24 SEPT 2004

JVPFI undergoes organizational audit with CORD
by Trina J. Pineda

The Jesuit Volunteers Philippines Foundation, Inc. (JVPFI) and the Center for Organization Research and Development (CORD) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement last September 15, 2004 for CORD to conduct an organizational audit of the foundation. Atty. Jo Maribojoc, Executive Director of JVP, feels that as JVP celebrates the 25th year of running the Volunteer Service Program (VSP), it is timely to conduct the organizational audit to look back, review, and prepare the foundation for exploring new directions in the coming years, especially with respect to the former volunteers of the VSP. The audit is also a response to the changes in the life of the foundation and Philippine society, which were recognized in the JVP strategic planning concluded in the year 2003.

In two resolutions passed by the foundation's Board of Trustees in their meeting last August 7, 2004, the Board expressed full support for the organizational audit to review JVP's structure, membership and governance, roles and responsibilities of officers and members of JVP, to determine the best organizational model for JVP.

The CORD is eager to commence the organizational audit and implement its three-phase methodology. The phases include: (1) a diagnosis and organizational analysis through interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) with the participation of the Board, other key people in JVP throughout its history, and local communities; (2) an organization review workshop; and (3) a presentation to the Board of the output and recommendations from the audit.

The interviews for the diagnosis and organizational analysis phase are slated to begin in October here in Manila. FGDs around the local communities are scheduled for the latter part of October and early November. The organization review workshop will be in November and the presentation to the board will be during February's Board meeting. Results and recommendations from the organizational audit will be presented to the whole community during a special assembly in the grand reunion.

The success of the organizational audit relies heavily on the active participation and cooperation of the Board, the Central Office, the local communities, and key people in the foundation, CORD Executive Director, Edna P. Franco, stressed.