The Contested Corners of Asia: Subnational Conflict and International Development Assistance

The conflict in Mindanao is complex, multilayered and defies simple explanation. The region includes at least six major non-state armed groups, with dozens of militia units. The protracted nature of conflict and instability has led to the emergence of other types of conflict, particularly between local elites competing for power. This report draws on new primary field research on sensitive issues from areas and sources that are often inaccessible to researchers and aid practitioners. The research included extensive efforts to understand the ground-level realities of people living in protracted conflict areas through a household perceptions survey, in-depth case studies at the municipal level, and extensive key informant interviews. The report also utilizes official statistics, violence data, and recent studies of aid and conflict in Mindanao. The research team focused on specific communities rather than specific aid projects, allowing the researchers to look at the experiences, perceptions and behavior of Executive Summary The Case of Mindanao, Philippines individual communities in the conflict area, and gain people’s perspectives on a range of aid projects.