U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today launched the 2nd Grant Cycle of the Philippine-American (Phil-Am) Fund at the InterContinental Hotel in Makati City.

Representatives of Luzon-based civil society organizations, corporations, business chambers, academic and professional associations attended the event.  Similar conferences were also held in Davao City and Iloilo City earlier to reach out to Mindanao and Visayas institutions.

USAID’s Phil-Am Fund is a five-year, Php960 million ($24 million) grant facility that provides opportunities for local civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Philippines to innovate and develop new solutions for many of the country's development challenges.  The project is implemented by the Gerry Roxas Foundation with SyCip Gorres and Velayo Co. as its management advisory partner.

Launched in September 2013, the grant facility has awarded 12 grants to date. The grantees provide local solutions to address a range of issues in economic growth, biodiversity protection, combating human trafficking, strengthening basic education and fostering good governance.

“The Phil-Am Fund represents the commitment of the United States Government to support the fundamental role of civil society organizations in development,” said USAID Mission Director Gloria D. Steele.

The project supports the goals of the bilateral Partnership for Growth, a key initiative of the White House, to achieve broad-based, inclusive and resilient growth in the Philippines.

Non-state, private, for-profit and non-profit organizations may apply for grants under the Phil-Am Fund. Interested parties may visit the websites www.usaid-philamfund.org.ph or www.gerryroxasfoundation.org to read the solicitation guidelines as well as the FAQs.