Bangsamoro Youth Commission Awards P1 Million in Research Grants to Young Scholars
The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) has officially awarded a total of P1 million in research grants to five promising young researchers as part of its Ideation Impact Challenge (IIC) 2026 initiative. This significant investment is designed to support policy studies that tackle critical issues affecting youth within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
Empowering Youth as Co-Creators of Knowledge
In a recent statement, BYC Chairperson Nasserudin Dunding emphasized that this funding reflects the commission's strong conviction that Bangsamoro youth are not merely recipients of development but active participants in creating knowledge and solutions. "This investment reflects our firm belief that Bangsamoro youth are not only beneficiaries of development but active co-creators of knowledge and solutions," Dunding declared.
He further explained that the selected proposals were carefully chosen based on their potential to yield practical, evidence-based solutions to pressing community concerns. Each grantee has received P200,000 to finance their research projects, which are centered on key areas such as education, youth development, governance, and digital engagement. The outputs from these studies are anticipated to directly inform and shape policies in Barmm.
Ceremony and Funded Research Projects
The grants were formally released to the recipients during a ceremony held last week in Cotabato City. The five funded studies encompass a diverse range of topics aimed at addressing specific regional challenges:
- Research on the pathways and prospects of out-of-school youth in Cotabato City.
- An investigation into the impact of clan feuds, known as rido, on education in Lanao del Sur.
- A study focusing on the academic and social experiences of students with physical impairments.
- A participatory action research project dedicated to developing culturally grounded and gender-responsive school counseling programs for youth in Lanao del Sur.
- Research promoting responsible and ethical digital behavior among senior high school students in Cotabato City.
Objectives and Expected Impact
The Ideation Impact Challenge serves as the commission's flagship grant-based research program, with the primary goal of strengthening evidence-based policymaking while supporting youth-led and youth-focused, gender-responsive studies in the region. It aims to generate practical policy recommendations, encourage interdisciplinary research, and build the capacity of young scholars and institutions.
Dunding highlighted that the findings from these studies are expected to make substantial contributions to regional policy frameworks, including the Bangsamoro Youth Development Plan (BYDP) for 2025–2030. This initiative underscores the BYC's commitment to fostering a generation of informed leaders who can drive positive change through rigorous research and innovative solutions.
