Strengthening peace and development in Mindanao

Project description

Title: Strengthening the Implementation of Regional and Local Peace and Development Agendas in Mindanao (SPADe)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Co-funded by: European Union (EU)
Country: Philippines
Lead executing agency: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA)
Overall term: 2021 to 2025

Agriculture is the basis for community life in Mindanao. Copyright: GIZ

Context

Mindanao is the southernmost group of islands in the Philippines. It is affected significantly by poverty and violent conflict. Armed clashes between extremist groups and the Philippine Government, land disputes and environmental conflicts all have a major impact on the political, social and economic situation.

The Philippine Government has developed regional and local peace and development agendas in Mindanao that link up the areas of economic development, peacebuilding, land rights and the strengthening of marginalised groups.

To realise the agendas’ full potential and implement them locally and inclusively, state and non-state institutions need strengthened capacities and greater scope for action. This applies particularly to conflict-sensitive and climate-smart investments that could deliver tangible peace dividends.

Objective

State and non-state actors have implemented regional and local peace and development agendas inclusively and contributed specifically to improving the socio-economic situation of vulnerable groups and small hold farmers.

Approach

In close consultation with the Philippine Government, the project is carrying out the following measures:

  • It is helping to improve services from agricultural cooperatives and indigenous cultural communities. This includes introducing climate-smart cultivation techniques and promoting measures to improve the income of small farmers.
  • It is supporting local administrations and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in developing conflict-sensitive and climate-smart investment promotion programmes and expandingknowledge exchange on investment promotion and peacebuilding.
  • The project supports work by government agencies, local government units and civil society to improve coordination and communication, and assists them in cooperating to implement the peace and development agendas in an inclusive way.

The project is co-financed by the European Union’s Mindanao Peace and Development Programme.

Last update: February 2022

Additional information