The KALAHI-CIDSS "16-step" Process

   The KALAHI-CIDSS Project involves a sixteen-step process divided into four stages namely (1) social preparation; (2) project identification and conceptualization; (3) project prioritization; and (4) project implementation. A project cycle takes one year and each participating barangay goes through three project cycles. The one-year project cycle involves social preparation activities followed by the implementation of community development projects.

   The KALAHI-CIDSS 16-step process aims to empower communities through their participation in important community decisions. Through the process, members of the community decide on matters that affect their lives which also enhances their skills and strengthens their sense of responsibility and human dignity. The 16-step process is also designed to promote representation, accountability, and cooperation between the local government and the communities.

     The Municipal Orientation (Step 1)

     The 1st Barangay Assembly (Step 2)

   The 1st Barangay Assembly (BA) is the venue where KALAHI-CIDSS Project is introduced to members of the community at the barangay level. It involves basic orientation about the project, discussion of the processes, and clarification of any question that may arise.

   During the 1st BA, community volunteers for the Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA) are identified.

     The Participatory Situation Analysis (Step 3)

   The Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA) is a process whereby the expectations, current socio-economic status, needs and problems of the community are extensively analyzed and described. The output of the PSA provides valuable information for project planning and development. The findings will be used later as basis for determination of projects that may address community projects.

   At this step, community volunteers make their barangay profile, resource map, institutional map, problem analysis matrix, and a barangay action plan.

 

     The 2nd Barangay Assembly or the Validation of PSA (Step 4)  

   The 2nd Barangay Assembly (BA) is the venue where the output of the Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA) is presented to the community. It is the mechanism whereby community volunteers present the results of the PSA while the assembly validates and confirms the same.

 

   The 2nd BA is a participatory exercise that gives members of the barangay the opportunity to be consulted.

 

   The 2nd BA is also the venue where the community forms the Project Preparation Team (PPT) and the Barangay Representation Team (BRT). The PPT is composed of volunteers from the community who are responsible for the preparation of a sub-project concept that addresses community needs based on the PSA results. The BRT also consists of regular residents of the barangay whose responsibility will be to represent their community in the upcoming Municipal Inter-barangay Forum (MIBF)—a forum of different barangays where each sub-project is presented and judged for purposes of municipal-level prioritization.

 

     The Criteria-Setting Forum (Step 5)

   Preparatory to the conduct of the First Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum (1st MIBF), the Barangay Representation Teams (BRTs) are convened in a forum to formulate the criteria for ranking sub-project concepts. The ranking is done only for the purpose of prioritizing sub-projects in the context of limited funds.

   Consistent with the principles of the KALAHI-CIDSS, the forum is another venue for localized decision making. Through the municipal-level forum, the communities involved take control of decisions related to resource allocation by prioritizing sub-projects based on criteria they themselves adopted. The process also promotes community empowerment and transparency.

 

   The Criteria Setting Forum also serves as a venue for BRTs to get to know each other and collaboratively discuss current problems confronting their respective barangays in particular, and their municipality in general.

 

     Preparation of Sub-Project Concept (Step 6) 

   In step 6, the Project Preparation Team (PPT) and Barangay Representation Team (BRT) undergoes a workshop where they outline and put into writing their proposed sub-project. The community volunteers comprising the PPT and BRT develop their idea into a sub-project concept which serves as basis for a full-blown proposal later. The workshop takes off from the lessons of the Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA) as confirmed by the Barangay Assembly (BA). The PPT and the BRT, after completing the workshop, comes up with a Sub-Project Concept Form ready for validation by the BA.

 

     The 3rd Barangay Assembly or Validation of Sub-Project Concept (Step 7)

   The 3rd Barangay Assembly (BA) is the venue where the Sub-project Concept Form developed by community volunteers is presented to the community. It is the mechanism whereby members of the community validates and confirms the details contained in the sub-project concept form.

 

   The 3rd BA is a participatory exercise that gives residents of the barangay the opportunity to be consulted.

 

   After the 3rd BA, the sub-project concept form is ready for finalization.

     Finalization of Sub-Project Concept (Step 8) 

   At this stage, the Project Preparation Team (PPT) revises their Sub-Project Concept Form based on feedback from the Barangay Assembly. The Sub-Project Concept Form is finalized and readied for presentation in the prioritization process of the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum (MIBF).

