Summary
CIFAL Philippines is hosted by the University of the Philippines (UP) serving as a hub for the Asia-Pacific region, leveraging UP's disciplinary strengths in areas such as public policy, migration and development.
The CIFAL jointly with the UP and its Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS) aims to enhance data on Philippine migration and contribute to develop sound public policies.
It will also serve as a hub for capacity building on how to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at the local level.
Scope: Asia-Pacific
Thematic Areas:
- Social Inclusion
- Capacity for Agenda 2030
Topics:
- Migration and Development
- Gender Equality
CIFAL Philippines Director
Dr. Edna E. A. Co
EDNA ESTIFANIA A. CO serves as Director of CIFAL Philippines and is full professor of public administration and former Dean of the National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines. She was a visiting research fellow at the Institute for Development and Policy Management at the University of Manchester in England; a Visiting Lecturer at the City University of Hong Kong and the Meiji University in Japan on social development administration and citizen participation in governance. Dr. Co has authored or co-authored publications some of which earned International Publication Awards, Centennial Award and Faculty Grant from the University of the Philippines. She was the Manuel A. Roxas Professorial Chair Holder in 2012. Dr. Co reviews for various refereed national and international academic journals.
Dr. Co initiated the Philippine democracy assessment methodology in 2004 and since then she partners with the inter-governmental organization International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) on various democracy assessment efforts and in knowledge resource development in the Asia-Pacific.
Dr. Co is currently the Executive Director of the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS), the university system-wide interdisciplinary policy center. She is a trustee of the board of the Galing Pook Foundation, a national award-giving body on best practices in local governance and once served as advisory council member of the Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines (ULAP). In 2012, Dr. Co chaired the “Pamana ng Lahi”, the award giving body of the Philippines’ Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Dr. Co serves as council member of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), the oldest election watchdog in the Philippines. She serves as consultant to various national and international development organizations. She is a member of the Advisory Council to the Philippine Civil Service Commission.