Social Enterprise in BARMM
Social Enterprise as a Poverty Alleviation Tool
We would like to introduce our Bangsamoro Social Enterprise Policy Technical Working Group as part of CSO SEED Philippines Project, co-funded by the European Union in the Philippines.
The TWG Chairs are: Maisara Dandamun-Latiph (Chair), Member of Parliament (MP), Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA); and Abuamri Taddik (Co-chair), Minister, Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT). The core members are: Raissa Jajurie, Minister, Ministry of Social Services; Ross Alonto, Chief of Technical Services, MTIT; Mohammad Yacob (not in photo), Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform; Eddie Alih, MP, BTA; and Suharto Ambolodto, MP, BTA.
The purpose of the TWG is to come up with policy or enabling law that shall strengthen, promote and establish social enterprise as a tool for private sector participation in poverty alleviation in the BARMM.
As part of learning process the TWG members participated in the Social Enterprise World Forum 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia sponsored by British Council and cofunded by European Union.
Social Enterprise World Forum
The SEWF is the leading forum for international exchange and collaboration in social entrepreneurship and social investment. This year’s SEWF2019 invited more than 62 countries and BARMM Delegates to learn and network and share good practice, ideas and create partnerships to promote sustainable economic growth for human development. It was my first time to go to African Continent. I was excited to visit the home of Lucy and Nobel Laureate for Peace President Abey Ahmed.
Highlights and take-aways of our #SEWF2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
I learned more on policies for promoting the growth and success of SE in Bangsamoro. Our Bangsamoro Social Enterprise Delegation consisted of five (5) Members of Parliament and Minister of Trade and Industry. Namely: MP Maisara Dandamun-Latiph co-chair, MP Raissa Jajurie, MP Mohd Yacob, MP Eddie Alih, MP Suharto Mastura Ambolodto, Minister Abuamri Taddik and Ross Alonto. Together we listened to the ways in which Social Enterprise can help us achieve the wellbeing of individual and collective members of our society. We also learned the different ways in which each country
implement, strengthen and fund their SE and how they were able to convince their government of supporting SE. Best of all we learned that SE must take care of the quality of their products and services for them to thrive and compete with traditional businesses. We need to raise our awareness of SE in Bangsamoro. We must also support their development. Our Bangsamoro government must be able to use SE as a way of tackling complex social, economic and environmental problems. I believe that SE has the biggest potential of providing sustainable income and jobs to our people without compromising our environment. I hope we can all help develop ethical, responsible, sustainable social enterprises in the BARMM.
I express utmost gratitude to the British Council and European Union for providing us this much needed opportunity to open our eyes, hearts and minds to Social Enterprise. And, thank you very much Angel Flores for not only showing us the path towards SE in Addis Ababa and BARMM but also for making sure that we are safe and healthy in Ethiopia.
