Key officers of five people’s organization (POs) in Central Mindanao region of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) convened for the organizational management training which started yesterday October 14 until today at Em Manor Hotel in Cotabato City.

Accordingly, the objectives of the activity is to develop and/or enhance the knowledge and skills of participants on organizational and financial management needed for their efficient and effective performance of their roles and functions as PO officers.

Joining also the activity were staff from BDA Central Management Office (CMO) and Regional Management Office (RMO).

Project technical team (PTT) from partners CFSI and Minland are also joining the activity.

Same training will also be conducted for other POs across the the BDA regions this October 2015.

There are 5 POs from each region of BDA selected for the PO Strengthening project which aim is to enhance the capacity and skills of community organizations to enable them to operate as local enterprises.

It is further reported that the project will help in strengthening the institutions like the POs that serve as alternative service delivery mechanisms for inclusive community driven development in the conflict-affected communities.

PO Strengthening is one component of the Institutional Strengthening Agreement (ISA) supported by the Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program (MTFRDP) in partnership with the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) and Mindanao Land Foundation (MinLand).

It is supported by various donors such as the European Union; the Swedish International Development Agency; the Australian Embassy in the Philippines; Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada; the United States Agency for International Development; the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the World Bank, which also serves as the Trust Fund Secretariat.