course gave me the tools and the practice of it in developing partnerships and in adaptive management. The live sessions helped a lot.”

The DE online course was first launched in July 2021 as part of CfC’s mission to share what it has learned with individuals who wish to pursue policy reforms for positive outcomes. Its approaches and practices come from many years of experience and its track record on policy reform work. CfC is supported by The Asia Foundation Philippines and the Australian Government.

The third offering of the DE Online Course will start second quarter of this year. Interested applicants may send inquiries or sign up on the mailing list. 

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, our work across the region is focused on good governance, women’s empowerment and gender equality, inclusive economic growth, environment and climate action, and regional and international relations.

Read more about the Foundation’s work.

For media inquiries, please visit our News Room. Engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.