UNFPA and FAO, with the support of the Australian Government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government, launched a 2-day Resilient Families and Communities Fair to showcase the work of community-based organizations and women-friendly space (WFS) facilitators in Maguindanao.

READ ABOUT WOMEN-FRIENDLY SPACES

Open from November 23 to 24, 2023 at the Robinson’s Mall in AlNor Hotel and Convention Center Compound in Cotabato City, the fair features exhibitions, workshops, and networking opportunities, all aimed at promoting economic empowerment, social inclusion, and sustainable well-being for women, youth, and families in the region.

Present at the kick-off event were Australian Embassy in the Philippines First Secretary for Development Paul Harrington, UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Dr. Leila Joudan, FAO Philippines Representative Lionel Dabbadie, and BARMM Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Chief of Staff Arphia Ebus.

Among the activities featured by the fair are workshops and skill demonstrations on banana chips preparation, chili garlic sauce and palapa, sweet delicacies, mushroom chips and broa, and bagoong ang kangkong chips.

The Women Friendly Space and livelihood activities are part of the “Resilient Livelihoods Development Project for Women and Youth IDPs” supported by the Australian Government. Jointly implemented by UN FAO and UNFPA, the project involves the training of WFS facilitators who assist the rural health units and PSSDO in coordinating and delivering services related to maternal health, FP, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and prevention and response to gender-based violence, especially during emergencies and in remote areas in Maguindanao.