Creating Space and Connecting People from Diverse Sectors to Build a Critical Mass of Peacebuilders to promote Justpeace through:
1. Promoting core values of the Conflict Transformation Framework
MPI, as it implements its programs, promotes its core values which include: nonviolence, multiculturalism, solidarity, transforming relationships, empowerment, culture of peace, and respect for human rights. These permeate the entire institution and its programs.
2. Building and strengthening networks among MPI participants and alumni
MPI develops mechanisms for the formation of vibrant and dynamic alumni networks in the region. Through MPI, relationships are strengthened and the web of connections is expanded to the networks of the alumni, creating a critical mass of inter-connected peacebuilders in the region.
3. Fostering south-to-south connections between peacebuilders and institutions
MPI builds relationships with peacebuilding institutes in Africa, Asia, Fiji and North America which includes sharing of human and material resources, exchanges, and other forms of collaboration.
Refining Learning, Enhancing Knowledge, and Sharing Materials related to Peacebuilding through:
1. Documentation and publication of applied best peacebuilding practices of MPI alumni
MPI will produce articles, stories, monographs and other publications that document the ways that the MPI alumni have applied what they learned in the field. MPI will record lessons learned and use these as a way to improve MPI’s training programs and to assist other emerging peace institutes through sharing.
2. Curricular development and production of training materials
MPI systematically prepares the content and process of the courses that are offered annually, and designs new courses and materials that respond to identified needs of MPI’s network.
3. Conflict trend analysis
MPI will conduct research on critical issues related to peace and conflict in the region, and use the findings to improve and develop its program activities, especially its curriculum and teaching materials.
Education, Training and Building Capacities of Individuals and their Institutions in the Field of Peacebuilding through:
1.Annual training course for Asian peacebuilders
MPI conducts a three-week training annually. The training consists of foundation and thematic classroom-based courses, and field-based courses where MPI participants interact with communities in Mindanao engaged in peacebuilding initiatives.
2. Resource-Based Conflict and Peacebuilding Training Program
MPI initiated the Resource-Based Conflict and Peacebuilding Training Program with a specific focus on indigenous people and the mining industry in Mindanao. Under the program, MPI is offered trainings to indigenous leaders from six ancestral domains in Northern and Western Mindanao related to mining, indigenous peoples’ rights, and peacebuilding as a way to enable them to make informed decisions about the development of their ancestral domains. MPI completed this program in 2017. Information is still available here for those who might be interested in how MPI conducted these trainings.
3. Accompaniment to alumni and their organizations
MPI will provide a mechanism for follow-up and accompaniment to alumni and emerging peace institutes in the region through additional training, technical support, re-entry planning, and lessons learned workshops. MPI will be a mentor to its constituency.
4. Training tailored to specific sectors and regional contexts
MPI will be pro-active by initiating special training courses for strategic actors such as the police, the military, local government officials, and educators in the Philippines and the region. This represents an expansion of its target beneficiaries which have been non-governmental organization (NGO) development workers, civil society members, faith-based organizations and individuals, and others.
5. Facilitator skill enhancement through training of trainers and internships
MPI will conduct training of trainers for experienced facilitators to enhance their skills and to update them about new and innovative techniques. MPI also will provide opportunities for facilitator-interns that will be paired with seasoned facilitators during the annual training and mentored by them. The facilitator-interns will share responsibility for facilitating the courses under the supervision of their experienced colleagues.
6. Secretariat and documenter internships
MPI provides internships to potential peacebuilders in the region during the annual training. The interns will be recruited as secretariat staff and members of the documentation teams. They will work under experienced MPI staff to learn how to run a training of this magnitude and the skills required to document the course offerings.