Learnings and Reflections from MPI’s Research, Documentation, and Learning Team’s Trip to Indonesia

In June 2022, Anna Loren Gingco and Marlies Roth of MPI’s Research, Documentation, and Learning (RDL) team went to Indonesia to strengthen and broaden the MPI alumni network there. Two major events served this purpose: the LPI-MPI Joint Peacebuilding Training in Bali, Indonesia, and two MPI Indonesian Alumni Reunions.

Now available for pdf download (6.54 MB) , the Grassroots Peacebuilding Mentors Training Program Guidebook is a product of the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute’s (MPI) three-year experience and lessons learned implementing the Grassroots Peacebuilding Mentors Training Program. By documenting and collating key activities and processes from the mentoring program, MPI aims to contribute to addressing gaps in available resources on mentoring and peacebuilding.

MPI hopes that this Guidebook can support the capacity-building needs of organizations, particularly peacebuilding and developmental organizations, to develop mentors within their institutions who can nurture the skills and capacities of other peacebuilders. Mentorship is an effective way of developing people into leaders and champions that can advocate and initiate transformative change. At MPI, we believe that this approach answers John Paul Lederach’s call to nurturing a “critical mass” of peacebuilders that are taking small, consistent steps to build and sustain justpeace.

  pdf Download the ebook here (6.54 MB) .

Watch a video of the book launching:

The following article was first published in the Winter 2022 issue of Mennonite Central Committee’s publication, Intersections.

Since its inception, the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI) in the Philippines has served as a resource for peacebuilders. Through its education and training programs, MPI offers courses that are relevant and applicable to grassroots peacebuilders’ current contexts as well as reflective of ongoing development in the field of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. To date, MPI has trained over 2,300 peace activists from more than 60 countries through its in-person Annual Peacebuilding Training Program and, most recently, through its Virtual Peacebuilding Training Program. MPI hopes that the knowledge and skills gained from these courses can contribute to building and sustaining peace writ large in Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Since 2014, MPI has included courses and modules on conflict sensitivity and the Do No Harm approach. How has MPI integrated and practiced these concepts in its programming? In this article, I offer my reflections and insights into this question based on conversations I have had with my colleagues and my experience working with MPI.

We are pleased to share that the Winter 2022 edition of Intersections, a publication of the Mennonite Central Committee, was compiled by MPI Board Member Grace Hercyk and includes an article by MPI's Peacebuilding Programs Coordinator, Rhea Silvosa. The theme of this issue is Do No Harm, conflict sensitivity and living into peace. Rhea's article is titled Conflict sensitivity, capacity building and peacebuilding education.