Donor Support: Comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro
Implementations
Donor Support – 2014
The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and Annex on Normalization call for multi-donor support for the implementation phase of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
In 2006, the World Bank initiated the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) and Reconstruction and Development Program with coordination from the Bangsamoro Development Agency. The MTF aims to consolidate international assistance to support the development of conflict-affected communities in Mindanao. In 2006, the fund attracted donations from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, in addition to World Bank donations, totaling 2.74 million USD .[1] In 2007, the MTF accumulated $6 million USD in donations from Australia, Canada, the European Commission, New Zealand, Sweden, and the World Bank.[2] The same donors contributed a total of 8.3 million USD in 2008.[3] With the addition of the United States to the list of donors, contributions in 2009 totaled 10.8 million USD,[4] 13.3 million USD in 2010,[5] and 15.8 million USD in 2011,[6] 16.3 million USD in 2012,[7] and 17.47 million USD in 2013.[8] In 2014, with the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, support for the MTF expanded rapidly, receiving a total of 28.878 million USD from the EU, Sweden, Australia, Canada, the World Bank, the United States and New Zealand.[9]
[1] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2006, World Bank, 2007.
[2] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2007, World Bank, 2008.
[3] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2008, World Bank, 2009.
[4] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2009, World Bank, 2010.
[5] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2010, World Bank, 2011.
[6] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2011, World Bank, 2012.
[7] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2012, World Bank, 2013.
[8] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2013, World Bank, 2014.
[9] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2014, World Bank, 2015.
Donor Support – 2015
In 2015, the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) received a total of USD 28.8 million in donations from the European Union, Sweden, Australia, Canada, the World Bank, the United States, and New Zealand.[1]
[1] Mindanao Trust Fund reconstruction and development program : annual report 2015, World Bank, 2016.
Donor Support – 2016
On April 26, the EU and UNDP launched the Support Peace-Bangsamoro project to be implemented from 2016 to mid-2017, funded by 1.2 million euros from the EU. The UNDP will implement the project, which aims to build the capacity of local leaders and stakeholders on public administration and parliamentary processes.[1]
As of June 30, the MTF has received a total of 27.78 million USD in 2016 from the EU, Sweden, Australia, Canada, the United States, the World Bank and New Zealand.[2]
[1] “Former Philippine rebels swap guns for spanners,” Gulf News (UAE), April 28, 2016.
[2] World Bank. 2016. Mindanao Trust Fund: Progress Report Number 42. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Donor Support – 2017
The Support Peace-Bangsamoro project, which was initially scheduled to be implemented from 2016 to mid-2017, was extended to be implemented until December 31, 2018. In 2017, the project received a total of $1,090,202 in funding from the European Commission, Australia, and the UNDP.[1]
The Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) and Reconstruction and Development Program, which had previously coordinated with the Bangsamoro Development Agency beginning in 2006, formally closed on March 31, 2017.[2]
Australia’s Partnership for Peace program pledged $12 million in support to maintain long-term stability and development in Mindanao between 2017-2022.[3]
[1] “Support Peace-Bangsamoro”, United Nations Development Programme, October 31, 2017.
[2] Multi Donor Facility – Ph Mindanao Reconconstruction and Development Implementation Status and Results Reports, The World Bank, March 31, 2017.
[3] “Improving conditions for peace and stability in the Philippines,” Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2017.
Donor Support – 2018
In April 2018, the World Bank announced that the Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development would provide a 3.2 million USD development grant to the BDA, and that the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) would provide an additional 1 million Euro.According to the World Bank estimate, between 2006 and 2017, the Mindanao Trust Fund financed projects that had provided “clean water, better roads, and more post-harvest facilities and access to farming and fishing equipment” to nearly 650,000 people.[1]
[1] “New funding for Mindanao Trust Fund to strengthen peace and development in southern Philippines,” The World Bank, April 10, 2018.
Donor Support – 2019
Donors continued to provide support for the development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in 2019. In June, the Government of Japan provided a 200 million USD loan for road development.[1] In November, the United States provided 1 billion pesos for programs, including health funding.[2] The Australian Government allocated 12 billion AUD in aid for the Bangsamoro from 2017 to 2020.[3]
[1] “Japan to fund Mindanao road network development project,” Government of the Philippines, June 19, 2019, https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/japan-fund-mindanao-road-network-development-project
[2] “US pledges P1-B aid to Bangsamoro region,” Philippines Dailly Inquirer, November 24, 2019.
[3] “Envoy: Aussie education aid in Bangsamoro continuous, Business Mirror, October 3, 2019.
Donor Support – 2020
On February 17, 2020, the government of Japan and the United Nations Populations Fund held a donor conference where they promised continued support for the process.[1]
[1] “International partners reaffirm commitment to support BARMM,” February 19, 2020, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, https://peace.gov.ph/2020/02/international-partners-reaffirm-commitment-to-support-barmm/
Donor Support – 2021
In May 2021, the Bangsamoro government, the Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process, and the World Bank virtually launched the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF). This multicolor trust fund supports the normalization process.[1] Further, in its meeting in February 2021, the Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board (IFPB) cleared rules under which the BARMM would be able to deal with foreign donors directly after obtaining approval from the Department of Finance.[2]
[1] “GPH-MILF, WB put up Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund,” Philippine News Agency, May 21, 2021. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1141013
[2] “Seventh Public Report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, January 2022.