In 2000, a military campaign against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, triggered a prolonged conflict and a severe humanitarian crisis defined by widespread violence, loss of lives, and mass displacement.
In 2014, however, a landmark peace agreement between the national government and the MILF paved the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019.
While the primary conflict ceased, the region's early steps toward stability have been fragile. Uneven implementation of disarmament and reintegration programmes, localized conflicts among clans competing for political power, and the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to derail the peace dividends communities desperately need ahead of the inaugural regional elections in 2025.
Photo above: The Women Peace Facilitators of Bangsamoro in the Philippines. Credit: UNFPA Philippines.Myrna, a community leader in North Cotabato, MindanaoI can still remember that day [during the military campaign]. I saw my neighbours fleeing their homes. I was pregnant with my first child.”
Bridging the gaps
To protect the fragile transition in the region, the UN Peacebuilding Fund-supported the joint programme Supporting Conflict Transformation Toward Effective Peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro Region.
Implemented from 2020 to 2022, the initiative was designed to bolster the peace process by addressing critical gaps. Its primary focus: protecting and empowering marginalized groups—especially women—through targeted peacebuilding and livelihood initiatives.
Institutionalizing women’s leadership
For peace to be sustainable, women must be at the table. Now a mother of four, Myrna works as a peace advocate and community leader in North Cotabato, Mindanao.
The peacebuilding initiative supported the development of the BARMM Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, localizing gender equality actions across 17 municipalities.
Furthermore, it established gender and development focal points across all BARMM ministries, ensuring that critical budget allocations were secured to sustain women’s active engagement in peacebuilding long after the initiative concluded.
From combatants to mediators
One of the most remarkable transformations occurred within the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB), the all-female group of the MILF. The initiative trained over 100 BIWAB members—including Myrna—as Women Peace Facilitators.
Recognized officially as mediators by the BARMM Ministry of Peace and Order, the women were deployed to resolve community disputes before they escalated into violence. Several were recruited as community social workers, solidifying their vital roles as civic leaders.
The power of economic independence
True reintegration requires economic security. The initiative transformed 15 BIWAB cooperatives, comprising 2,000 members, into viable income-generating businesses—from grocery shops and dressmaking to agriculture and scrap metal crafting.
Zenaida, Chairperson, Linandangan Bangsamoro Women’s Agriculture CooperativeAfter years of struggles and hardships, I did not expect to receive this kind of support for our group. I never imagined we could start anew without worrying about war and conflict.”
Empowering indigenous voices
The path to peace must include everyone, which is why the initiative engaged minority non-Moro indigenous peoples in conflict hotspots. Groups like the Teduray have long struggled to voice concerns over ancestral land disputes.
Aileen, Founder, Women’s Organization of Rajah Mamalu DescendantsWith the help of the initiative, we were able to expand our community support from local humanitarian action to peacebuilding and conflict prevention."
Shaping policy and rights
Moving from advocacy to systemic change, indigenous communities participated in regional consultations, contributing to a new Indigenous People Code. By securing a voice in the legislative process, they started actively shaping the region's future.
Keeping neighbourhoods safe
To build trust and improve security at the local level, the initiative trained nearly 400 Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team members and over 250 community leaders. Using early warning tools, including handheld radios and megaphones, and conflict mediation skills, the team was able to help monitor and maintain peace and order at the community level.
Our partners in peacebuilding in the Philippines
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
More than a decade after the Bangsamoro peace agreement, local peacebuilders , with the support of the , , and local authorities and organizations, are leading the charge to ensure that the transition from conflict to community results in a lasting, sustainable peace in Mindanao.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organizations.