Photo Context

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MDFI presented the Strengthening Information on2025 Voter’s Education (StrIVE) Project deliverables and plans during the 2-day Activate Bangsamoro 3 (AB3) Project Kick-Off and Planning Workshop on June 9-12, 2023 at General Santos City.

The activity was participated in by the eight CSO implementing partners of TAF, and representatives from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Office of the Parliament Speaker, Office of the Floor Leader, Office of the Secretary General, Legislative Technical Affairs and Information Services (LTAIS), and Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS).

AB3 Project is funded by the British Embassy in partnership with The Asia Foundation which hopes to promote active citizenry through proactive engagement with the new Parliament, raising awareness on the newly passed Electoral Code, educating voters on the 2025 Parliamentary election, and supporting concerned BARMM offices in the development of guidelines for sectoral representation at the Parliament.

Day 1 Highlights

After the preliminaries TAF Senior Program Officer Noraida Chio formally opened the activity followed with the brief presentation on the AB3 Project by Engr. Misuari Abdullah.

Secretary General of the BTA Parliament Professor Raby Angkal discussed the Bangsamoro Parliament Updates i.e. current context, key achievements, new priorities, challenges, and potential convergence areas with AB3 CSO Partners.

Floor Leader of the BTA Parliament Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba extensive conversation with the CSO partners on critical points of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code and ways forward to effectively facilitate grassroots awareness especially that the 2025 election is fast approaching.

Voices from the field capturing highlights of issues and concerns documented during AB2 needing BTA actions were shared by MOSEP Program Manager for women, UNYPAD Executive Director Morsidin Husain for youths, and TLWOI Project Manager Ronie Ampok for the Indigenous Peoples.

TLWOI, MIJ, PMFI, MOSEP, UVPN, UNYPAD, MDFI,and LENTE with the participation of LTAIS, BTA Sec. Gen Office, Office of Parliament Speaker, and Office of Floor Leader extensively presented/shared their respective CSOs’ AB3 deliverables through a “world café” for cross- pollinating ideas.

Day 2Highlights

Heads/Representatives from the Office of the Parliament Speaker, Office of Floor Leader,Sec. Gen. Office,LTAIS, and PRLS shared their respective mandates, AB3 related work priorities, and identify possible ways for linking and collaborating with specific AB3 CSO partners.

TAF MEL Consultant Josephine Teves discussed the AB3 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning requirements to capture, collect, process, and document AB3 accomplishments of respective AB3 CSO partners effectively and efficiently.

TAF Subawards and Audit Manager Julie Ann Villanueva reviewed the AB3 Letters of Grant and conducted an extensive financial reporting mentoring session.

The activity culminated with the awarding of certificates and messages of AB3 Project support to the CSO partners from the BTA and TAF.