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US Donor Agency Invites Grantees |
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Written by Samira Ali Gutoc
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Friday, 29 August 2003 |
Manila – 9/11 and the conflict in Central Mindanao has put Philippines back on the map of US' interest. This was cited as an observation by Grants Director Judy Barsalou, a Middle East expert of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), an "independent, non-partisan federal institution created by the US congress to promote the prevention, management and peaceful resolution of international conflicts" (see website www.usip.org for info). "Interest in the Philippines has increased", she said, particularly citing US attention on the Muslim communities' plight in Mindanao. This is in the context of the US "facilitating" negotiations in the GRP-MILF peace talks, she said.
Earlier, the United States government has announced its funding support for the MINDANAO NATIN project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The project will cover rehabilitation and programs - covering trainings, sports and cultural activities in the island, particularly the conflict areas in Central and Western Mindanao.
USIP officials are in the Philippines consulting selected NGO leaders, academics and political leaders on possible programs to conduct in Mindanao. Barsalou said their meetings organized with the help of USIP fellow Amina Rasul-Bernardo (former Cabinet Member who hails from Sulu) will be gathering sectoral leaders in Zamboanga City and Cotabato City tomorrow. The USIP and the Asian Institute of Management will also hold a four-day workshop for 30 selected participants on conflict management entitled "Building the Philippine Future" on September 8-11 at the AIM conference Center in Makati City.
Barsalou said their grants were geared towards holistic programs that consider feedback and sustainability. She cited years of peace negotiations in Mindanao where there have been considerable trainings conducted. "How could an approach (as trainings) be different from the others?", she cited in a meeting at the Asian Institute of Management with NGOs and academics. She mentioned the possibility of a program that would be geared towards peace journalism and support of Muslim youth and professionals' leadership trainings. "
In advising NGOs and institutions that wish to apply for grants (see
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), Barsalou enumerated five points that the USIP as donor would consider:
- Give a problem statement; describe the issue upfront and argue the critical importance of the program.
- The proposal should be solid, creative, and an innovative way to address the problem.
- The project should be published in a book, monograph or made into a policy paper.
- Consider the mechanism of a feedback to assess the impact and effectiveness of the project.
- Find ways to disseminate the findings of the project widely so that others may benefit from it.
End.
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