This study documents the state of human development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), explores factors leading to poor human development outcomes, and examines the extent to which public and private sector services have helped mitigate (or exacerbate) these outcomes. Extreme poverty, conflict, and historical disadvantage are the three major factors underpinning the substantial disparities in basic education and health indicators. To explore these factors, the education sector, the health system, and the social protection system are looked at in depth. The study examines why the human development outcomes are so poor compared to other regions in the Philippines and which factors can be changed given available resources, and the existing political and social conditions. It concludes with specific recommendations in the area of public expenditure levels, and strategic actions within each sector.
