Officers and Technical Staff of PADO-Cooperative and Investment Development Division (PADO-CIDD), along with members of Cooperative Development Councils (CDCs) and Cooperative Development Coordinators (CDOs) from the different local government units of Davao del Norte participated in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) initiated by the Meraki Consulting, Inc. last July 12-13, 2023 at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Mankilam, Tagum City.

The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) is part of the Organizational Needs Assessment of Cooperative Administrative Institutions (CAIs) in all of the regions of Mindanao, wherein the Meraki Consulting, Inc. was the firm tapped by the Deutsche Gessellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a German Government agency, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), for the technical assistance. The objective of the assessment is to develop a comprehensive capacity building plan for the CAIs based on the results of the assessment and recommendations for structural and procedural amendments to enhance effectiveness.

Various individuals from the different Cooperative Development Councils (CDCs) of the eleven (11) local government units of Davao del Norte, including their respective Cooperative Development Officers (CDOs), as well as the Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperatives in the Provincial Council, were altogether grouped into six (6) for the Focus Group Discussion that was scheduled for two days. Facilitating the FGD was the Meraki Consulting Team headed by its Team Leader Ms. Nelia Agbon, and the Researchers of the technical team, Ms. Ma. Felda Alarkon, Ms. Diana Ann Badillo, and Ms. Kristine Alorro.

The activity is part of the "Strengthening the Implementation of Regional and Local Peace and Development Agendas in Mindanao (SPADe)" program of the national government that seeks to promote a peaceful, cohesive, secure, and "inclusively developed Mindanao." This project is being supported by the European Union (EU) and the German Government, thru the GIZ, being part of its support to the Regional Peace and Order Councils, Regional Development Councils, and non-state actors in implementing local and regional peace and development agenda.

The project is also designed to also help improve the services of agricultural cooperatives to their members and promote climate-smart agricultural value chains.

The Provincial Government was represented by PADO-CIDD Chief Ms. Joevynar M. Miedes, along with Cooperative Development Specialists Ms. Annabelle J. Bañaga, Ms. Arden Caccam, Ms. Annabel Degorio, Ms. Lida S. Aldare, Ms. Lisa Sanoy, Ms. Annabelle Nagaliza, and Ms. Jeannie Celo. jb/padocidd