Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

This project seeks to advance the women peace and security agenda in peacebuilding and governance in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The project also aims to prevent insecurity and violence in conflict-affected communities by empowering women and addressing gender inequality including discriminatory gender norms that are barriers to inclusive sustainable peace by supporting the implementation of the Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan on Women Peace and Security. Project activities include: (1) supporting the development of the Regional Action Plan on Women Peace and Security for 2023-2028; (2) training local officials on conflict mediation and dialogue; (3) integrating women mediators into regional and provincial early warning and response systems; (4) providing cash and in-kind support to women’s collectives for livelihood support; and (5) developing gender and conflict research and conducting knowledge-sharing sessions for key stakeholders. The project expects to benefit at least 896 women across five provinces in BARMM five provincial government units 15 barangay (village) and municipal local government units and at least five BARMM ministries.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthened inclusive gender-responsive policy and programming on conflict prevention and resolution by government institutions in the BARMM; and (2) improved meaningful participation and leadership in conflict prevention and resolution and peace-humanitarian nexus of women peace mediators and women’s organizations in BARMM.