36874 Public Disclosure Authorized Paper No. 35/ July 2006 Public Disclosure Authorized The Impact of Armed Conflict on Male Youth in Mindanao, Philippines Public Disclosure Authorized Shobhana Rajendran David Veronesi Nasrudin Mohammad Alimudin Mala Public Disclosure Authorized Summary Findings This study is a companion to an earlier study on stopped them from hoping for lasting peace in Gender and Conflict in Mindanao that was heavily Mindanao. Most of them have managed to stay out focused on the impact of armed conflict on women of the cycle of violence and revenge and display (including young women), and stems from a need to considerable courage and resilience in the face of understand the situation of young men in the context grave threats to their lives and aspirations. They of the conflict in Mindanao. It also complements a yearn for opportunities to equip themselves with the study conducted in early 2005 that examines the education and skills that their peer in other parts of impact of the conflict on men, women and youth in the country have access to. They are very receptive five provinces of Mindanao. The specific objectives to new ideas and approaches, and constitute an of this study are: important resource group impatiently waiting to • To gain an increased understanding of how participate in rebuilding their communities. the conflict has affected male youth; and • To develop recommendations that respond The study notes a number of ongoing interventions in to their most immediate needs. the education, health, and agriculture sectors, but only a few of them are youth focused. In an attempt The study covered seven provinces in four out of the to be gender sensitive many of these interventions are six regions in Mindanao. The field research focused women-oriented and tend to ignore male youth. on communities heavily affected by years of conflict. Further, until very recently, male youth were viewed The research was based on qualitative data collection, as combatants and perpetrators of violence, and including focus group discussions with male youth, therefore part of the problem. The unique situation of individual interviews, and key informant interviews young males in the context of armed conflict still with national and local experts. remains to be addressed by most programs. While the Peace Agreement between the Government and the The study shows that despite growing up in an MILF will no doubt be the first step in any effort to environment shaped by violence, young males in address the problems of the conflict-affected Mindanao continue to hope for change for a better population of Mindanao, including its male youth, it life. Despite popular perception that the male youth is important that immediate efforts are undertaken to are militarized, a large majority do not get involved demonstrate to the young people, especially young in the violence. In fact, the conflict has propelled men, in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao that they many of them into roles for which they were not have not been forgotten. prepared but are coping with to the best of their ability. The harrowing experiences they have been The study concludes by offering a number of through, such as destruction of their homes and suggestions on the kinds of interventions to address communities, loss of a parent or sibling, repeated the marginalization of male youth, especially in displacement, life as a refugee in their own country education, livelihoods and labor markets. and the associated loss of self esteem, have not SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PAPERS Conflict Prevention & Reconstruction Paper No. 35/ July 2006 The Impact of Armed Conflict on Male Youth in Mindanao, Philippines Shobhana Rajendran David Veronesi Nasrudin Mohammad Alimudin Mala This Working Papers Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage discussion and exchange of ideas on conflict and development issues. Papers in this series are not formal publications of the World Bank. This paper has not undergone the review accorded to official World Bank publications. The findings, interpretations and conclusions herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction/The World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or its Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The series is edited by the Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction (CPR) Unit in the Social Development Department. To request copies of the paper or for more information on the series, please contact the CPR Unit. Papers are also available on the CPR Unit’s website: Web: http://www.worldbank.org/conflict (see “Publications” in the navigation menu) E-mail: [email protected] Conflict Prevention & Reconstruction Social Development Department The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433 Printed on Recycled Paper Table of Contents Acknowledgements......................................................................................................................................iii Acronyms.....................................................................................................................................................iv 1. Introduction...............................................................................................................................................1 2. Objectives, Scope and Methodology .......................................................................................................3 3. Findings ....................................................................................................................................................4 4. Education ..................................................................................................................................................4 5. Poverty and Livelihood.............................................................................................................................8 6. Security Concerns ..................................................................................................................................10 7. Psychosocial Concerns............................................................................................................................13 8. Examples of Noteworthy Initiatives .......................................................................................................15 9. Conclusions and Recommendations .......................................................................................................17 References...................................................................................................................................................22 Annex 1: Provinces Most Affected by the Moro (MILF/MNLF) Conflict (by number of encounters and number of casualties), 1986-2004...............................................................................................................25 Annex 2: Conflict Affected Areas and Joint Needs Assessment in Mindanao...........................................26 Annex 3: Focus Group Discussions and Individual Interviews..................................................................27 Annex 4: Key Informants Interviewed........................................................................................................28 Annex 5: Excerpts from Researchers’ Field Notes.....................................................................................29 Tables Table 1: Male Youth Population in Mindanao, 2000…………………………………………………….…2 Table 2: Geographical Scope of the Study………………………………………………………………….3 Table 3: Basic Literacy Rate of Male Youth by Region in Mindanao, 2003…………………………...….4 Table 4: Out-of-School Children and Youth Aged 6-24, Mindanao, 2002………………………………...5 Boxes Box 1: Bouldon Municipality……………………………………………………………..………………..7 Box 2: Before and After the All-Out-War……………………………………………………………….…8 Box 3: The Travails of a Young Farmer…………………………………………………………………....9 Box 4: Abuse of Human Rights…………………………………………………………………………...11 Box 5: Easy Access to Drugs……………………………………………………………………………...11 Box 6: Landmines……………………………………………………………………………………… ...12 Box 7: Combatants………………………………………………………………………………………...13 Box 8: The Youth Pack Model…………………………………………………………………………....18 Box 9: Public/Private Partnership………………………………………………………………………....19 ii Box 10: The Grameen Phone Program…………………………………………………………………....19 Box 11: The Pro-Child Care Project……………………………………………………………………....20 Box 12: Youth Clubs for Peace and Development………………………………………………………..21 iii Acknowledgements The research and writing of this paper were undertaken by Community and Family Services International (CFSI), an international humanitarian organization based in the Philippines. The CFSI research team was composed of Shobhana Rajendran (Program Officer, Social Development), David Veronesi (Consultant), Nasrudin Mohammad and Alimudin Mala (Field Researchers). This product is from the Gender and Conflict in Mindanao Project funded by the Trust Fund for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (TFESSD), and managed by Mary Judd. The findings, interpretations and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the World Bank, its Board of Directors or any of its member countries. Mary Judd Country Sector Coordinator Environment and Social Development Unit World Bank Manila Office iv Acronyms AFP Armed Forces of the Philippines ARMM Autonomous Region in Muslim