WASHINGTON — Plan International USA has been awarded a three-year grant of $25 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to increase opportunities for individuals and communities affected by the 2017 conflict between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and ISIS-inspired militants. The project is titled the Marawi Response Project (MRP).
MRP efforts will help improve economic conditions and increase social cohesion by providing micro grants to displaced persons and host communities to address short-term needs. The project will also support employment readiness for youth. MRP activities will aim to renew economic livelihoods and business recovery; solidify a social contract between citizens and their local government; and increase social cohesion. The project will encourage local active participation and provide leadership opportunities for marginalized groups.
“It is important for us to support the Maranao people and surrounding areas in their efforts to rebuild their communities at this critical time,” said Tessie San Martin, President & CEO of Plan International USA. “Economic stability and social cohesion are the building blocks for ensuring a safe and secure environment.”
MRP will focus on ensuring participation of both the public and private sectors. Plan International USA has partnered with Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (ECOWEB), an organization that works to empower communities towards building a peaceful and progressive society, and the Maranao People Development Center (MARADECA), an institution working for the empowerment of the Bangsamoro people.
MRP’s implementation began in September 2018 and will continue through August 2021.
