A Development Academy of the Philippines delegation led by President Antonio Kalaw Jr. that recently traveled to Germany met with a number of German political foundations to explore possible partnerships in public sector productivity, and research on federalism, climate change and other areas of mutual interest and concern.
Kalaw and his group met with representatives of the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation or Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (FNS) as well as two other German political foundations – Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) – in meetings arranged with the help of Philippine Ambassador to Germany Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, a former DAPper herself.
Kalaw and his team held far-ranging discussions during a meeting at the Philippine Embassy with Maria Schneider, head of the Asia Division of the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation.
Functions of foundations
Schneider briefed the DAP team on the functions of the German political foundations within the context of the German society and the German federal system, and how they play significant roles in the strengthening of democratic ideals and institutions within Germany. Both parties explored areas of cooperation where the DAP and the FNS could work together, with Ms. Schneider promising to refer the DAP to the FNS Philippine office.
The DAP delegation also discussed various relevant topics with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES). Representing Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. were Christian Rieck and Joachim Rother, head of his foundation’s Section for Southeast Asia. Jurgen Stetten, head of the Department for Asia and the Pacific of FES’ Division for International Cooperation, meanwhile, represented FES along with Dr. Johannes Kadura.
Wide range of topics
The successive meetings tackled a wide range of topics where the DAP and the two foundations could possibly partner in undertaking activities and projects, including bureaucracy and federalism, public sector productivity, evidence-based research on federalism, the judiciary in the federal setting, and criminality and corruption prevention.
Other topics touched were indigenous people’s rights, peace initiatives, conflict areas, climate change, and disaster risk reduction and management.
While the discussions took place on an exploratory level, the groups agreed to pursue more in-depth meetings and forge possible partnerships in the future. The officials of both foundations, in fact, introduced the heads of their Philippine-based offices who would start their tour of duty in January 2017. The DAP would be meeting with them in Manila to pursue partnership discussions.