BARMMCoops Leadership Conference

BARMMCOOPS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
BARMM Cooperatives together with PAKISAMA, AFA, and AGRICOOPH Advancing IDOFFS and Inclusive Public Food Procurement for Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods

June 29-30, 2026 | Peñafrancia Safe Haven Hostel, Cotabato City

1. Background

Through the SPADe-supported Integrated Diversified Organic Family Farming System (IDOFFS) initiative in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), PAKISAMA has successfully expanded the adoption of the Integrated Diversified Organic Family Farming System (IDOFFS) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) while playing a catalytic role in establishing the BARMM Cooperative Federation, with valuable support from the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ. This achievement marks a milestone in PAKISAMA’s decades-long evolution from its farmer training and support initiatives of the 1980s and 1990s to a comprehensive, systems-based development approach that integrates agroecology, cooperative development, value chain strengthening, and market access. 

Building on its extensive experience in social mobilization, farmer organization, and leadership development, PAKISAMA has worked with 15 partner cooperatives across BARMM to transform fragmented and subsistence-oriented farming systems into diversified, market-oriented, and agroecological enterprises. At the heart of this transformation is the development of IDOFFS farmer clusters, established through participatory training on agroecological principles, farm planning and budgeting, collective enterprise development, and cluster formation. These efforts have been complemented by intensive mentoring of cluster leaders and cooperative-wide capacity strengthening on governance, professional management, financial sustainability, and member participation. Study visits, peer-learning exchanges, and practical field demonstrations have further reinforced these capacities, enabling cooperatives to deliver sustainable economic, social, and environmental benefits to their members and communities.

The proposed conference seeks to consolidate these gains by bringing together the 15 partner cooperatives, PAKISAMA, the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), and the Philippine Family Farmers’ Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry Cooperatives Federation (AgriCOOPh). The gathering will serve as a platform to reflect on lessons learned, establish sustainability mechanisms, strengthen institutional collaboration, and define a shared vision and strategic priorities for the next decade of cooperative-led agroecological and economic development in BARMM.

The initiative is closely aligned with AFA’s six-point agenda, particularly Agenda 2 on sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and Agenda 3 on strengthening farmers’ organizations and cooperatives. As a regional network of farmers’ organizations and agricultural cooperatives across Asia, AFA promotes agroecology, climate resilience, inclusive value chains, and policy reforms that enhance the livelihoods and rights of family farmers.

AgriCOOPh, meanwhile, brings critical expertise in cooperative enterprise development and market integration. Established in 2018 as a national federation of agricultural cooperatives, AgriCOOPh provides a comprehensive range of services, including training and consultancy, agribusiness development, supply and marketing, treasury and credit services, health-related cooperative services, and digital solutions. Through these services, the federation supports agricultural cooperatives in becoming reliable suppliers to local markets, institutional buyers, and government procurement programs.

In recent years, AgriCOOPh has emerged as a leader in facilitating public and institutional food procurement by participating directly in competitive bidding and negotiated procurement mechanisms and by advocating for policies and systems that enable smallholder farmers and agricultural cooperatives to access government feeding programs, schools, hospitals, and other institutional markets. The federation also promotes aggregation models, commodity hubs, and value chain development for products such as rice, cacao, dairy, coconut, and vegetables, helping small-scale producers secure stable markets while contributing to stronger, more resilient local food systems.

Through this conference, participating cooperatives and partners will chart a collective pathway toward a stronger BARMM Cooperative Federation that can sustain and scale IDOFFS, expand participation in public food procurement, strengthen cooperative enterprises, and advance food security, resilient livelihoods, and inclusive economic development across the Bangsamoro region.

2. Objectives

To strengthen BARMMCoops as a sustainable and member-driven cooperative federation that advances inclusive public food procurement, food security, resilient livelihoods, and cooperative-led local economic development in BARMM. Specific objectives include:

1. Review and assess the current status, accomplishments, and challenges of member cooperatives and BARMMCoops initiatives to identify priority areas for organizational strengthening and collaboration. 
2. Build a shared understanding of IDOFFS’ sustainability and scalability, and of the strategic role of cooperatives in promoting food security, climate resilience, and inclusive local economies. 
3. Reach consensus on the registration, governance structure, and institutional development pathway of BARMMCoops as a legitimate and effective federation of cooperatives in the region. 
4. Strengthen the capacity of cooperatives to participate in and benefit from public food procurement programs by sharing experiences, assessing procurement readiness, and identifying opportunities for expanded engagement. 
5. Review the progress, lessons, and sustainability prospects of ongoing projects and partnerships, including the MSSD Food Procurement Project and PEF-supported initiatives, to maximize their impact and ensure long-term benefits for cooperative members. 
6. Identify opportunities for resource mobilization, enterprise development, market linkages, and strategic partnerships to enhance the cooperative’s competitiveness and members’ livelihoods. 
7. Develop and adopt a collective BARMMCoops Action Plan for 2026–2027 focused on institutional strengthening, governance, enterprise and market development, membership growth, and resource mobilization. 
8. Forge commitments among cooperative leaders and partners to work collectively toward a stronger, more inclusive, and self-sustaining cooperative movement that contributes to food security, peacebuilding, and community prosperity in BARMM. 

3. Program