U.S. P 1-B aid package brings 'Converge Program' to Bangsamoro
BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 21:15 PM Sat Nov 23, 2019
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By:
Nash B. Maulana
Bangsamoro government and US officials. (contributed photo)
COTABATO CITY-- The U.S. Government Mission has launched here its CONVERGE Program, a substantial part of it is for "Countering Violent Extremism" partnership with the Bangsamoro Government and civil society organizations.
U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Law and U.S. Aagency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II met Friday with top officials of the Bangsamoro Autinomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), led by Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Hadji Murad Ebrahim, at the Bangsamoro Government Center in this city.
The programs extends to relevant undertakings by and in partnership with local government units and civil society organizations, an official Embassy statement said.
In a meeting, Mr. Law also took up with BARMM officials U.S. support for the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority, totaling to nearly Php 1 billion ($18.7 million).
"The new CONVERGE Program supports local government units, researchers, and civil society organizations to reduce the drivers of violent extremism and increase community resilience to radicalization," the Embassy said.
A statement sent by the U.S. Embassy said CONVERGE is funded with Php 86 million from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations and implemented in partnership with The Asia Foundation through local implementers Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc. (KFI), Integrated Resource Development for Tri-People, Inc., and Nagdilaab Foundation, Inc.
DCM Law also reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to democratic governance and health in the Bangsamoro during visits to two ongoing U.S. Agency for International Development projects.
USAID’s more than Php101 million FORWARD Bangsamoro project is being implemented in partnership with The Asia Foundation, supporting the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to bolster effective and accountable local governance.
USAID is implementing more than Php760 million health project requested by the BARMM Ministry of Health.
In collaboration with the University Research Co, LLC, it will also implement programs to help save the lives of mothers and newborns and improve families’ quality of life.
"These projects build upon more than two decades of U.S. development assistance and investment to the Bangsamoro," the statement said.