A Partnership for Peace and the Planet: Kennemer Group and OPAPRU Join Forces for Sustainable Futures
In a significant step towards peace-building and environmental resilience in the Philippines, the Kennemer Group and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) have formalized a partnership through a newly signed** Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)** that brings together the power of inclusive business and public service to transform lives and landscapes in Mindanao.
This partnership aligns with OPAPRU’s 5-Point Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Agenda, particularly its mission to build resilience in vulnerable communities and address root causes of conflict. With OPAPRU’s peace-building mandate and Kennemer’s expertise in sustainable agriculture and climate solutions, this collaboration offers a compelling model for convergence in peace and development work.
What This Partnership Means
At its core, this partnership is about empowering communities, particularly indigenous peoples and smallholder farmers, while also restoring peace and unity in the communities and protecting and conserving the natural environment. Through joint efforts, the parties will promote:
Sustainable agroforestry livelihoods in high-value crops like cacao, abaca, coffee, banana, and more—providing not just technical and financing support, but also market access.
Forest protection and biodiversity conservation, leveraging nature-based solutions, generating shared benefits for partner communities.
Strategic public-private-people partnerships that integrate critical government services with private investment, civil society expertise, and local knowledge.
A Landscape Approach to Peace and Prosperity
Both OPAPRU and Kennemer will adopt a landscape approach—a holistic method that looks beyond individual projects and seeks to optimize economic, social, and environmental outcomes across entire ecosystems. This means aligning forest restoration, agricultural development, cultural heritage preservation, and social cohesion in a way that’s mutually reinforcing.
Pilot initiatives will be launched in selected provinces in Mindanao including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Why This Matters
In a time of escalating climate risks and persistent inequalities, this partnership shows what is possible when peace-building is not only about political agreements, but more about livelihoods, land, and long-term environmental stewardship.
It also reflects the growing recognition that climate action and conflict prevention must go hand in hand—and that solutions must be locally led, nationally supported, and globally relevant.
Moving Forward Together
The partnership sets the foundation for a long-term collaboration. With shared responsibilities, knowledge exchange, and a commitment to continuous evaluation, OPAPRU and Kennemer aim to model how government and private sector partnerships can drive inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful development. This is more than a partnership. It’s a shared promise—to communities, to the environment, and to future generations.
✅ Interested in partnering or learning more? Let’s connect and explore how we can co-create solutions for people, peace, and the planet.
