EMPOWERING CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOs) IN THE PHILIPPINES: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

This study presents a PRISMA-guided systematic review of literature on the empowerment of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Philippines. The review synthesize evidence from peer-reviewed journals, government publications, policy papers, non-government organizations report, and other gray literature to provide a comprehensive understanding of CSO empowerment across social, economic, political, and institutional dimensions. Guided by PRISMA framework, a structured search strategy was employed across multiple databases and institutional repositories, followed by rigorous screening, eligibility assessment, and quality appraisal.

Findings indicate that empowered CSOs play critical role in participatory governance, community development, poverty reduction, and service delivery, particularly at the local government level. Key empowerment mechanisms identified include capacity-building initiatives, digital transformation, policy engagement, resource mobilization and collaborative partnership with government and private sectors. However, persistent challenges such as limited funding, regulatory constraints, uneven institutional support, and capacity gaps continue to affect CSO sustainability and impact.The review highlights significant gaps in empirical evaluation and regional representation, underscoring the need for more data-driven and longitudinal studies. Overall, the study contributes to the literature by consolidating fragmented evidence and providing policy-relevant insights to strengthen CSO empowerment strategies in the Philippines.