The MPW Peoples’ Peace Agenda (MPPA), a project of the Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW),  hopes to provide a mechanism and process to fast track consensus-building that would help facilitate common understanding and unified actions among civil society groups on issues concerning peace and conflict in Mindanao.

Objectives of MPPA

• To develop a common understanding of a MPW Peoples’ Peace Agenda (MPPA) among the MPW member networks and the wider Mindanao peace constituency.
• To develop policy agenda based on consensus points of the MPW member networks that would form the MPPA.
• To facilitate increased engagement of civil society and grassroots communities in formal policymaking processes, both at the local and national levels, including engagement with top leaders and key actors in the government and with other stakeholders.
• To develop MPPA as a tool for lobby and advocacy work.

Scope of the project

The MPPA process involves the conduct of the following consultations:

Seven MPW member network consultations covering the provinces of Zamboanga; Bukidnon; Misamis, Surigao, Sarangani, Davao, Compostela Valley, Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Metro Manila, including cities herewith, where member networks and their constituencies are currently located.

Two area consultations covering: (1) Central Mindanao, and (2) Western Mindanao

A MPW Peoples’ Peace Assembly to provide a venue for the presentation and validation of results of the consultations. This will also be a forum for the MPW member networks to arrive at consensus points that would serve as basis for the MPPA.

Key consultation questions

1. How do you perceive the Mindanao situation?
2. How do you understand the situation in your particular areas?
3. What is your concept of peace & development
4. What do you think are the causes of the conflict in Mindanao?
5. What have been done to resolve the conflict?
6. What are the obstacles in resolving the conflict?
7. What should be done by the different players (  gov’t, religious groups, civil society, non-state actors, communities  and other stakeholders)can do to resolve the conflict?

Major components of the project

The MPPA Process is divided into four phases: (1) Pre-Consultation Phase, (2) Consultation Phase, (3) Policy Formulation Phase, and (4) Lobbying and Popularization Phase.

There is a supplemental research component which shall scan through the landscape of previous literatures, including past and current consultation initiatives, on Mindanao peace and development processes.

The final phase includes the presentation of the MPPA to the general public and to different stakeholders, including top leaders and key actors in the government, both local and national.

About the Mindanao Peaceweavers

The MPPA is a project of the Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW), the largest and broadest tri-people peace network in Mindanao, which is composed of the following seven member networks: (1) Agong Network, (2) Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), (3) Mindanao Peoples Advocate Conference (MPAC), (4) Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), (5) Mindanao Peoples Peace Movement (MPPM), (6) Mindanao Solidarity Network (MSN), and (7) Inter-Religious Solidarity Movement (IRSM).

The Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW) hopes to develop and strengthen a critical mass of peace constituency who will consciously demand peace and human security as a matter of policy for Mindanao. Its goal is the formation of a peace movement where Bangsamoro, Indigenous People and Christian Settler communities, civic organizations, academic institutions, women, youth and religious sectors converge towards dialogue, unity and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Mindanao. MPW aims:

• To develop and institutionalize the participation of civil society in the Mindanao peace process
• To provide mechanisms and processes for consensus-building, sharing of information and expertise and drawing unified actions among civil society groups on issues concerning peace and conflict in Mindanao;
• To develop a critical mass of peace constituency that can engage and influence the actors in conflict; and
• To evolve a common agenda for peace.