     The 1st Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum or Prioritization of Sub-project Concepts (Step 9) 

   Upon finalization of sub-project concepts, Barangay Representation Teams (BRTs) and Project Preparation Teams (PPTs) are convened in the First Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum (1st MIBF). In this forum, representatives from different barangays of the municipality come together to rank their respective sub-project concepts based on the criteria developed during Step 5: Criteria Setting Forum. The MIBF is a localized decision-making process where sub-project concepts are not only ranked but are also prioritized for funding under KALAHI-CIDSS. As such, the genuine participation of the BRT is imperative. In addition, the 1st MIBF is the culmination of the agreements made in the Criteria-setting Forum.

 

   The MIBF is another strategy in community empowerment through localized decision-making. By instituting mechanisms whereby communities are able to decide on matters affecting their lives, the Project aims to promote democratic processes amongst local people. It empowers common people by providing them the opportunity to choose their own development path. This basic principle guides the Project throughout its life cycle. 

     The 4th Barangay Assembly or Feedback of MIBF results (Step 10)

    The 4th Barangay Assembly (BA) is the venue where results of the 1st Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum (MIBF) are presented to the community. It is also where members of the Assembly set-up the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) and all relevant committees under it.

 

   The BSPMC (link to Barangay Structure in KC at a glance) is the barangay-level project management team consisting of community volunteers selected by the Barangay Assembly. It comprises of several sub-committees namely: (a) Bids and Awards Committee; (b) Audit and Inventory Committee; (c) Procurement Team; (d) Sub-project Implementation Team; (e) Monitoring and Inspection Team; (f) and other committees which the BA deems necessary for project implementation.

     Preparation of Detailed Proposal (Step 11)

    In step 11, the Project Preparation Team (PPT) undergoes another workshop where they flesh out their sub-project concept. The community volunteers develop their sub-project concept form into a full-blown project proposal. The PPT, after completing the workshop, comes up with a detailed sub-project proposal ready for validation by the Barangay Assembly.

     The 5th Barangay Assembly or Validation of detailed proposal (Step 12) 

   The 5th Barangay Assembly (BA) is the venue where the community validates the detailed project proposal prepared by the Project Preparation Team (PPT). This is a feedback mechanism where members of the community comment on and provide input to the project proposal. It is a participatory exercise that gives opportunity to all members of and stakeholders in the community to be consulted.

 

   After the 5th BA, the Barangay Assembly is expected to have approved the detailed sub-project proposal which the PPT will present in the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum (MIBF) for final approval. 

     The 2nd Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum or Approval of detailed proposals (Step 13)

    Upon finalization of detailed sub-project proposals, Barangay Representation Teams (BRTs) reconvene in the 2nd Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum (2nd MIBF). In this forum, representatives from different barangays of the municipality come together to review the detailed proposals and ensure that they are in compliance with what was agreed during the 1st MIBF. During this forum, the MIBF gives final approval to sub-projects and a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is forged between the -DSWD, the local government unit, and the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committees (BSPMC). 

     The Pre-Implementation Workshop (Step 14)

    The Pre-Implementation Workshop is the venue where the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) and its sub-committees discuss and draw up sub-project implementation plan. This is also the occasion where roles and responsibilities are clarified between and amongst community volunteers and their respective project committees. In short, this is a project planning exercise designed to prepare the BSPMC in the implementation of their community development project.

     Sub-Project Implementation (Step 15) 

   Literally, this is the stage where the community implements their project plans. This is also the time when technical assistance is extensively provided by KALAHI-CIDSS, apart from the project funding received by the community through the MIBF. This stage is the concrete manifestation of the community’s struggle for a better life, a testament of their cooperative effort and unwavering commitment to their own development. 

     The Operations and Maintenance (Step 16)

   This final stage of the KALAHI-CIDSS process ensures sustainability of community development projects. The BSPMC is trained and assisted to develop operations and maintenance plan so that the gains of the project may be sustained and benefits may be reaped over the longest possible time. This also ensures that the gains of the community in terms of social capital is sustained, mainstreamed, and institutionalized.