Transforming Fragilities, Inc. conducted a two-day training orientation for its field teams on June 16–17, 2026, ensuring the highest standards of data quality, integrity, and precision. This technical preparation directly readied enumerators and supervisors for deployment under the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) 3rd Investment Cycle Baseline Study. The project is funded by GCERF to support initiatives focused on preventing and countering violent extremism across various local partners.
To ground the data collection in regional realities, the sessions explored the localized programming contexts and socioeconomic vulnerabilities surrounding the upcoming project initiatives led by IDEALS, Inc., Mahintana Foundation, Inc., and the Teach Peace Build Peace Movement (TPBPM).
Central to this orientation was intensive, face-to-face practice with digitized Kobo tools to guarantee that the field teams truly understand every parameter, question phrasing, and routing mechanism before entering the field. This hands-on, face-to-face practice built deep familiarity with the instruments, minimizing technical friction and ensuring that data will be captured accurately and consistently.
To preserve absolute accuracy, safety, and ethical integrity during the data gathering process, the training emphasized comprehensive sessions on Ethics in Research alongside strict adherence to the “Do No Harm” principle and quality assurance. Field teams practiced strict skip-logic controls to protect respondent comfort and trained on neutral administration techniques to eliminate social desirability bias, backed by an operational rule that restricts local program partners from being present during active interviews. Crucially, enumerators mastered immediate stop-and-referral protocols for sensitive modules, ensuring that any distress or self-harm indicators trigger immediate local support pathways.
The targeted locations covered by the project’s implementing partners span several provinces and distinct geographic corridors in Mindanao, including North Cotabato (specifically covering the Special Geographic Area or SGA), Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sulu, South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Lanao del Sur, as well as the key urban centers of Cotabato City and Marawi City.
Concluding the orientation, the field teams mapped out their strategic plans for deployment, aligning timelines, logistical coordination, and target areas to ensure a smooth, secure, and highly disciplined rollout in the field.
