Our Programs
In close collaboration with local partners belonging to the network, Action Asia works predominantly in six conflict zones towards democracy and a stable peace. Accordingly, we are unable to make public all our work as this could possibly put those involved at risk. In all undertakings, Action Asia ensures that exchange of knowledge and experiences are shared among network members thereby providing cross country facilitation and as resource persons in trainings and consultancy work. The programs below represent some of the projects that we are currently engaged in. For further information on any aspect of our work, please contact our office.
Country Initiatives
Action Asia only initiates country programs at the request of local groups or organizations in order to uphold and enhance local perspectives, approaches, and strategically effective solutions to conflicts. Action Asia's conflict intervention ethos is to journey with local partners while strengthening their capacity to initiate social transformation towards a democratic and peaceful society.
Myanmar
The Myanmar Initiative is the first project undertaken by Action Asia. It started in 2000 by conducting a needs assessment in order to find out insiders' perspectives on the state of peacebuilding and conflict transformation work in the country. Action Asia then analyzed the research and in consultation with partner organizations, identified necessary and appropriate programs and projects towards the path of a culture of peace.
The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies recently launched a book entitled Listening to Voices from Inside: Myanmar Civil Society's Response to Cyclone Nargis (CPCS, 2009); for more information regarding this publication, click here.
Nepal
- Module 2 training in Nepal
In June 2005 Action Asia and some members from Myanmar made a Solidarity Visit to Nepal, and at the same time conducted a needs assessment on how the network can collaborate with local groups in doing peace initiatives. After the turbulent and chaotic events in 2007, Action Asia sent a delegation to visit active peacebuilders in Nepal to listen to people's expectations and their own analysis of the situation to look at possible scenarios for the future, and to identify strategic goals and interventions that can be realistically achieved.
After the visit, the Nepal program was subsequently developed in late-2007 which was called "Building Peace and Trust in Nepal." It was a modular course over a year period consisting of four modules that include: Understanding Conflict, Practical Approaches to Peacebuilding, Working in a Post-Conflict Situation, and Strategic Peacebuilding. Equally important on this process was the building of trust amongst various individuals who come from different organizations and institutions in Nepal, such as civil society representatives, trade unions, police, military, and government ministry representatives. After the course, the participants formed their own network called Center for Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Promotion (CPRP).
From 2006 to February 2009, Tulasi Ram Nepal served as Action Asia's Program Manager based in Kathmandu.
Timor-Leste
- Martial and ritual arts leaders during a dialogue-visit at a military camp in Mindanao, Philippines
Action Asia, in conjunction with local partners HAK Assocation (Hukum - Law, Hak Asasi - Basic Rights, and Keadilan - Justice) and NGO Forum (FONGTIL) have developed a program which has a number of complimentary components, and is based on the analysis, sharing, and learning drawn from the participants in Timore-Leste during initial consultations in November 2006 and February 2007 (including leaders of martial and ritual arts groups, gangs, NGOs, youth, the Church, and others).
Action Asia's Timor-Leste program components are specifically designed to respond to the key conflicts identified through ongoing analysis with local partners, and to reach out horizontally as well as linking the different levels from the community to the top level. The program focuses on trust and capacity building for key change agents for peace (such as top- and mid-level actors), peacebuilding training for martial and ritual arts groups, and hopefully soon with the security forces.
From September 2007 to July 2008 a process-training on conflict transformation and peacebuilding - consisting of four modules - was completed among martial and ritual arts men leaders. Subsequently, the women leader counterpart took the same process and culminated their training in April 2009.
Through various programs, Action Asia with its partner aims to make the difference in developing and empowering a proactive movement of people towards building peace and strengthened democracy in Timor-Leste.
Orissa, India
- One group doing conflict analysis during the first modular training
Through the invitation of, and in partnership with, Solidarity for Developing Communities (SFDC) and the the Network of Civil Society for Justice, Peace and Development (NCS-JPD), Action Asia ventures into a multi-faceted peace initiative in Orissa, India with particular emphasis on Hindu-Christian relationships.
The modular course on Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding participants are senior-level staff from partner-organizations who are directly involved peace and conflict issues. The course aims to equip them with skills and knowledge on the subject, and will provide a safe space for them to begin dialoguing with each other about the challenges their respective communities face, both at the intra- and inter-communal levels. As a follow-up, a training of peace trainers will also be offered to those who will go on to train others, or serve as facilitators and mediators of peace processes. It will include some training methodology, but particularly focused on peace processes.
A workshop on Reflecting on Peace Practice (RPP) will be conducted for heads of participating organizations and change agents in Orissa
The Peace Research Methodology Course targets individuals without formal training in academic research in order to provide basic understanding of the theoretical, conceptual, and empirical foundations for research in the social sciences, and of foundational concepts and theories in peace studies and peace research.
Manipur, India
In February 2010 Action Asia will conduct a conflict and context analysis in Manipur, India to determine potential future peace programs in the area.
