Project profile — Peace Links Program - II

• Philippines (100.00%)

• Conflict Prevention And Resolution, Peace And Security: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution (15220) (100.00%)

• Gender equality (not targeted)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

The Peace Links Program, Canada's support to peace and development in Mindanao, is composed of three linked and mutually supportive components designed to promote sustainable peace and development in Muslim Mindanao. Two of the components are: (i) Peace Fund supporting peacebuilding and development initiatives by local civil society groups. This fund supports local initiatives in the following areas: promotion and protection of the rights of children, women, and marginalized or vulnerable groups; capacity development of peace advocates and other stakeholders in the peace process; community-based or indigenous conflict/dispute resolution mechanisms; community education on peace and security; community engagement in local decision-making processes (e.g. environmental management issues); improved access to justice, particularly for women and marginalized groups; and law and policy reform advocacy. The fund is administered by the Canadian embassy in the Philippines. (ii) Electoral assistance to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and adjoining areas in the May 2007 local elections. This component was managed by the Asia Foundation. The Foundation undertook targeted activities to support the May 2007 local elections, in order to strengthen the credibility and legitimacy of the process and results. The Foundation recruited and deployed election observers from Indonesia and other Muslim countries. See Peace Links Program - I for a description of the third component.

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Results as of the end of the Peace Fund component include: 16 local civil society organizations (CSOs) were supported through the Peace Fund, resulting in an environment that is better able to support sustainable peace and development in Mindanao. In particular, the Peace Fund support enhanced the capacities of CSOs and broader stakeholder participation in peacebuilding in the following areas: communicating peace and development issues such as the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain and the Government - Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace talks through mechanisms such as community-based dialogues and consultations; the production and dissemination of information and education materials; participating in International Contact Group meetings and negotiations in Kuala Lumpur; laying the foundations for increased access to justice for women in the ARMM through the adoption of the ARMM Gender and Development Code by the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly and the completion of the Thematic Guide Book on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for Shari’a court judges; increasing the business sector's understanding of conflict-sensitive business strategies; and analyzing, managing, and resolving conflicts through the documentation of indigenous knowledge systems and practices on conflict resolution, training in conflict mapping and analysis , and in the use of community-based or indigenous dispute resolution mechanisms which resulted in the settlement of conflicts such as rido (family feuds). At least 2 local CSOs have been invited to become members of local peace and order councils. Moreover, the Peace Fund support resulted in more transparent and participatory planning processes involving communities, women, and youth. This led to the development of a 15-point Mindanao Peoples Peace Agenda, which includes a Women’s Peace Agenda and a Tri-Peoples Peace Agenda. A young peoples’ peace agenda was also developed from 6 regional consultations in Mindanao involving 1,233 young women and men. Results as of the end of the electoral assistance to the ARMM component include: 21 observers (30% of whom are women) from 6 countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) were deployed through the Asian Network for Free Elections to monitor the elections in the ARMM. In collaboration with the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy, the Asia Foundation supported the Forum on Islam, Elections and Democracy to discuss critical issues facing Muslim-Filipino voters throughout the ARMM. The Asia Foundation also helped to bring together the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and 12 Muslim civil society organizations in the ARMM leading to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate a comprehensive elections monitoring program.

• Proactive disclosure
• Related activities: Peace Links Program - I