Chemonics is dedicated to our mission of promoting meaningful change around the world – helping people live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives. Over 50 years, we have implemented more than 1,400 development projects worldwide. In 1987, we began working in the Philippines. As a trusted partner to the U.S. Government and the Philippine people, Chemonics has implemented 36 projects nationwide to advance climate and disaster resilience, improve energy and water use, strengthen trade and economic development, increase financial access, and bolster municipal governance. Today, Chemonics remains committed to supporting the Philippine government, non-governmental organizations, and private businesses. We bring the full breadth of our cross-cutting technical expertise to design innovative and sustainable development solutions in partnership with the both the government of the Philippines and local communities.
Key Impacts
Climate and Disaster Resilience
Biodiversity Conservation and Governance. Chemonics has advanced climate and disaster resilience in the Philippines by integrating risk reduction and environmental sustainability into governance and development programs. Working on behalf of the U.S. Government, Chemonics strengthened watershed and forest management to mitigate climate impacts, institutionalized the Lawin Forest Monitoring System for long-term ecosystem protection, and introduced innovative financing mechanisms such as Payment for Ecosystem Services to sustain conservation efforts. These interventions not only safeguarded biodiversity, but also reduced vulnerability to natural hazards, enabling communities and local governments to adopt evidence-based strategies that enhance resilience and support inclusive economic growth. Through partnerships with government, private sector, and indigenous communities, Chemonics mobilized over $58 million in biodiversity investments, improved livelihoods for nearly 30,000 people, and integrated evidence-based planning into national and local strategies.
GOVERNANCE
Policy Reform and Modernization. Chemonics has been a catalyst for transformative governance reforms, driving systemic change that strengthens Philippine institutions and accelerates inclusive economic growth. We have championed regulatory modernization, streamlined business processes, and enhanced fiscal transparency — unlocking pathways for private sector competitiveness and citizen trust in government. By embedding evidence-based policies and digital innovations into public administration, Chemonics improved service delivery while also making systems more efficient. These efforts positioned governance as a cornerstone of sustainable development, ensuring that reforms translate into tangible benefits for businesses, communities, and the nation’s long-term prosperity.
Trade and Economic Development
Economic Improvement Through Financial Access. Without access to formal financial services, low-income households are often forced to rely on high-interest loans from informal lenders. Since 1998, Chemonics has partnered with rural banks across the Philippines to strengthen financial infrastructure and expand access to credit and savings for underserved communities. More recently, we have built on this foundation by modernizing regulatory frameworks, accelerating digital transformation, and supporting e-commerce integration for micro and small enterprises. Across multiple U.S. Government-funded programs, Chemonics has helped 30,000 SMEs adopt digital platforms, mobilized $81.1 million in e-commerce sales, and provided $40 million in liquidity grants to over 3,300 microentrepreneurs, including 1,300 women-led businesses. Chemonics remains committed to promoting inclusive growth in the Philippines, having invested in Higala, a pioneering initiative designed to strengthen community-based financial systems and expand access to affordable credit for the most vulnerable households. Higala builds on decades of progress by integrating trust-based lending models with digital tools, ensuring that even remote communities can participate in the formal financial ecosystem. Working alongside innovations like ePeso, which introduced secure, instant digital payments to connect rural banks and cooperatives to national payment systems, Higala is helping reduce transaction costs, increase financial literacy, and empower local entrepreneurs.