Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP) and the National Resilience Council Foundation (NRC) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing inclusive, science-based, and community-driven approaches to climate resilience across the Philippines.
The partnership aims to support the localization and alignment of the Philippine National Adaptation Plan (NAP), while expanding access to adaptation and resilience finance, technical assistance, and capacity-building opportunities for Local Government Units (LGUs) and communities.
Under the partnership, FFP and NRC will collaborate to convene a joint working group that will promote complementation and coherence among climate resilience initiatives. The partnership will also encourage knowledge exchange, facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue, and support locally led and demand-driven interventions grounded in Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
“This partnership reflects the natural evolution of our work. For the past twenty years, the Foundation has been engaged in ecosystem conservation, and we now seek to build on that knowledge and experience to support the welfare of forest-dependent communities and other stakeholders who rely on these ecosystems. We welcome this opportunity to contribute to strengthening the resilience of the country, said Atty. Jose Andres Canivel, Executive Director of Forest Foundation.
As part of the collaboration, the two organizations will co-develop workplans, provide technical expertise, and facilitate access to climate financing mechanisms such as the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), Loss and Damage (L&D) financing, philanthropy, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) grants. Partnerships with academic institutions will also be established to strengthen risk analysis, develop nature-based solutions, and ensure long-term sustainability of resilience investments.
Forest Foundation will actively engage in policy dialogues and joint planning efforts focused on NbS, while NRC will provide technical, knowledge, and networking support to strengthen resilience pillars such as human development, local economy, environment, infrastructure, and human security.
Mr. Silvestre Barrameda, Jr., Executive Director of NRC, shared, “We are grateful for this partnership and look forward to working closely with Forest Foundation Philippines. We believe our goals are strongly aligned—not only in strengthening the resilience of our physical environment, but also in ensuring the resilience of the ecosystems that sustain our communities.”
The partnership underscores the critical role of collaborative and inclusive approaches in addressing the impacts of climate change and advancing sustainable development pathways for communities across the country. By combining expertise in science and technology with leadership and governance, Forest Foundation and NRC seek to bridge science, technology, and community-driven initiatives toward building climate-resilient communities for the benefit of present and future generations.
About Forest Foundation Philippines:
Forest Foundation Philippines is a non-governmental organization that provides grants and technical assistance to organizations and individuals that empower the people to protect and conserve the forests.
About National Resilience Council Foundation:
The National Resilience Council is a science and technology-based public-private-people partnership supporting the government and private sector, the academe, and communities to advance the intersecting goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, and Making Cities Resilient 2030 of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
