COTABATO CITY (PIA) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO) has provided new livelihood opportunities for internally displaced persons (IDP), focusing on women and youth in the Bangsamoro region.
The project is known as “Resilient Livelihoods Development for Women and Youth IDPs in Maguindanao.”
Helen Rojas, project team leader of the UN-FAO, said the program aims to provide a venue where women and youth can meaningfully participate in “sustainable and resilient” agricultural livelihood initiatives.
“Ang pinaka gustong marating ng project na ito ay by the end of the implementation period, gusto nating makita na ‘yong ating kababaihan at kabataan ay mayroon silang active and productive agricultural engagement,” she explained during the recent episode of the PIA Talakayang Dose radio program.
(The primary goal of this project is to ensure that our women and youth engage in active and productive agricultural activities by the end of the implementation period.)
“Ibig sabihin may mga livelihood sila patungkol sa agriculture, and at the same time, mayroon silang access pagdating sa health services, protection, wellness, and other complimentary support,” Rojas added.
(This means that they have a livelihood in agriculture, as well as access to health services, protection, wellness, and other complimentary support.)
The project will be implemented in conflict-affected areas in the Bangsamoro region, such as the municipalities of Talitay, Guindulungan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao province.
The UN-FAO program aims to provide high-quality agricultural inputs, enhance women and youth’s access to protection and social support services, and promote gender-responsive, inclusive, and culturally sensitive policies for community-based disaster risk reduction.
“Itong project na ito ay nagsimula noong 2022, sa UN kasi ngayon may practice na dini-develop at ginagawa na. Ito ‘yong joint program, ibig sabihin hindi lang isang UN agency ang gumagawa. So, isang proyekto pero nagtutulong tulong ang isa or dalawang mga UN agencies,” Rojas said.
(The project, initiated in 2022, is a collaborative initiative involving one or two UN agencies.)
Rojas emphasized that the program not only enhances the livelihood capabilities of its beneficiaries, but also prioritizes the health and protection of women, particularly the displaced women and youth.
“Habang binibigyan natin ng agricultural intervention or pinapalakas pa natin ‘yong kababaihan at kabataan pagdating sa participation nila sa agricultural livelihood, kailangan din na mabigyan sila ng sapat na intervention para ma ensure natin na protektado sila from violence and abuse at maayos ‘yong kanilang kalusugan,” she pointed out.
(We offer agricultural interventions and empower women and youth in agricultural livelihoods, but it’s crucial to provide adequate support to protect them from violence and abuse and maintain their health.)
The Bangsamoro government welcomes this development and is optimistic that the project will further strengthen the region’s agriculture sector. (LTB – PIA Cotabato City)
