The European Union (EU) will launch a significant project on April 14, 2025. The launch takes place at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in UP Diliman, Quezon City. The project focuses on improving the role of higher education in Mindanao’s Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.
This initiative directly addresses the challenges facing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Conflict has long hampered peace, security, and women’s empowerment in the region. The project builds on existing frameworks, including the UN’s WPS agenda and the Philippines’ National Action Plan on WPS.
Mindanao State University (MSU) in Maguindanao plays a key role. It offers a Diploma in Women, Peace, and Security (DWPS), a program supported by the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID). The EU’s two-year grant will strengthen the DWPS program at MSU.
The project has several key components. These include curriculum enhancements, faculty capacity building, program replication across MSU campuses, and the creation of community-based WPS courses. The EU’s funding allows for a wider reach, impacting more people in the region. The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, Inc. (UPCWSFI) also participates, ensuring a gender-responsive approach. This collaborative effort aims to foster a more inclusive and secure Mindanao.
