US gov't to launch projects in support of Mindanao’s peace and stability

From the Philippine News Agency (May 27): US gov't to launch projects in support of Mindanao’s peace and stability

US Ambassador Harry Thomas and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Gloria Steele are launching three new USAID projects here in Mindanao.

In a statement Monday, the USAID-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) said the projects are designed to strengthen local government units, improve youth access to education, and enhance the delivery of vital health services across conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.

The three new projects are scheduled to be launched by the two officials on Wednesday.

The projects to be launched as the following: Enhancing Governance, Accountability and Engagement (ENGAGE); Mindanao Youth for Development (MYDev); and, Integrated Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health and Nutrition/Family Planning Regional Project in Mindanao (MindanaoHealth).

ENGAGE is a five-year project that seeks to address governance challenges that lead to continued social and economic instabilities and marginalization, and to promote community empowerment as a foundation for inclusive local governance.

MYDev is a five-year project that seeks to strengthen the capacity of local government units, communities, and stakeholders to deliver education and training services to out-of-school youth.

The MYDev project hopes to increase youth access to education through the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System (ALS), and enhance out-of-school youth (OSY) employability by providing equitable access to relevant education and skills training.

MindanaoHealth is also five-year project that aims to strengthen the delivery of health services in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.

It will support the Department of Health-led scale up of high-impact services and patient-centered information to improve maternal, neonatal, child health and nutrition outcomes, and to reduce the unmet need for family planning methods, especially among the lowest wealth quintiles.

Mindanao Health will work in 19 provinces, two cities, and 366 municipalities to accelerate progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

High-ranking Philippine government officials, international development institutions, non-government organizations, the academe and the private sector are expected to participate in the launching of the three projects.

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