The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), in partnership with the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), convened an Inter-Agency Partnership and Coordination Meeting on August 12, 2026, at Emerald Hall, KDT Manor, Cotabato City. The meeting brought together key ministries and agencies of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to discuss ways of sustaining and scaling up the gains of the PROTECT Peace Project, a supported program by the Global Community Engagement and Resilient Fund (GCERF)
The meeting highlighted the importance of government convergence in sustaining community-based livelihood, governance, and peacebuilding initiatives beyond donor-funded support. Participants emphasized that continued technical assistance, market linkages, enterprise development, social protection, and institutional support are essential to enable People’s Organizations (POs) and communities to become more independent and resilient.
A key discussion focused on the challenges encountered by beneficiaries, including limited technical knowledge, inadequate equipment management, weak market access, and insufficient monitoring. The experiences in coffee production, dressmaking, chicken production, and abaca production demonstrated that livelihood assistance must go beyond the provision of materials and equipment. Continuous capacity building, technical support, monitoring, and market development are necessary to ensure long-term sustainability.
Representatives from MAFAR, MTIT, MOST, MSSD, MILG, MIPA, and BPDA expressed their willingness to support the communities through their respective programs and mandates. Commitments included agricultural inputs and technical training, coffee processing and entrepreneurship support, livelihood equipment, social protection and employment programs, governance capacity building, and market development opportunities.
The discussion also emphasized the importance of stronger LGU involvement in monitoring and follow-up. Regular monitoring can help identify emerging challenges, connect beneficiaries to appropriate government services, and ensure that livelihood investments are properly maintained. Participants likewise stressed the need for baseline assessment, documentation, skills training, equipment maintenance, and digital marketing to strengthen the sustainability of community enterprises.
The meeting concluded with concrete follow-up actions, including a succeeding coordination meeting in October 2026, coffee roasting training with MTIT, a coffee field tour with MAFAR, and an inter-agency Information Caravan in Matanog and Kapalawan. These initiatives reflect a shared commitment to strengthen government-community partnerships and ensure that the gains of PROTECT Peace continue to benefit communities beyond the life of the project.
Through strengthened convergence, sustained technical support, and active community participation, the PROTECT Peace Project seeks to transform project gains into lasting opportunities for peace, resilience, and inclusive development across BARMM.
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