Identifying Common Ground: The Bangsamoro Civil Society and Development Cooperation in Mindanao for Sustainable Peace
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Authors:
Yasmin Tagorda, De La Salle University-Manila, Philippines
The literature on the ‘local turn’ in peacebuilding acknowledges the crucial role of civil society in increasing the diversity and plurality of peacebuilding initiatives. As a result, several development cooperation activities have been crafted involving their participation. This study examines the participation and contribution of Bangsamoro civil society in peacebuilding and analyzes the various development cooperation initiatives for peacebuilding in Mindanao. Using an institutional perspective, this study investigates the roles and contributions of international development aid (cooperation) in enabling Bangsamoro civil society organizations to carry out their tasks and produce improved outcomes and results. Representatives from Bangsamoro civil society organizations and other peace actors were interviewed using a combination of qualitative methodologies. The findings indicate that Bangsamoro civil society organizations are effective at directing stakeholders' responses toward constructive participation, increasing awareness of the cause and cost of conflict, and facilitating dialogue. In addition, the data suggests that the institutionalization and availability of projects and assistance from a variety of financial sources encourage substantial civil society engagement in the Bangsamoro Region. The respondents noted that various capacity-building seminars enhanced their community engagement efforts. However, the presence of hierarchy in some donor-local civil society relations becomes evident when international donors impose certain conditionalities which affect the search for sustainable peace in Mindanao.
Presentation Date/Time: Sunday, December 11, 2022 (16:00)
Session: Session 4
Room: Inthanin Room