Rapid baseline study – Community mediation practices in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, in collaboration with Conciliation Resources, conducted a rapid baseline study to understand the current state of community mediation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), located on Mindanao Island.

This study provides an initial analysis that captures the roles played by a diverse range of actors—including traditional leaders, religious leaders, women’s groups, civil society organizations, and various mediation bodies—who are practicing community-level mediation across BARMM.

Community mediation has long addressed various locally rooted conflicts, such as family and marital disputes, clan feuds (rido), land and resource conflicts, and political tensions.

Amid the region’s complex historical background and local context, community-level mediation has become an accessible and culturally accepted mechanism for conflict prevention.

As BARMM is currently in a transition period, developing its own judicial and administrative systems, understanding the actual practices of community mediation on the ground is critically important for policymaking and peacebuilding efforts.

This study offers foundational insights to policymakers, practitioners, community leaders, and other stakeholders working to build culturally appropriate, inclusive, and sustainable mechanisms for conflict resolution.