2025 National CSO Academy Conference: Accelerating Progress, Sharing Best Practices, and Charting the Future

Prof. Carlo Sagun, President and CEO of the Bayan Family of Foundations (BFF), joined key stakeholders at the 2025 National CSO Academy Conference, organized by the Department of Interior and Local Governance (DILG), to advance inclusive, participatory governance across the Philippines.  

Leaders of government, civil society organizations (CSOs), and development partners came together to increase collaboration between CSOs and local government units (LGUs), recognizing that active citizen engagement and civic participation are essential in shaping transparent, and accountable public institutions. 

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Building Capacity for CSOs

As the DILG continues to support the capacity development of CSOs, it has found key partners in 6 pioneering CSO Academies, which have made significant gains in deepening participatory governance at all levels within their respective jurisdictions. 

Following the Academies’ sharing of their best practices, Prof. Carlo Sagun joined fellow practitioners to explore how CSO Academies can evolve to sustain and scale CSO participation for the long-term – through a deeper appreciation of realities on the ground, well-grounded strategies, and the institutionalization of efforts through policy. 

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Unlocking the Full Potential of CSO Academies

Citing BFF’s experience in CSO-LGU partnerships, Prof. Sagun highlighted the importance of developing leadership from the grassroots and enabling citizens to participate meaningfully in local governance and development processes. He challenged the pioneer CSO Academies to lay out clear, tangible outcomes. In this way, impact can be measured, and CSO Academies can hold their own as viable, sustainable, and replicable entities that do good while doing well. 

BFF stands alongside DILG and its fellow advocates in supporting the establishment of CSO Academies in every city and municipality across the country. 

We thank DILG-NCR for this platform of dialogue and collaboration. We are committed to championing CSOs for a more responsive, people-centered governance.