• USAID/Philippines has leveraged about $513 million from partnerships from U.S. Fiscal Years 2004-2008.
• Some 25 partnerships combine almost $9 of inputs from foreign and local private corporations, foundations and NGOs, and national and local governments with every $1 of USAID assistance to develop and maintain physical and human capital and institutions.
• Wide range of activities:
  • increased access to microfinance, including mobile phone banking
  • sustainable agriculture, improved coastal resources, water resources and solid waste management
  • rural electrification and sustainable energy development
  • increased private sector participation in basic health services delivery and contraceptives marketing
  • improved access to quality education and livelihood skills for in- and out-of-school youth
• Focus on conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.

USAID works with rural banks to generate resources for beneficiaries by providing microfinance services. Also, participating banks offer mobile phone banking services in partnership with Nokia and Globe Telecom. The Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy Program (AMORE) provides electricity through solar and microhydro systems to remote households in Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas. The Clean Cities Program builds cities coalitions to promote alternative fuels for clean air and the environment. The Sustainable Coastal Tourism in Asia Project works with the tourism industry to reduce damage to sensitive coastal ecosystems.

In health, partnerships leverage resources for expansion of workplace family health programs, contraceptive market development, and expansion of private practice to strengthen the clinical and entrepreneurial skills of some 300 midwives and their birthing homes. A new partnership was established with Alphamed, a pharmaceutical company, to increase contraceptive options and accessibility of family planning products to women of reproductive age. The Governments of the Philippines, Japan and the United States jointly launched the Philippine Water Revolving Fund (PWRF), an innovative lending program to stimulate private financing for water infrastructure. PWRF will potentially benefit up to 1.4 million Filipinos through loans to water utilities, helping the country achieve its Millennium Development Goals in water and sanitation.

In education, the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program implements partnerships with Microsoft, Intel, Cisco Systems and local mobile phone service providers to introduce computer literacy and internet connectivity to high schools in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. The Education and Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) Project partners with local and international foundations to improve access to quality basic education and livelihood skills for in-school and out-of–school youth in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. Recent activities include a book transfer program with logistics support from the U.S. military, school building and rehabilitation in collaboration with Petron Foundation, and a book distribution program in partnership with National Bookstore Foundation.