Spain gives P45-M for BARMM livelihood, climate resilience programs

THE SPANISH Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) is providing PHP45 million (USD780,000) to help fund agriculture-related livelihood and climate resilience programs in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The projects, to be implemented by the World Food Programme, target to benefit 28,000 people in the region, especially the indigenous women.

“Despite significant progress at the global level, no country in the world has achieved gender equality. That is the reason why Spanish Cooperation aims to not only boost but also accelerate the progress of women's participation and leadership at all decision-making levels,” Violeta Dominguez Acosta, head of Spanish Cooperation in the Philippines, said in a statement Tuesday.

“If we are talking about climate resilience in a country most at risk of extreme climate, we must put indigenous women and their communities at the center of the action."

Based on a WFP study conducted in 2024, barriers such as climate-related risks hinder rural and indigenous women from accessing resources and decision-making processes, resulting in the loss of livelihood opportunities and poverty.

The WFP said rural and indigenous women will undergo training in climate-resilient agriculture and leadership skills.

The AECID-funded project will also strengthen women cooperatives by linking their agricultural production to reliable markets, it said.

In addition, the activities will incorporate social behavior change to improve local food and nutrition practices.

“WFP thanks AECID for their important contribution to enhancing resilience in BARMM. With the increasing frequency and intensity of climate emergencies in the Philippines, women are especially vulnerable," WFP Philippines Representative and Country Director Regis Chapman said.

“It is urgent that we strengthen their capacities and so that they can withstand shocks better."

The initiative is part of the WFP’s continuing support to the Philippines’ efforts to promote resilience-building activities and strengthen food and social protection systems. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)