Training is always viewed as an important element in community organizing . 

The Customize CO Consultancy training program is a response to the identified training needs and assistance being requested by the  POs and NGO partners of the CO Multiversity. This area of training assistance refer to the  training’s being provided to the NGO partners who do not have the capacity and opportunity to avail of the full time CO training assistance of COM. It hopes to respond to the training needs identified by partner POs and NGOs in a manner that is limited though it may be yet are meaningful, productive, responsive and rooted to the tradition of issue based community organizing.

 Note ,that the full time training program and the consultancy training being provided to the COs are of equal importance .   Specifically., this area of concern  covers the utilization of various training mechanisms in Community Organizing as it also applied to the full-time training assistance and partnerships with NGO . The training mechanisms being used  are as follows :

a)      regular tactic session were the COM trainer attend and maximized this venue for harnessing the capabilities of COs in issue analysis , strategy setting and identification of workable and effective tactics in dealing with their issues .

b)      regular consultation  : this training mechanism refers to one on one consultation  of trainees being trained

c)      theoretical discussion  /input based on the identified needs of the team .

d)     field support

e)      Other creative training mechanisms that may evolved as they experience the process .

Duration  :  Consultancy training assistance is being given for the duration of three years based on the following stages :

 Stage 1 :  Training Orientation and Needs identification

                           The stage were the trainer together with requesting PO and NGOs  are able to identify training needs in organizing . Training needs identification will also be based on the existing and potential issues were the organizing initiatives will revolve. It is also in this stage were the following activities and output will be undertaken . This stage is being done for the duration of one month to 3 months . At the end of this stage the following tasks should be done :

a)      needs assessment to determine training  objective  

b)      Planning session to  determine training mechanisms , designs and structure .

c)      Determine administrative requirement

d)     Come up with a memo of understanding

Stage 2 :  CO capability skills training and consultancy assistance .

                    It is on this stage were the actual implementation of  training  assistance is implemented by maximizing the utilization of training mechanisms  like tactic session , consultation, theoretical   discussion , reflection, evaluation session and hands on in the field . It  hopes to enhance the capability skills of the  trainees /CO team in the implementation of CO  processes in their respective organizing area. .After this stage, it is hoped that COs  will demonstrate skill in  issue analysis, conducting tactic session , used of 10 CO steps, and others as identified in the  training design . Note that during this stage the trainer is  task to perform their training consultancy role once ever y month or once every 6 weeks as  agreed upon  .

                    During this stage ,  regular evaluation of the training program as well as the trainees performance are being evaluated using the agreed upon evaluation tool and processes  . This stage is done for the duration of two years and six months period .

Stage 3  :  Disengagement Phase :

                 This is the phase were the training engagement of CO Multiversity trainer is gradually  being turned over to the management committee or to anybody responsible for its sustainability . It is in this stage of training and consultancy assistance were the CO  team is given the opportunity to be on their own . During this training the trainer from COM come to the group only every after one month depending on the needs and agreement  made.This stage is done for 3 months duration .

Stage 4 :    Follow up session :

                        It is the stage were the follow up support activities as agreed upon by the group is being implemented . This stage hoped to monitor the continuing practice of the CO processes learned during the duration of training . Feedback session  on their experiences  after the stage 3 is done .This is done to ensure that the theories and concepts learned  on the practice of CO is being done by the trainees through meetings and feedback session  . COM trainers conducts follow up session and consultation activities based on the agreed schedule and mechanism .

Stage 5 :    Phase Out :

                    Stage were the assistance of CO Multiversity trainer is finished . Responsibility is totally turned over  to the management committee of the partner NGO or PO .                 

 In general the overall consultancy  assistance is done for the duration of 3 years . The present consultancy program being facilitated by COM with its partner NGOs and POs are as follows :

1)      Infanta Cosultancy :     It  will involved the training of  7 COs and eventually one trainer  to  continuously implement  their organizing initiatives in 8 areas of Indigenous people “ AGTA “ in  Infanta and Aurora . Their organizing initiatives will revolve around issues of ancestral domain claim,livelihood, and environment issues cause by the Dam  project and Green Circle in the locality.  Note , that there is also a child labor issue in this area . This consultancy is in partnership with the Indigenous Peoples Apostulate. Due to the number of trainees to be trained as well as proximity concern one full time trainer is needed .

2) San Luis Consultancy:

                 This  training consultancy assistance involves the harnessing of skills of Local Government Unit in ensuring peoples participation  in the effective delivery of programs and services to the community particularly the marginalize sectors in the

Municipality of San Luis.The organizing work in this area will revolved around the creation of mechanism to ensure participation of Gos, NGOS and PO in the decision making processes in the municipality as stated in local code . It also involves governance,   council work , policy development and advocacy in service delivery . This is done in partnership with Local Government . At the end of  3 years it is hoped that all service agencies of the LGUs have a clearer understanding of the true meaning of participatory technology and make this as an important feature in their decision making processes and service delivery system . 

3)  KPLN Consultancy :

                   It involves the continuing training in CO to harness and sustain the team in the effective implementation of CO work in the Mangyan areas. It hopes that through this engagement KPLN as a federation of POs in the different Mangyan tribes will be able to manage their issues in ancestral domain claim . Specifically the completion and implementation of KAPLANO (Mangyan  initiated resource utilization and management of ancestral domain ) . Hopefully at the end of 3 years the KPLN CO unit will be strengthened and will be capable to continuously respond and reached out to as many Mangyan communities as a whole thus their flight for their own identity as a people is materialized . Efficient and responsive CO for ancestral domain  issues and concerns ensures ecologically and environmentally friendly communities not only for Mangyan but also for the whole ecozone and mountain range in Mindoro  and neighboring regions . Their flight and long time struggle for this cause must be supported

4)  UGMA Consultancy  :

                    UGMA  is  a federation of 10  farmers federation from the 58 barangay chapters from the 10  municipalities in Quezon . They have been existing for 14 years. They requested for training assistance  from the COM to update their knowledge ,skills , information  and attitude in Community Organizing  as it relate to the present condition , trend and development of the new Millenium .  Quezon as part of the Calabarzon area is pausing a lot of challenges and threats to the agricultural development in the area . Issues like land tenure , low income , low production , coco levy , land conversion ,  support services , mining act  in the area  are the  reasons why they want to update their skills in organizing . They believed that the challenge of fast moving urbanization and globalization creates a lot of tensions and threat to the farmers thus ,they as a federation of farmers must consolidate further to sharpen their CO and  advocacy skill to be able to repond effectively  to the needs and challenges of time .   

                    UGMA Consultancy assistance involves the training of  four community sorganizers  who are assigned to facilitate , support and sustain  the organizing initiative  of the farmers organization in their respective chapters . It also involves the training of potential trainer in trainee to be able to conduct the training mechanism like tactic session , hands on , theoretical discussion on their own .

 5) SUSI Consultation  : 

               Consultancy assistance  was requested by the SUSI foundation to assist the farmers group in dealing with their issues on land transfer . It will also involved intervention on their land dispute with the landowner . The CO  Multiversity trainer will assist the group in their tactic session to ensure a more appropriate strategies and tactics in dealing with their issues . It is envisioned that this consultancy program will be tie up with  LABB  ( Luntiang Alyansa Para sa Bundok Banahaw ) as a COLC in the area . Specifically this consultancy is a LABB /SUSI/ CO Multiversity partnership.