Mindanao Trust Fund1 Progress Report Number 392 Quarter: July to September 2015 Introduction 1. The MTF commemorated ten years of operations this quarter, highlighted by the September signing in Camp Darapanan by MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and World Bank Vice-President for East Asia and the Pacific, Axel van Trotsenburg, of the next phase of MTF assistance. Covering the July-December 2015 period, the Institutional Strengthening Agreement (ISA) covers: (i) in-depth capacity-building for BDA staff; (ii) strengthening for a selection of People’s Organizations to enhance prospects for sustainability; and (iii) ongoing support for the Bangsamoro Development Plan. The 10th Anniversary was also marked by a press Chairman Murad (right) and World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific release and multi-media package that was featured on Axel van Trotsenburg (left) signed the Institutional Strengthening Agreement in Camp the World Bank global website. Darapanan in September 2015. The agreement will deepen capacity-building efforts for Bangsamoro institutions such as People’s Organizations to ensure subproject 2. With a PhP56 million budget, the ISA program will sustainability and increased revenue. focus on three components: (a) enhanced capacity of BDA staff in master planning, communications, and financial management. This will include assistance for Secretariat. The MTF Secretariat worked with the BDA’s ongoing “institutionalization” reforms, which are BDA and the Trust Fund Recipients to finalize the ISA shifting the Agency’s institutional structure from project- Agreement and for the 10th anniversary web package. based to function-based (b) People’s Organization The Secretariat also worked closely with the GPH and (PO) strengthening in financial and asset management MILF Panels and related bodies to finalize the next to support sustainable POs, and (c) extended support phase of MTF assistance to support the normalization for the Bangsamoro Development Plan to help craft a process under the Comprehensive Agreement on the master plan list of priority programs and projects and for Bangsamoro. During the quarter, extension proposals an awareness-building campaign in communities across were finalized for the Sajahatra Bangsamoro and the proposed core territories. PLEDGE grants to November 2015 and October 2016, respectively. Under the Secretariat’s supervision, 3. The following were key developments and the MTF website (www.mtf.ph) was launched in late activities from April to June 2015: September 2015. Finally, the Secretariat oversaw the 1 The Mindanao Trust Fund is a mechanism for development partners to pool resources and coordinate their support for peace and development in Mindanao. The Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program supports four activities: (i) CDD/CDR; (ii) the Program for Local Economic Development through Enhanced Governance and Grassroots Empowerment (PLEDGE); (iii) operational costs for the Project Management Team of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for the Sajahatra Bangsamoro program; and (iv) the Bangsamoro Development Plan. 2 The MTF Progress Reports are quarterly reports from the MTF Secretariat that consolidate the reports of the Bangsamoro Development Agency and the three Trust Fund Recipients, Community and Family Services International, Mindanao Land Foundation and the International Labour Organization as well as updates on the Bangsamoro Development Plan and Sajahatra Bangsamoro. The Report is distributed within two months after each quarter in order to allow time for information from the field to reach the MTF Secretariat. 1 expedient download of block grants to complete the nearly a thousand residents with the objective of turnover of all 1373 subprojects under PPA4. instilling understanding and eventually support for the Plan as a comprehensive roadmap for peace and CDD/CDR. In 10-years from pilot to PPA4, the MTF- development in the region. Alongside the roadshow, RDP has funded 379 subprojects in 214 barangays BDA-BDP staff are also refining a detailed master across 75 municipalities in Mindanao, benefitting list of priority programs and projects in livelihood nearly half a million people. Under the ISA program, and infrastructure with assistance from the Japan the BDA selected 30 of the best performing People’s International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Organizations with income-generating projects from the project roster to be part of the People’s Organization Strengthening Program. In the next four Progress vis-à-vis Intermediate Outcomes months, PO officers will receive trainings in financial literacy and organizational management so they can A. Community-Driven Development/Community- be equipped to sustain their organizations and increase Driven Rehabilitation through MTF-RDP livelihood potential beyond the life of the project. 