UNDP, Norway to support youth, women involvement in Bangsamoro

Norway and UNDP Philippines would work together with the Bangsamoro government to revitalize the Bangsamoro Women’s Commission (BWC) and the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) through various capacity-building initiatives. (File Photo: Bangsamoro Government/Facebook)

MANILA – Norway and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have partnered to strengthen youth engagement and women’s involvement in the peace process in the Bangsamoro region.

The agreement was signed between Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Bjørn Staurset Jahnsen and UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran, the UNDP Philippines said on Tuesday.

Norway and UNDP Philippines would work together with the Bangsamoro government to revitalize the Bangsamoro Women’s Commission (BWC) and the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) through various capacity-building initiatives.

They will also support women’s engagement toward preventing violence and violent extremism in their communities as well as strengthen the capacities of community-based women leaders in conflict mediation and negotiations.

The partnership will also establish the Web Platform for Women’s Rapid Action and Mobilization Platform or RAMP.

The initiative also aims to foster more active participation of the youth in the Bangsamoro through the Bangsamoro Youth Volunteer Program in partnership with the BYC.

“The Philippines is one of Norway’s priority countries for cooperation on women, peace, and security. We will continue supporting peace initiatives such as inclusion of women and the youth in peace dialogues for lasting and sustainable peace” Jahnsen said.

Ramachandran, meanwhile, said “UNDP and Norway share a long and sustained joint commitment to peace and development in the Philippines and around the world. The launch of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region provides a renewed opportunity to jointly advance inclusion and civic participation in peacebuilding through the capacity-development and engagement of women and the youth.”

In the Philippines, Norway has assisted the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) which is in charge of decommissioning combatants following the peace agreement between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2014.

UNDP has had the opportunity to work closely with Norway in assisting the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB).

Through technical and operational assistance, UNDP has also worked directly with the government and the MILF since 2012 to bring about the peace agreement in 2014, and thereafter the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and its implementation since 2018.

In their respective contributions, as well as in their joint work, Norway and UNDP have built a strong commitment to inclusion, and especially to the roles and process of women, youth, and indigenous persons in peacemaking and peacebuilding especially in the Bangsamoro Region.