MARKING THE OFFICIAL KICK-OFF FOR THE PHASE 2 OF PROTECT PEACE IN THE BARMM PROJECT; CBCS SUCCESSFULLY HELD PROJECT ORIENTATION AND LAUNCHING PROGRAM

Promoting Resilient and Organized Citizenry towards Empowerment and Community Transformation for Peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, also dubbed as PROTECT Peace in the BARMM project commenced its official kick-off last March 7-10, 2023 at The Loft Hotel, Iligan City. The said project is a continuation of the recently concluded three-year agreement between the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), the funding partner, and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), Inc. as the primary recipient of the project.

Present to the said program were the sub-recipient (SR) partners of the CBCS namely Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace & Development Advocates (KFPDAI), Inc. in the Province of Maguindanao; Integrated Mindanaon Association for Natives (IMAN), Inc. of North Cotabato and Special Geographic Areas; Tarbilang Foundation Inc. (TFI) of Tawi-Tawi; Gagandilan Mindanao Women, Inc. (GMWI) of Sulu; and Lamitan City Rosewomen Organization Inc. (LCRWOI) of Basilan; who signified their acceptance to the partnership through the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement.

Further, the official symbol for the PROTECT Peace Phase 2 of the project was solemnized by a symbolic launching which was graced by the presence of the GCERF management all the way from Geneva, Switzerland, headed by its Country Manager Basile Ema Ebede, with National Advisor for the Philippines Atty. Jennifer Buan, P&I Specialist Rana Elmeligy, P&I Associate Samhita Ayaluri, and PMU Associate Isabela Ottoni, also have provided inputs on the formulation of another set of results framework and work and financial plans to the aforementioned partners.

CBCS Chairperson Guiamel Alim also presented inputs about community engagement and project management, while Admin Officer Danilo Mocsin directed the SRs with some points about basic due diligence requirements and gave a snapshot of the total budget per SR for another three-year duration.

The three-day activity was concluded with a workshop for the SRs pertaining to Project Concept Presentation and Reporting System by Project Officer Alimudin Mala.