Profile
'Unlad' is to develop, progress, or prosper. 'Kabayan' are fellow Filipinos abroad. Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation is a social entrepreneurship NGO linking migration to community development in the homeland.
Established in the Philippines and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) in 1996, Unlad Kabayan pioneered the innovative approach of harnessing migrant workers' resources to bear on local economy development. By the end of 2000, we were consolidating experiences and lessons.
Building on our gains, we entered our "entrepreneurial" stage in 2001-2005. This was the period for expanding our work in mobilizing savings and investments, and ramping up social enterprises into commercial operations.
At this time, key enterprise projects in food production and processing were developed, as well as environment-enhancing production and products, and innovative farming techniques. We established value-adding partnerships with progressive NGOs, local and national government, and academic institutions.
Migrant Savings for Alternative Investment (MSAI)
In the early ‘90s, Migrant Savings for Alternative Investment (MSAI) was developed as a reintegration strategy by migrant groups in Hong Kong assisted by Unlad Kabayan. MSAI was crafted: savings groups were organized in Japan and Hong Kong in 1996-1998, also individuals in various destination countries, providing capital for expanding microfinance operations and micro-enterprise building in the Philippines.
MSAI evolved – it went beyond mobilizing migrant savings overseas and worked towards investing for community development and reintegration. Two strategies were employed: SEEDS (Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development Services) and Business Incubation (BI).
SEEDS were designed as community-based training and resource centers to promote entrepreneurship in the community, serve as a laboratory assisting community entrepreneurs to build, manage and sustain their enterprises, and eventually the community economy. Business Incubation enables small and medium entrepreneurs to learn the rigors of business management and social responsibility.
Awards
- 2008 – Winner, World Bank's Panibagong Paraan 2008 project grant competition, for the project 'New Lives for Old - Peace, growth and good governance through social enterprise,' to be supported by AusAID PACAP
- 2007 – Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2007, sponsored by Ernst and Young and SGV Foundation, Inc.
- 2006 – Kababayan Award (Organization category) from Unlad Pilipinas, organized by Pag-asa Publiko, Inc.
- 2005 – Changemakers Award from Ashoka, the movement of global social entrepreneurs, based in Washington DC
Mission Statement
To promote social entrepreneurship and social enterprises by mobilizing migrant workers, the marginalized in the community and their resources to build a sustainable local economy.
Strategic Goals
- Instill the value and practice of saving and investing among the poor and migrant workers and other marginalized sectors in communities;
- Establish community structures that enable beneficiaries to access assets, create wealth and build sustainable livelihood;
- Mobilize financial resources as capital input for the development of local community economy;
- Sensitize government to create a policy environment supportive of the socio-economic initiatives of the community sector; and
- Establish value-adding partnerships with non-government organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector, locally and overseas.
Networks
Unlad Kabayan is a member of regional and international networks Migrant Forum in Asia (www.mfasia.org), Migrants Rights International (www.migrantwatch.org) and Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education (www.aspbae.org). We also belong to Philippine civil society networks AMEND (Alliance of Migrant Workers and Advocates to Amend Republic Act 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995), PHILSEN (Philippine Social Enterprise Network) and NOVA (Network Opposed to Violence Against Women Migrants).
Board of Trustees
Chairperson (on leave): Milabel Amar (F), Feminist lawyer, Executive Director – Amnesty International, Hong Kong
Acting Chairperson: Peter Laviña (M), City Councilor, Davao City
Secretary: Rosalinda Ofreneo (F), Chair, Department of Women and Development Studies – College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines-Diliman
Asst. Secretary: Maria Angela Villalba (F), Executive Director – Unlad Kabayan
Treasurer: Jorge Tigno (M), Political analyst, Professor – University of the Philippines-Diliman
Members:
Demosthenes Plando (M), Trade union lawyer, Iligan City
Marina Ruivivar (F), Educator, Member – Davao City Planning and Development Council
