About us

AidWatch Philippines is a broad national network of grassroots-based and -oriented NGOs working on official development assistance (ODA) issues in the country. It has over 150 members in more than 60 provinces nationwide, including 10 national networks. We aim to bring together the widest possible range of organizations able to unite on the general principles and thrusts articulated in the network’s Unity Statement.

AidWatch Philippines aims to deepen relationships and develop various levels of collaboration between NGOs on aid-related issues and concerns. We look forward to constructive engagement with official government and donor agencies on the basis of fundamental development principles.

AidWatch Philippines traces its beginnings to the Philippine Aid Watch Network organized in 2003 in response to the need for a strong civil society formation on aid and development issues. The network supported its members’ advocacy campaigns through information exchange, facilitating informed dialogues and international networking. It also contributed to various research and advocacy efforts of the international Reality of Aid (ROA) network and was among the leading convenors of the regional Reality of Aid Asia.

AidWatch Philippines was formally organized in 2005 with the formation of a steering committee including among others IBON, the Cordillera People’s Alliance, Solidarity People’s Advocacy Network in Cebu, and the Mindanao InterFaith People’s Conference. It expanded its membership base in 2007 with the active participation of the Council for People’s Development and Governance, a national network of various sectoral and regional NGOs and POs.

In September 2007, AidWatch Philippines, ROA and IBON organized a seminar-workshop to discuss concerns and issues of Philippine civil society on the general agenda of aid effectiveness and the specific agenda of the Paris Declaration. The activity aimed to: develop a common and integrated understanding of aid issues, the Paris Declaration and the role of CSOs in aid effectiveness; deepen dialogue among all the relevant development actors; and contribute to advocacy efforts towards the Accra High-Level Forum in 2008. This meeting initiated the process of AidWatch Philippines becoming a broad-based network and process of CSOs engaging donors and the government on development cooperation issues.