A Capacity-Building Intervention Model for Civil Society‎Organizations: An Applied Assessment of Knowledge,‎Training Efficacy, and Proposal Development in Local ‎Governance

  • Authors

    • Gemar G. Perez Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Irene H. Maralit Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Jennifer Buenviaje Atienza Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Katherine T. Arellano Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Jennifer M. Perez Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Bendalyn M. Landicho Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Gina D. Bonifacio Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Camilo C. Alulod Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Lorena F. Mendoza Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Agnes D. Arellano Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    • Shirlyne M. Guhit Batangas State University- The National Engineering University
    https://doi.org/10.14419/yx7qkt35

    Received date: November 7, 2025

    Accepted date: December 9, 2025

    Published date: December 17, 2025

  • Capacity Building; Civil Society Organizations; Local Governance; Training Intervention
  • Abstract

    This study examined the effectiveness of a structured capacity-building intervention designed to enhance the governance-related competen-‎cies of civil society organizations (CSOs) in a local government context. The intervention consisted of modular training on statutory roles, ‎strategic management, project planning, and proposal development, administered to CSO representatives accredited by a municiplaity-level ‎local government unit. A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-assessment was employed to measure changes in knowledge and ‎applied competencies, complemented by the evaluation of project proposals produced by participants after the training. Results indicated ‎substantial improvements across all competency domains, with post-test scores showing significant gains compared to baseline levels and ‎project proposals demonstrating alignment with local development priorities. The study further introduced a capacity maturation model that ‎explains how foundational knowledge evolves into applied competence and institutional engagement when supported by organizational ‎conditions. Findings highlight the importance of treating CSO capacity-building not as a one-time activity but as a developmental process ‎with measurable outcomes. The model offers a conceptual basis for future empirical testing and provides practical insights for government ‎agencies, academic institutions, and development partners seeking to strengthen participatory governance‎.

