T
he Ladderized Gender and Development (GAD) training was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG-BARMM). The initiatives were funded by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines. This four-day training took place from January 20 to 23, 2026, at the Blue Lotus Hotel in Davao City.
A total of 92 participants attended the event, comprising 62 women and 30 men. The delegation included members of the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System (GFPS) representing the municipalities of Kadayangan, Kapalawan, Ligawasan, Malidegao, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Pahamuddin, and Tugunan in the Special Geographic Areas (SGA), as well as Datu Montawal and Pagalungan in Maguindanao del Sur. In addition to local government representatives, the session was attended by officials from the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Office, MILG-SGA Field Office MLGOOs, and the Special Geographic Areas Development Authority (SGADA), alongside key BABAE Project implementing partners such as Nonviolent Peaceforce, Plan International Pilipinas, and the Integrated Mindanao Association of Natives (IMAN).
The BABAE Project aims to enhance the technical capacities of LGUs
Ms. Jeanette S. Actub, Program Manager of the CBCS-BABAE Project, expressed her appreciation for the LGUs’ active participation in GAD Training Track 2 and the successful conduct of GAD Track 1 activity in November. She explained that the GAD Training Track 1-2-3 training was designed to strengthen LGUs’ institutional capacities to deliver services using a gender-inclusive and rights-based approach. Ms. Actub noted that the activity supports LGUs in fulfilling their mandated planning and governance responsibilities, particularly the preparation of Gender and Development Plans and Budgets (GPBs), and complements these mandates by providing technical and capacity development support in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG).
The Program Manager further shared that preparatory assessments conducted before the training revealed common capacity gaps among newly established SGA LGUs, particularly in the formulation of the 2027 GAD Plan and Budget. She then encouraged participants to actively engage in the sessions and maximize the learning opportunities provided by the training at the end of her message.
The training was facilitated by Ms. Rosena D. Sanchez and Ms. Lorna B. Mandin, members of the National GAD Resource Pool of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). The facilitators guided participants through a structured learning process that progressed from foundational gender concepts to practical gender-responsive planning and budgeting.
Foundational GAD Concepts
On the first day, Ms. Sanchez and Ms. Mandin presented key frameworks and policy mandates related to Gender and Development (GAD), as well as gender analysis tools. They introduced the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF) as a core assessment instrument. The training included workshops and case analyses to help participants identify gender issues through evidence-based methods, with a focus on inclusive and intersectional planning based on the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) framework.
GAD Framework, Legal Mandates, and Policy Imperatives
On the second day, discussions centered around gender and development concepts and relevant policy mandates, such as the Magna Carta of Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), laws addressing violence against women, and other Philippine GAD policies. The facilitators emphasized that development should be viewed as more than just quantitative indicators; it should be framed as the sustained capacity to achieve a better quality of life through participation and empowerment. Participants explored instances of gender bias and applied gender analysis tools to real-life development scenarios.
BABAE Baseline Data in the target 10 municipalities
On the third day, the CBCS, along with other UNFPAs’ BABAE Project implementing partners, Nonviolent Peace Force and Plan International, presented key highlights from their baseline assessments conducted at the start of project implementation. The presentations collectively highlighted significant gaps in sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, service accessibility, and local coordination mechanisms.
The findings emphasized the need for enhanced Gender and Development (GAD) planning and budgeting, improved capacity of GBV first responders, the establishment of women-friendly spaces, functional referral systems, and strengthened data and monitoring systems to ensure responsive and sustainable local interventions.
Introduction of Gender Analysis Tools
The resource persons then introduced important gender assessment and planning tools, including the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG), the Gender-Responsive Local Government Unit (GeRL) Assessment Tool, Harvard analytical framework, and the GAD Focal Point System Functional Assessment (GFAst) Tool. They explained that these tools assist local government units (LGUs) in assessing, monitoring, and institutionalizing gender-inclusive governance. This was followed by a discussion on the GAD Strategic Plan as a guiding framework for gender-responsive planning and budgeting.
The crafting of LGUs’ GAD Plan and Budget for CY 2027
On the final day, the training focused on pre-planning activities and the establishment of Gender and Development (GAD) agendas. Gender issues identified during the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF) workshops were translated into concrete action points and incorporated into the GAD agendas of participating Local Government Units (LGUs), ensuring alignment with emerging needs and local capacities.
Participants reported that the training improved their understanding of gender issues and enhanced their ability to translate these issues into concrete local policies and programs. Overall, the activity reaffirmed that mainstreaming Gender and Development is a shared responsibility that requires the active participation of both women and men, as well as duty-bearers and rights-holders. Supported by strong legal and policy frameworks, these collaborative efforts contribute to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development, particularly for women and girls in Bangsamoro.
Written by: Razul Andi Ariz
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