CONTRIBUTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO PEACE BUILDING IN CONFLICT AFFECTED AREAS IN MINDANAO PHILIPPINES

Abstract

International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs) have been playing a significant role in building peace across the globe, including Mindanao in the southern part of the Philippines. However, the contributions of INGOs to peace-building have been largely unattended. Hence, this research is conducted. To gather data, the study used focus group discussion with 45 respondents from the 10 INGOs operating within Cotabato City and Maguindanao, both being components of the region. A validated self-made interview guide questionnaire was used. The majority of the respondents (75%) revealed that the programs and services of the INGOs related to Islamic values and peace-building in the Bangsamoro are dominated by community Values Transformation Training (VTT) and peace-building seminars, grassroots-based conflict resolution, and quick-impact livelihood projects. The programs and services that showed significant contributions to Islamic values and peace-building are sustained Islamic capacity building, socio-economic and spiritual recovery, and community resiliency in mitigating conflict. The challenges that lie ahead are the limited financial resources, issues with political dynamics in the communities, and unstable skilled staff of the INGOs. The researcher recommends the need for the accreditation of INGOs in the different local government units (LGUs)of the region with regard to policy legislation and maintaining utmost neutrality during the implementation of the programs and services.