Cities for Enhanced Governance and Engagement (CHANGE) is a USAID-funded five-year activity designed to support strengthened democratic governance in the Philippines by making local governance more responsive, transparent, and accountable. CHANGE fosters capacity and harmony of governments, civil society, and private sector to improve the implementation of decentralization, enhance local governments’ legitimacy and effectiveness, and empower citizens. 

CHANGE is based on the premise that collective actions and stronger partnerships between local governments and the communities that make up their constituencies will bring democratic governance closer to the people. More specifically, the improved implementation of decentralization in the Philippines will help strengthen democratic governance in the country. CHANGE has three key objectives, as follows: 

Objective 1: STRENGTHENED ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR DECENTRALIZATION 

Objective 1 supports national and local policymakers in ensuring a stable and supportive policy framework for decentralization through strategic guidance and on-demand analytical support. Activities under this component focus on accelerating decentralization reform and implementation, strengthening the national government's role in supporting local government autonomy and responsiveness, and strengthening national government incentives for the promotion of Local Government Unit (LGU) good governance practices.   

• Contributed to the updated national guidelines on the accreditation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the selection of representatives to local special bodies (Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular 2022-083). 

• A minimum 10 percent increase in the number of accredited CSOs in eight CHANGE cities from 2019 to 2022. 

• Over 30 policies that advance decentralization reform formulated. 

• 184 participants from the national government supported/engaged through capacity development activities and dialogues. 

Objective 2: ENHANCED SERVICE DELIVERY CAPACITY, LEGITIMACY, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF PARTICIPATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 

Objective 2 addresses supply-side factors, where local governments have the primary duty and responsibility to provide opportunities and incentives for citizens and CSOs to be engaged in local governance. CHANGE enhances participatory governance in all facets of government operations and service delivery. Activities under this objective include strengthening cities’ capacity for effective citizen engagement, mainstreaming transparency in public administration and governance processes, and building capacity for multi sector collaboration and collective action. CHANGE pursues institutionalizing reforms that can withstand changes in administration or political leadership. 

• Eight LGUs with citizen inputs prioritized in harmonized local plans and programs. 

• Four cities with Freedom of Information Ordinance. 

• Two city legislative councils with CSOs in a voting capacity.  

• $460,000 (Php 25.3 million) leveraged from the national government and various local sources toward citizen engagement and local governance initiatives. 

• 3,643 participants from various local governments supported/engaged through capacity development activities and dialogues. 

Objective 3: EMPOWERED CITIZENS THROUGH INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN AND OVERSIGHT OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROCESSES IN WAYS THAT GOVERNMENT BOTH APPROVES AND SUPPORTS 

Objective 3 focuses on the demand side of governance by increasing civic engagement and strengthening the capacity of local CSOs, sectoral representatives, and community members to effectively advocate reforms, participate in decision-making, and hold their local governments accountable. Toward this objective, CHANGE builds the capacity of CSOs and citizens, maximizes existing and planned citizen participation processes, and supports citizen-led initiatives and innovations. 

• Four cities with newly formed People’s Councils. 

• Over 467 CSOs participating in local governance mechanisms and legislative proceedings. 

• At least 18 local special bodies and sectoral committees in five cities now co-chaired by CSO representatives. 

• $6.6 million (Php 366 million) worth of city government projects monitored by citizens in nine cities. 

• 4,123 participants from civil society supported/engaged through capacity development activities and dialogues. 

Geographic Coverage 

The project covers 16 secondary cities in 10 regions across the Philippines, with nine cities in phase one (2021) and seven more cities in phase two (2024).