Norway-Philippines’ UNDP partnership uplifts youth and women initiatives in Bangsamoro

The Government of Norway and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have consented to a partnership deal to promote the peacebuilding and mediation-arbitration capacity of ladies and encourage the commitment of youth in the Bangsamoro region.

On Tuesday, Nov. 9, Norwegian envoy to the Philippines Bjørn Staurset Jahnsen and UNDP Philippines Resident spokesperson Dr. Selva Ramachandran began the new partnership during a virtual meeting.

Under the partnership, UNDP Philippines and Norway will cooperate with the BARMM government to renew the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) and Bangsamoro Women’s Commission (BWC) through different capacity-building activities.

The Norway-UNDP association is intended to offer support to women’s commitment to forestalling violent extremism and violence in their community.

It likewise focuses to reinforce the capacities of female leaders in their community and peacebuilders in advancing harmony, progress, via negotiations, and build up the Web Platform for Women’s Rapid Action and Mobilization Platform (RAMP).

Simultaneously, the organization will take into consideration the turn of events and execution of a provincial program on youth, harmony, and security by the Bangsamoro Youth Commission, and the association of indigenous pioneers in settling level viciousness.

The main aim is to encourage more active participation by the young people in the Bangsamoro through the Bangsamoro Youth Volunteer Program in association with the BYC.

The Philippines is one of Norway’s important nations for collaboration on security, youth, and women towards uplifting them. We will keep supporting peace initiatives, for example, the participation and improvement of women and youth in the peace talks for enduring and economical harmony.

Norwegian envoy to the Philippines Bjørn Staurset Jahnsen

Norway has helped the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) that is accountable for decommissioning soldiers following the peace treaty between the Philippine presidency and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2014.

Dr. Ramachandran highlighted that “UNDP and Norway share a long and supported collective commitment towards promoting peace and development in the Philippines and around the globe. UNDP had operated closely with Norway in helping the IDB. Via specialized and operational help, UNDP has likewise worked directly with the legislature and the MILF since 2012 to achieve the peace treaty in 2014. However, from that point, the division of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and its execution since 2018.