Peace Building

Armed conflicts that have taken place in the Philippines in the last fifty years have had a very negative impact on the lives of Filipinos, causing loss of human life, disruptions of economic and social activities and the inability of vulnerable groups to access basic resources, including indigenous peoples.

On the other hand, the acceptance of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in February 2019, enabled the constitution of the new political entity Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). After decades of armed conflict, this new transition represents a new opportunity for the region that must now face many challenges.

Given this reality, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) committed to strengthen confidence in the peace process supporting communities affected by different armed conflicts through:

• Integration of peace building and development approach into the local governments, supporting the elaboration and adoption of peace- and conflict- sensitive planning, monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Support, in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the provision of basic health and education services, and other economic infrastructure – as roads, warehouses and post-harvest facilities, among others, and the promotion of livelihood activities.
• Promotion of open and inclusive societies with the support of local civil society organizations and Spanish NGDO, through educational and cultural activities aimed to promote dialogue among individuals and groups of different linguistic and cultural identities; as well as training on negotiation and mediation techniques for peace  building and the empowerment of local stakeholders.

Ongoing projects under Peace Building:

OPPAP	Inclusive growth for all: Bringing Peace Dividends (livelihood support) to communities affected by armed conflicts
CFSI (MTF)	Promoting access to basic social services and strengthening capacities of conflict-affected Mindanao communities
IAG	Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan
CBCS	Advance Transitional Justice
ATENEO de Manila	Building capacities for mainstreaming peace building and community security management approaches
PBSP	Systems Strengthening Towards Effective Youth Development, Lanao del Sur
Manos Unidas	Promoting social cohesion and human security to face the systematic violation of the human rights suffered by the vulnerable population of Zamboanga and Basilan, in a context of absence of peace, inequality, exclusion and a high vulnerability to disasters and climate change
Concordia y Libertad	Strengthening professional skills, civic engagement and employability of youth and displaced women in Marawi and Zamboanga, Mindanao