MANILA, PHILIPPINES- The Asia Foundation, with the support of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines, has formally launched the 2nd Development Entrepreneurship (DE) Mentoring Program for policy-reform leaders in the Indo-Pacific region.

The DE Mentoring Program aims to facilitate deeper learning and practice of policy reform. Mentees receive one-on-one mentoring sessions from veteran reform leaders over six months. During the mentorship, they learn to identify, clarify, and pursue their reform ideas using Development Entrepreneurship principles.

“This mentorship program aims to support mentees as change agents in pursuing positive policy reforms in their sector or area of expertise. It serves as a support mechanism, as Development Entrepreneurship crosses the boundaries between traditional development work and other sectors,” said Mr. Sam Chittick, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation.

Mr. Paul Harrington, First Secretary of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines,shared that the mentoring program demonstrates the Australian government’s continued commitment to work with the Philippine government, stakeholders from civil society, business, and the academic community to strengthen governance and address development challenges.

This group comprises 20 individual mentees and is a mix of development professionals from the academe, faith-based organizations, NGOs, private corporations, and the government. One of the mentees is an official from BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao); three are from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Fiji, while two participants work on projects sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

“I was inspired to apply for the 6-month DE mentoring program after attending the online course on Development Entrepreneurship and listening to the successstories of the various policy reform advocates,” said Keith Jablo, Project Associate of Ayala Foundation and University Lecturer of the University of the Philippines-Visayas, and one of the program’s mentees. “Through the mentoring program, I know that I can make the reform I envision for the communities I work with into reality,” Jablo added.

The Development Entrepreneurship program will run until September 2022. The next mentoring group is expected to begin on the 1st quarter of 2023. Aside from the mentoring program, the 3rd batch of the Development Entrepreneurship: 12 Keys to Successful Reform Online Course will start on 16 May 2022.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Marko Ramos
Leadership Development Assistant Program Officer
Coalitions for Change
Email: markoantonio.ramos@asiafoundation.org
(63) 916 671 3946