4. Completion of PPA4. As of September 30, 2015, the PLEDGE. Four business enterprises in Barangay BDA turned over 137 subprojects to communities (see Koronadal Proper, Polomolok, South Cotabato—the Figure 1 and Annex 1). These have benefitted 127,847 PLEDGE frontrunner pilot site—are now in full operation residents, more than half of whom are women (see following completion of project-funded trainings in Annex 2). August 2015. While traction remains slow in the other 11 sites, movement is nonetheless present. Barangay 5. Out of the 141 target subprojects, one5 was deferred Mamaanun completed its procurement processing due to a robbery case (see Quarterly Progress Report and is scheduled to begin training in the next quarter. Number 37), while the three6 completed subprojects Training proposals from five communities are now will be turned over in early October 20157. Delays under BDA review. Technical assistance continues to be were attributed to liquidation and reimbursement gaps, provided in all PLEDGE sites on proposal design, wage which have now been addressed by the BDA and the employment, and peripheral enterprise development. TFRs through onsite coaching. Operational Support to the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program Project Management Team (PMT). The PMT—which was reduced from 43 to 19 staff as the program winds down—is completing pending health, education, and livelihood project deliveries, including farm-to-market roads, day care centers and rural heath units, particularly in the ZamBaSulta areas before its formal close in November 2015. The PMT is also fast tracking the distribution of an additional 9,000 PhilHealth cards and 455 study grants from the Commission on Higher Education. Bangsamoro Development Plan. After the BDP’s high profile launch at the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the BDA Central Management Office A Tausug resident in a Christian-majority village in Pantukan, Compostela Valley proceeded to raise BDP awareness to 214 internal now has direct access to water. This is a first for the 22 Muslim households staff across their seven offices. It also jumpstarted a who moved to the area in the 1920s. The three MTF-funded water systems have community roadshow in 11 provinces that reached benefited over 1,000 residents in the province. 3 The original number of subprojects under PPA4 from Cycles 1 to 3 was 195. However, due to Cycle 1 implementation delays in Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga-Basilan, South Mindanao, Davao, and Ranaw, the BDA requested the MTF secretariat’s approval to fuse Cycles 2 and 3 subprojects so the Agency can meet the three-year PPA4 timeframe. This reduced the number of subprojects to 141. By September 2015, 137 subprojects were completed with three due for turnover to the communities in the next quarter, while one subproject was deferred because of an issue with the Barangay Chair. 4 Ibid. 5 Barangay Lao-Lao, GSKP, Maguindanao 6 The subprojects of the following barangays will be turned over in the early next quarter: Barangay Maganda, Tarragona, Davao Oriental, Barangay North Cadulawan, Munai, Lanao del Norte, and Barangay Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. 7 To see the breakdown of the completed 137 projects, please refer to Quarterly Progress Report Number 38. 2 Figure 1. Status of PPA4 Subprojects per Region Against Targets (as of 30 September 2015) 6. Continued MTF support for BDA’s institutionalization (c) support awareness-building of the Bangsamoro as a development agency. In August 2015, the BDA Development Plan and continue to refine a list of rolled out the ISA program across its six regional priority programs and projects to be implemented in management offices. Slated to run from July to 2016. December 2015, the ISA’s objective is to sustain development gains achieved by the MTF, BDA and its Intermediate Outcome 1: On improved social TFRs in conflict-affected communities. The program communication aimed at rebuilding trust among diverse will further: groups (a) enhance the BDA’s technical capacity in 7. Capacity-building trainings under PPA4 promoted organizational management and macro and micro understanding and trust among different groups. development planning, At the close of PPA4 in June 2015, the BDA met its targeted number of community meetings (79%), (b) strengthen the financial and operational capacity Values Transformation training (100%) and Values of 30 best performing People’s Organizations with Enhancement training (100%) (see Figure 2). These income-generating subprojects to ensure sustainability, sessions capacitated communities to identify priority and needs and manage subproject implementation. The trainings also encouraged open dialogue and transparency,