Sri Lanka
Action Asia has longstanding relationships with local network partners working on peace in Sri Lanka. And having supported various initiatives in the past, Action Asia is currently in the process of designing strategic programs for Sri Lanka. In December 2008, Action Asia brought together Sri Lankan peace practitioners who are working directly on the conflict to analyze the current situation and discuss potential strategies for intervention.
Peacebuilders' Forum
Every two years Action Asia organizes a conference for peacebuilders around the continent to share experiences and learning, as well as revitalize one another to sustain their commitment to building peace in their respective areas of responsibility, in the region, and in the world. Action Asia has held two forums, one in Mindanao, Philippines in 2006; the second in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2008; the 2010 forum will be held in Cambodia.
Much of the training and materials relating to conflict transformation and peacebuilding has been generated and provided in Western countries. Organizations such as Responding to Conflict in the UK, and Eastern Mennonite University in the United States, have led the field in equipping peace practitioners to do their work. Action Asia's Peacebuilders' Forum therefore seeks to identify and promote uniquely Asian models, interpretations, approaches, and processes in the fields of conflict transformation and peacebuilding.
Specifically, the Forum aims at:
- Updating the shared regional analysis of the conflicts and cycles of violence evident throughout the region;
- Celebrating the vibrancy of the Asian peace movement, and highlighting the success of various interventions;
- Documenting and publishing lessons learned from both successes and failures in peacebuilding and conflict transformation by practitioners at both community and national levels;
- Deepening relationships between Asian peace practitioners for further exchange, collaboration, and exposure;
- Profiling the situations of Myanmar, East Timor, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal for the purpose of regional solidarity and influencing work; and,
- Connecting specific types of work (such as mediation, reconciliation, elections and violence, etc) for future exchange and learning.
Peacebuilders' Forum 2008
The Second Action Asia Peacebuilders' Forum took place in Kathmandu, Nepal n October 19-22, 2008. Building on the success of the first Forum, the 2008 Peacebuilders' Forum sought to further identify uniquely Asian approaches to conflict transformation and peacebuilding, as well as to actively support peace practitioners working in the field. Around 120 Action Asia members attended the conference.
The 2008 Forum focused on community building amongst peacebuilders through the sharing of work experiences and learning, creative workshops, and five exposure site visits. The keynote address was given by Simon Fisher, founder of Responding to Conflict, and the Director until 2005.
Themes covered in the 2008 Forum include:
- Effective interventions into complex conflicts;
- Transforming military doctrine and security forces;
- Post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation, demilitarization and demobilization;
- Steps towards Asian democracies;
- Contradictory forces - reconciliation and justice;
- Ethnic identity and nationalism; and,
- Building peace across religious divides despite the War on Terror.
For more information on the 2008 Peacebuilders' Forum in Kathmandu, please click here. For a short reflection on the Forum, written by Action Asia member Carl Siebing, click here.
Peacebuilders' Forum 2006
The Peacebuilders' Forum began as a response to the lack of opportunity for peace practitioners to share their own thoughts, reflections, and theories about approaches to peacebuilding that are effective in the Asian context. The Forum, therefore, seeks to identify and promote Asian models, interpretations, approaches, and processes in the fields of peacebuilding and conflict transformation, and to actively support peace practitioners working in situations of violent conflict in Asia.
The First Peacebuilders' Forum took place from October 26-30, 2006 in Mindanao, Philippines. The keynote address was given by renowned mediator and researcher Dr. Johan Galtung.
Themes covered in the 2006 Forum include:
- Building peace at the community level;
- Reconciliation and restorative justice;
- Peace education; and,
- Working with sectoral issues.
For more information on the 2006 Peacebuilders' Forum in Mindanao, please click here.
Leadership Forum
The Action Asia Leadership Forum is the directional and decision making body of the network. It consists of active members who have attended at least one Peacebuilders' Forum, have done work with Action Asia either as a consultant or trainer, or who have demonstrated a commitment to strengthening relationships and ties within the network and the peacebuilding community writ large. The Leadership Forum is an opportunity to reflect on the past--identifying lessons learned as well as the impact of, and gaps in, our work--while envisioning the future of the network. As such, the purpose of the Forum is to chart the direction of the network for the next two years by reflecting and building on past experiences. The Peacebuilders' Forum and Leadership Forum form a cycle, whereby each occurs every other year. The next Leadership Forum will take place in 2011.
Leadership Forum 2009
The first Action Asia Leadership Forum took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 29 September to 2 October, and was facilitated by Action Asia member Dekha Ibrahim Abdi of Kenya. In attendance were more than twenty members from nine countries who have been involved with the network for several years.
Apart from pursuing existing program activities in different conflict contexts, the group also mandated to initiate strategic programs on "Military for Peace" and "Peacebuilders in Government."
For a copy of Action Asia Secretariat Emma Leslie's opening address, please click here.
For a copy of the keynote address, given by Dr. Kamarulzaman Askandar, Coordinator of Research and Education for Peace, Universiti Sains Malaysia (REPUSM), and Regional Coordinator of Southeast Asian Conflict Studies Network (SEACSN), please click here.
