Mindanao

In Mindanao, The Asia Foundation draws onlong-standing relationships and utilizes its on-the-ground presence to help identify partners fromthe private sector, civil society, and governmentwho will constructively work together towardpeace and development.

PEACEBUILDING

In conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, violence isfrequent, unpredictable, and highly localized.Violent conflict often erupts when there is anunresolved dispute between local actors—clans,political leaders, military units, police, insurgentgroups, and criminal networks—that cannotbe mitigated through existing formal structuresor state intervention. The Asia Foundation sup-ports Mindanao-based research institutions andnongovernment organizations (NGOs) both inin-depth diagnostic activities and strategic inter-ventions that enable communities to monitor andprevent the escalation of conflicts.

The Asia Foundation and its local partnersdesigned and implemented interventions toaddress rido (the local term for conflicts betweenclans), and are actively engaged in supporting thesettlement of feuds including those that may esca-late into larger conflicts and affect the peace

process. Over the years, Foundation partners havesettled more than 200 rido conflicts, which had ledto more than 600 fatalities.

The years of experience in addressing local conflicts has enabled the Foundation to publishtwo editions of the book, Rido: Clan Feuding andConflict Management in Mindanao (2007, 2014).Dissemination of information about clan conflicthas reduced the danger of accidental escalationwhen such violence is mistaken as arising fromseparatist conflict.

The Foundation’s Conflict Management programhas expanded its efforts to increase the capacity ofMuslim and Christian leaders, as well as localsecurity forces, to address the needs of communi-ties as they prevent conflicts from spreading.Improving relationship between state securityactors and the communities is also pursued toenhance confidence and build trust, as both sectors are vital in carrying out peace and development efforts.

The Foundation has significantly increased itssupport of the formal peace processes involvingthe Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). TheFoundation supports forums that bring togetherkey players and experts to analyze aspects of the

Foundation partners

have helped settle

over 200 community-

level clan feuds.

The Foundation’s

Representative is

a member of the

Third Party

Monitoring Team

for implementation

of the peace

agreement between

the government and

the Moro Islamic

Liberation Front.

MINDANAO

Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, suffers from poor infrastructure, poverty, and violence that hasclaimed more than 120,000 lives in the last four decades. The violence and rebellion derive from Christianmigration to the region, sectarian clashes, war against Muslim separatist insurgents, clan feuds, andunfulfilled hopes of economic prosperity. For the last decade, there has been a ceasefire agreement withthe Moro Islamic Liberation Front that has generally held despite occasional outbreaks of violence, whilepeace talks culminated in a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro March 2014.

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www.asiafoundation.org

peace process in order to inform peace panels andother stakeholders. In 2009, both sides had suffi-cient confidence in the Foundation to invite it tobe part of the International Contact Groupformed to help negotiations forward. Now that a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamorohas been signed, the Foundation’s Representativeis on the Third Party Monitoring Team to overseeeffective implementation of that agreement.

In order to promote the incorporation of citizenviews in peace negotiations and agreement implementation, the Foundation periodicallyundertakes opinion surveys—both focused inMindanao and more general nationwide house-hold samples. Briefings on the results are providedto both the government and the MILF peacenegotiators, other government officials, and stake-holders from the private sector and civilsociety. Findings clearly show that the averageFilipino citizen supports resolving Mindanao conflicts through peaceful means, which allowsdecision-makers some flexibility as they strive toreach and implement agreements.

IMPROVING LOCAL AND REGIONAL

GOVERNANCE

To establish a solid base for good governance,peace, and development, The Asia Foundationsupports programs to improve governance operations both at the local and regional levels throughout the southern Philippines, in partnership with government institutions, the business sector, academic institutions, andcivil society organizations.

As the peace process between the government and the MILF progresses, The Asia Foundationsupports the transition from the ARMM to theBangsamoro government. Technical assistance tothe Bangsamoro Development Agency on the for-mulation of the Bangsamoro Development Plan,particularly the governance and security sectorplans, has been provided by the Foundation. The

Bangsamoro Development Plan serves as the blue-print for the development of the Bangsamoro fora just, peaceful, and prosperous society.

IMPROVING ELECTIONS

For decades, elections in Mindanao have beenparticularly fraught with problems of violence and fraud. In recent elections, beginning in 2007with synchronized national and local elections,The Asia Foundation helped the Parish PastoralCouncil for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) extendits area of coverage beyond predominantlyCatholic areas by partnering with networks in Muslim areas, including Muslim NGOs andmuftis (religious leaders). Most recently, PPCRVand its partners advocated for (and then moni-tored) the 2011 re-registration of voters in theARMM, which resulted in the purging of hun-dreds of thousands from the voting rolls. In 2013,the Foundation worked with local NGOs and thesecurity sector in forming coalitions that ralliedconcerted efforts advocating for peaceful electionsand preventing violent incidents.

The Foundation’s strong relationship with anexpansive network of local partners in Mindanaofacilitated the mapping of election hotspots andallowed more responsive interventions that prevented political disputes from escalating intoviolence. At the local level, the Foundation hasworked with NGOs, including religious and community leaders, to form compacts amongcontending candidates, supported the formationof quick response teams, and the conduct of actual conflict mediation, dialogues, and rapidresponse to election-related violence incidents.Data from the past three elections in 2007, 2010,and 2013 show a steady decline in election-relatedviolent incidents in the country.

BOOKS FOR MINDANAO

The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia programdonates quality educational materials to schoolrecipients across Mindanao region.

11/2014

The Asia Foundation

is a nonprofit international

development organization

committed to improving

lives across a dynamic

and developing Asia.

Headquartered in San

Francisco, The Asia

Foundation works through

a network of offices in

18 Asian countries and in

Washington, DC. Working

with public and private

partners, the Foundation

receives funding from

a diverse group of

bilateral and multilateral

development agencies,

foundations, corporations,

and individuals.

In the Philippines, The Asia Foundation programs are also funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairsand Trade, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, and MoneyGram Foundation.