In 2000, World Vision in the Philippines started its Mindanao Peacebuilding programme, which in turn led to the creation of Mindanao interfaith dialogue. As part of this programme, a forum of faith leaders in Zamboanga City was established as a space for interfaith dialogue and collaboration. Zamboanga Amores Interfaith (Amores) was legally registered as a non-profit entity in 2011.

World Vision closed its development programmes in Zamboanga in 2012. Even after the closure of its programmes, World Vision maintained communication with Amores, and continued to encourage Christian-Muslim dialogue in the city. On 9 September 2013, crisis broke out in Zamboanga, resulting in the occupation and subsequent evacuation of several of the city’s neighbourhoods, with limited movement in and out of those neighbourhoods. The three weeks of violence that followed became known as the Zamboanga Siege.

World Vision mobilised to send emergency assistance to the city. Amores quickly mobilised as World Vision’s response partner and began sending World Vision regular updates about the situation. They helped to facilitate rapid distribution and coordination of assistance and liaised with local crisis management personnel. Amores also engaged in peacebuilding and reconciliation work by, for example, pleading with their neighbours and congregants not to join rebel groups and encouraged dialogue throughout the crisis.

This research sought to identify and analyse the role of Amores and of World Vision in the 2013 response and in subsequent social cohesion work.