  • References

    1. Y. Wang and Y. Qiu, “How civil society organizations influence environmental governance in the Global South,” Current Opinion in Environmen-tal Sustainability, vol. 75, p. 101556, Jul. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2025.101556.
    2. European Training Foundation, “The Role of Civil Society Organisations in Lifelong Learning and Human Capital Development,” European Train-ing Foundation, 2024.
    3. M. Imran, Maruf Hasan Rumi, T. B. Mesbah, and D. Rahman, “Examining the Role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Promoting Participa-tory Local Governance at the Grassroots in Bangladesh: A Case Study of Jhilongjha Union in Cox’s Bazar District,” Journal of Governance and Social Policy, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 227–244, Dec. 2023.
    4. R. Sharma, “Civil society organizations’ institutional climate capacity for community-based conservation projects: Characteristics, factors, and is-sues,” Current research in environmental sustainability, vol. 5, pp. 100218–100218, Jan. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2023.100218.
    5. L. Mwadzingeni, M. Dandira, D. Kutywayo, L. Mwadzingeni, A. Chiwawa, and M. D. Simatele, “Impact of capacity building through learning, training, and coaching on agricultural innovation,” PLOS ONE, vol. 20, no. 1, p. e0314004, Jan. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314004.
    6. Asian Development Bank, “Civil Society Brief: The Philippines,” Sep. 2023, https://doi.org/10.22617/BRF230343.
    7. DBM CALABARZON, “Handbook on the Participation of the CSO in the Local Budget Process,” Scribd, 2025. https://www.scribd.com/doc/316286770/Handbook-on-the-Participation-of-the-CSO-in-the-Local-Budget-Process (accessed Dec. 08, 2025).
    8. Czarina Medina-Guce, L. Velasco, and A. M. Rey, “Baseline Study on the State of Participation in Local Government Units: Participatory Govern-ance Metrics for Local Development Councils,” (Discussion Paper No, DP 2025-07) Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Apr. 2025, https://doi.org/10.62986/dp2025.07.
    9. R. Celeste and V. Pasamonte, “Empowering Grassroots Voices: Engagement of Civil Society Organizations in Philippine Local Governance | 195 Empowering Grassroots Voices: Engagement of Civil Society Organizations in Philippine Local Governance,” Jun. 2024. Available: https://pa.gspajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/8.Empowering-Grassroots-Voices-Engagement-of-Civil-Society-Organizations-in-Philippine-Local-Governance-1.pdf.
    10. People in Need, “CSO-LGU Coordination Guide,” 2024. Available: https://philippines.peopleinneed.net/media/publications/2465/file/cso-lgu-coordination-guide_final-layout.pdf.
    11. Paruedee Nguitragool and H. Varkkey, “CSOs and Polycentric Haze Governance in Southeast Asia,” Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Jul. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1177/18681034251363603.
    12. Yudi Rusfiana and Dewi Kurniasih, “The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Promoting Social and Political Change in Indonesia,” Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 187–206, Aug. 2024, https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2154.
    13. L. Kyianytsia, “The Interplay Between Civil Society and State in Southeast Asia: Pathways to Human Development and Flourishing,” Future Hu-man Image, vol. 21, 2024, https://doi.org/10.29202/fhi/21/4.
    14. Y. Ba and Z. Sun, “Empowering change: implementation of civil society climate actions in Southeast Asia,” Climate Policy, pp. 1–15, Jul. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2025.2525508.
    15. T. Rakar and Z. Kolarič, “Development of Civil Society Organizations—Caught Up in the Framework of Different Welfare Systems,” Social Sci-ences, vol. 14, no. 3, p. 182, Mar. 2025, https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14030182.
    16. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), “Localisation Trends and Disaster Risk Management in ASEAN: Strengthening the Local Ac-tors,” Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), 70A Jalan Sisingamangaraja Jakarta 12110, Indonesia, Aug. 2024.
    17. K. A. Ibones et al., “Enabling role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in local environmental management in the Philippines: A systematic review,” Journal of Civil Society, pp. 1–21, Jul. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1080/17448689.2024.2381826.
    18. R. Alberca, “INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PROGRESSIVE RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE (IJPREMS) (Int Peer Reviewed CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOS) IN PANABO CITY: A BASELINE STUDY,” Journal of Pro-gressive Research in Engineering Management and Science, vol. 04, no. 12, pp. 2041–2044, 2024.
    19. R. A. Ortega, J. C. E. Amindalan, J. A. P. C. Camero, K. J. C. Parrocha, and A. J. P. Tablazon, “Civil society organization participation in local governance: the case of Aringay, La Union,” Unpublished Thesis, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University – Mid La Union Campus, City of San Fernando, La Union, 2024.
    20. Lessons Learned Simulations and Training, Humanitarian Partners International, SNO Consulting, and the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, “ Localising Humanitarian Learning: Global Capacity Strengthening Needs of Local Civil Society Organisations in Technical Expertise and Leader-ship,” Humanitarian Leadership Academy, London, Apr. 2022.
    21. Open Government Partnership, “Philippines’ Open Government Journey - Open Government Partnership,” Open Government Partnership, Mar. 27, 2025. https://www.opengovpartnership.org/philippines-open-government-journey/.
    22. L. Martinez, A. Capaccioli, M. Djukic, H. Hook, and S. Basu, “Exploring capacity building in local governance to implement inclusive digital mo-bility services,” Journal of Urban Mobility, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 100147, Dec. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100147.
    23. S. Seebauer, “The CAPS framework for governance capacity building for local climate action,” Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, May 2025.
    24. M. Duvaga, M. S. Falemaka, G. Prinsen, C. Rokodredre, and I. Taraia, “Pacific NGOs weighing up our research capacities,” Development in Prac-tice, pp. 1–7, Jul. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2025.2530453.
    25. S. S. Ngai et al., “Enhancing the Organizational Evaluation Capacity of NGOs: Results of a Quasi-Experimental Study,” Research on Social Work Practice, May 2025, https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251336713.
    26. Humanitarian Academy for Development, “BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF NGOs,” 2020. Accessed: Dec. 09, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://had-int.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/HAD-Building-the-Capacity-of-NGOs-2020-2023.pdf.
    27. A. Alsalamah and C. Callinan, “The Kirkpatrick model for training evaluation: bibliometric analysis after 60 years (1959–2020),” Industrial and Commercial Training, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 36–63, Aug. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-12-2020-0115.
    28. J.-E. Yu, “Reliability and validity of applying Kirkpatrick model for evaluating exercise rehabilitation program,” Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 200–209, Aug. 2025, https://doi.org/10.12965/jer.2550428.214.
    29. P. Sudarmika, N. L. P. Nurhaeni, T. F. Agustini, and I. W. Santyasa, “Training evaluation for nurses and midwives using the Kirkpatrick model,” International journal of health sciences, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 53–66, Aug. 2023, https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v7n2.14504.
    30. Munira Amidkhonova and M. Gander, “Evaluating the Impact of Learning and Development on Staff Motivation in International Non‐Governmental and International Non‐Profit Organisations,” International Journal of Training and Development, Jul. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1111/ijtd.70004.
    31. B. Ambu-Saidi, N. Fung, N. Turner, and N. Lim, “A critical review on training evaluation models: A search for future agenda,” Journal of Cogni-tive Sciences and Human Development, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 142–170, Mar. 2024, https://doi.org/10.33736/jcshd.6336.2024.
    32. O. Chukwu, “Africa Chapter annual meeting highlights: strengthening NGO capacity and advocacy - Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety,” Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, Oct. 08, 2024. https://www.roadsafetyngos.org/africa/africa-chapter-annual-meeting-highlights-strengthening-ngo-capacity-and-advocacy/ (accessed Dec. 09, 2025).
    33. P. Weber, K. Krawczyk, Brian Ikechukwu Ezeonu, and F. Tuggle, “How to Leverage Action Research to Develop Context-specific Capacity Building for Civil Society Organizations,” Nonprofit policy forum, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 49–69, Jul. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1515/npf-2022-0041.
    34. United States Agency for International Development, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, and Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, “2021 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION SUSTAINABILITY INDEX FOR ASIA 8th EDI-TION -DECEMBER 2022 CIVIL SOCIETY GLOBALLY STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY GLOBALLY,” Dec. 2022. Available: https://www.fhi360.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/csosi-asia-2021-report.pdf.
    35. Open Government Partnership, “Participation of Vulnerable Sectors Towards empowerment, accountability, and Reform in Local Governance (PH0074),” Open Government Partnership, 2022. https://www.opengovpartnership.org/members/philippines/commitments/PH0074/ (accessed Dec. 09, 2025).
  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Perez , G. G. ., Maralit, I. H. ., Atienza, J. B. ., Arellano, K. T. ., Perez, J. M. ., Landicho, B. M. ., Bonifacio, G. D. ., Alulod, C. C. ., Mendoza, L. F. ., Arellano, A. D. ., & Guhit, S. M. . (2025). A Capacity-Building Intervention Model for Civil Society‎Organizations: An Applied Assessment of Knowledge,‎Training Efficacy, and Proposal Development in Local ‎Governance. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 14(8), 362-373. https://doi.org/10.14419/yx7qkt35