Davao City: The New Zealand government is providing PHP247 million (USD4.5 million) to fund a four-year project in Mindanao aimed at enhancing leadership skills and economic opportunities for indigenous women and girls in the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative will be executed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), focusing on beneficiaries in Regions 11 and 12. The project, named Indigenous Women and Girls – Leadership and Empowerment in Ancestral Domains (I-LEAD), also aims to bolster resilience against climate change and advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and sustainable development practices within ancestral domains.

New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh highlighted the country’s commitment to impactful development, expressing optimism about the project’s potential to make a significant difference in the lives of Indigenous communities in Regions 11 and 12 and beyond. Her remarks were part of a news release celebrating the initiative.

The program was officially launched on January 17 with a signing ceremony in Davao City, attended by the envoy, UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran, and NCIP Chairperson Jennifer Pia Limpayen Sibug-Las.