The More, the Merrier…KaSaMa-Nationwide Search for Innovative Human Rights Projects

KaSaMa - Karapatan sa Malikhaing Paraan

How do we effectively protect and defend human rights? We have been involved in countless human rights trainings, conferences,education sessions, and mass actions yet human rights violations continue to exist. With the increasing complexities and challenges of our times, ingenious ways to uphold people’s rights must come to the fore.  We must infuse fresh ideas and cutting edge strategies to solve pressing human rights problems.

This was the realization of international development agencies, embassies, and funding institutions working on human rights issues in the Philippines.  During one of the regular coordination meetings ealy this year, development partners saw the need to promote and support new approaches to human rights issues.  The suggestion was to pool funds for this purpose. And that was how KaSaMa-Karapatan sa Malikhaing Paraan - was born.

KaSaMa is an attempt to foster bold ideas and encourage innovation, risk-taking and determination in addressing perennial human rights concerns……The Australian, British, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spanish Embassies, the European Commission, the Asia Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme have joined efforts to organize this pilot round of KaSaMa and have pledged resources to fund selected innovative proposals. (excerpt taken from the Flyer distributed during the launch.)

Last day for submission of proposals is on November 16, 2009 but awardees can defer the 1 yr implementation to AFTER THE 2010 ELECTIONS (this was clarified during the open forum in the launch held at the Balay Kalinaw, UP Diliman on 13 October ‘09).  Fax, email and/or courier proposals to KaSaMa Secretariat, Asia Foundation, 36 Lapu-Lapu Avenue, Magallanes Village, Makati City 1232; Fax # (02) 853-0474; telephone# (02) 8511466 & 851-1477; email: lianramos@asiafound.org   Application guidelines and forms can be downloaded from www.kasama-ph.com

Criteria for Selecting Winning Innovative Proposals are: 40% Innovation/Creativity; 35% Potential Impact/Added Value; Organizational Capacity (15%); Cost Effectiveness (10%) this last meaning best possible results for the amount of money budgeted.

Funding may reach maximum of 1MPhP. Administrative costs cannot exceed 20% of the proposed budget. A mid-term and end of term report will be required. Main Activities, Outputs, Potential Outcomes/Impacts, Indicators of Success, Baseline Data, Means of Verification, Potential Risks/Risk Management, Project Monitoring are some of the data that must be included in the proposals to be submitted.

Philippine Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Atty. Leila De Lima; Atty. Carol Mercado-Gorgonia of the Asia Foundation and Ms. Tatine G. Faylona, Senior Political and Cultural Affairs Officer of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands..responded to questions during the Open Forum of the Launch of the KaSaMa.

Chairperson De Lima delivering the keynote address waxed poetic in quoting JFK and Shakespeare to encourage innovation in the field of human rights protection.  Joey Ayala sang the national anthem but warned everyone to remain seated and maintain their usual respectful demeanor to emphasize that his version of the anthem is just that…an artistic rendition: “ang magmahal” (in lieu of “ang mamatay” which means “to love” instead of “to be martyred“..) “nang dahil sa ‘yo” which means “because of you” referring to the Motherland...).

Three points: Good legal advice is always priceless. We sure as hell don’t need another dead hero. And the more innovative initiatives–the better.

Whether I win with my proposal or not,  I feel grateful to the UNDP, EuroCom, the five Embassies and the Asia Foundation for the pooled resources and this encouraging effort.