Marawi Response Project (MRP) Quarterly Report FY2021 Quarter 1: October 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020

The project is implemented by Plan International USA Inc. and has a cooperative agreement number of 72049218CA00007. The project's geographic coverage includes Lanao del Sur, Marawi City, Lanao del Norte, and Iligan City. The project's main objective is to promote economic recovery and resilience among internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host community members (HCMs). To achieve this, the project focuses on three value chains: aquaculture, horticulture, and food processing/distribution. The project also supports the establishment of new coffee industry clusters, shared service markets, and distribution centers for food and non-food products. During the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2021, the project maintained momentum despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 152 grants were delivered in the quarter, with 105 under IR 1 and 47 under IR 2. As of December 2020, 92% of the 702 grants with delivery requests have been completely delivered. The project reached 1,873 displaced business owners through business recovery micro-grants, 372 displaced business owners were trained in enterprise management, and 160 individuals completed USG-assisted workforce development programs. Additionally, 398 individuals from 19 Community Solidarity Groups (CSGs) who completed training in Year 2 received in-kind assistance grants, and 1,753 IDPs/HCMs benefitted from livelihood micro-grants. Under IR 2, 14,508 IDPs/HCMs benefited from social cohesion grants. A survey conducted by local partner ECOWEB of over 2,000 IDPs in 65 barangays revealed that 57% preferred re-integration to stay permanently in the current and host community. Notable reasons given were feeling safe, secure, and having peace of mind in the host community, good education system for their children, and finding new livelihood and opportunities in the host community. The project also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry – Lanao del Norte and the City Government of Iligan to hold the Lanao Christmas Trade Fair 2020 in Iligan City from December 7-15, 2020. This was the first physical trade fair held in the city since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project's implementation challenges include the COVID-19 pandemic, which has restricted in-person training and events. However, the project has adapted to these challenges by carrying out training mostly virtually, with strict compliance with health guidelines. The project's best practices and lessons learned include the importance of community engagement and participation in the project's activities. The project has also learned the value of building strong partnerships with local government units, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to achieve its objectives. The project's planned activities for the next quarter include continuing to support the recovery and resilience of communities affected by the Marawi conflict, promoting economic recovery and resilience among IDPs and HCMs, and building the capacity of local government units and other stakeholders to support the project's objectives.