On July 29 to August 1, 2019, the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) in partnership with the Miriam College Center for Peace Education (CPE) and Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMF) and supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) organized a two-day capacity building workshop and a two-day writeshop held at Cotabato City for the Municipality and Barangays of Aleosan, North Cotabato. Another two-day capacity building workshop, two-day writeshop and a day of project planning were also organized for the Municipality and Barangays of Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte and Lianga, Surigao del Sur on August 5-9, 2019 held at Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte.  

The workshops aimed at enhancing capacities of participants to influence decision-makers and identify effective mechanisms where they can contribute in the local implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). Participants in Aleosan also developed gender-sensitive and inclusive sample local legislation and policies aimed at implementing the BOL. Participants from Kitcharao and Lianga, on the other hand, had the opportunity to have a collective understanding of the root causes of insurgencies and identified ways to contribute in the attainment of inclusive and sustainable peace including through drafting gender-sensitive local resolutions and ordinances. 

These activities are part of a three-year project on local women leading for sustainable peace led by GNWP in partnership with CPE and BMFI supported by NORAD.