EmPower: Women for Climate-Resilient Societies Programme (EmPower)

aXXelerate is working with Filipino indigenous communities in Agusan del Sur and Davao de Oro to strengthen climate resilience through women-led initiatives. 

In Loreto, we are partnering with IP-LORAMSECA (Indigenous People – Local Researchers of Agusan Marsh and Sectoral Association), an indigenous women's organization of Agusanon Manobo people processing endemic fruits from Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary into value-added products like jams, cookies, and vinegars. IP-LORAMSECA addresses environmental challenges from flooding and upstream mining impacts while centering indigenous women as key to preserving the Agusan Marsh ecosystem.

In New Bataan, we are engaging Mansaka-Mandaya communities, partnering with the Indigenous Peoples Women Association of New Bataan (IPWAN). IPWAN supports traditional embroidery enterprises in Barangay Andap and surrounding areas affected by historical conflict and ongoing mining concerns. The community operates within ancestral domains covered by Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) No. R11-NEW-0204-019.

The program combines participatory research with community-driven action across four phases from October 2025 through June 2026. This includes systematic policy analysis, key informant interviews with government officials and community leaders, household surveys with 40-50 families across both communities, and participatory workshops that provide mentoring support for women-led climate