Bridging Leadership for Convergence Program

Converging programs is difficult. It is often easier for programs to do work separately. Yet, leaders have begun to understand that fragmented efforts often have limited impact.

At the Bridging Leadership Institute, we believe in empowering government program managers to create positive and lasting change by equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to converge initiatives both internally within Local Government Units (LGUs) and externally with various stakeholders. Our program is designed to enhance the capacity of program managers to collaborate and integrate efforts at the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay levels, fostering a holistic and unified approach to development.

Program Overview: The Bridging Leadership for Convergence Program is a training initiative aimed at cultivating leaders who can foster collaboration and convergence among various sectors and stakeholders especially through the SPARK Samar and SIRAK Academy initiatives. Our program addresses two key aspects of convergence: internal convergence within LGUs and external convergence with external stakeholders.

1. Internal Convergence: Internal convergence refers to the harmonization of efforts and initiatives within the Local Government Units themselves. It involves creating synergies among different departments and programs to maximize resources and achieve more impactful outcomes. Our program will focus on the following components at each level:

• Provincial Level: Program managers will be trained to facilitate coordination and collaboration between different departments such as tourism, youth, agriculture and fisheries, education, environment, trade and microenterprise, peace and order, history, and culture. They will learn to develop integrated plans that address the diverse needs of their province efficiently.

• City/Municipal Level: Our training will emphasize building effective communication channels among departments and promoting shared goals. Participants will learn strategies for leveraging the strengths of different sectors to address local challenges effectively.

• Barangay Level: Program managers will be equipped with the tools to coordinate efforts at the grassroots level, encouraging active participation of communities and ensuring that initiatives are inclusive and sustainable.

2. External Convergence: External convergence focuses on forging partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders outside the LGUs. Building strong connections with external actors enhances the impact of local initiatives and facilitates access to additional resources. Components of external convergence at each level include:

• Provincial Level: Program managers will learn to engage with regional agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector partners. They will develop skills in fostering public-private partnerships and crafting multi-stakeholder initiatives.

• City/Municipal Level: Training will emphasize developing relationships with neighboring LGUs, community-based organizations, and businesses to address shared challenges and opportunities effectively.

• Barangay Level: Participants will be taught how to engage with civil society organizations, educational institutions, and local businesses to mobilize resources and support for community-level projects.

Convergence of Efforts between Various Sectors: To promote sustainable and inclusive development, our program will emphasize the convergence of efforts among key sectors, including:

• Tourism: Integrating tourism with other sectors like culture and environment can boost local economies and preserve cultural heritage.

• Youth: Coordinating youth programs with education, environment, and peace and order initiatives ensures the empowerment and active involvement of young people in community development.

• Agriculture and Fisheries: Aligning agricultural and fisheries efforts with trade and microenterprise initiatives can create value chains that benefit local farmers and fisherfolk.

• Education: Combining education efforts with tourism and culture can enhance cultural appreciation and learning experiences for students and tourists alike.

• Environment: Integrating environmental initiatives with agriculture, tourism, and youth programs promotes sustainability and ecotourism.

• Trade and Microenterprise: Coordinating trade and microenterprise with agriculture, tourism, and education can boost local economies and create employment opportunities.

• Peace and Order: Linking peace and order initiatives with youth and education efforts fosters a safe and conducive environment for learning and community development.

• History and Culture: Integrating culture with tourism, education, and environment efforts promotes cultural heritage preservation and appreciation.