Project Description

The ASEAN Institute for Peace & Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) is mandated to be an ASEAN institution for research activities on peace, conflict management and conflict management. Pursuant to such mandate, the Institute functions – among others – to undertake capacity building activities, namely knowledge building among relevant government officials, scholars or think tanks on peace processes.

Under the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action (POA) 2016-2020, one of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) endeavours was to enhance cooperation in support of ASEAN’s efforts in peace and reconciliation in the region through relevant ASEAN mechanisms, including through the ASEAN-IPR.

This “ASEAN-IPR Training & Capacity Building Programme” wishes to address peace through a more comprehensive approach of peace-building. The Programme would develop training materials for ASEAN, which would be utilised at the Seminar and Training Sessions. The Programme is divided into three main activities – of which each shall develop its own modules and training:

1. Mainstreaming Peace & Reconciliation in Southeast Asia Training Programme – Leg 2: “Ceasefire and Peace Dividends for Local Communities in Conflict Zones”, which shall be organised in Myanmar in the First Quarter of 2021;
2. Mainstreaming Peace & Reconciliation in Southeast Asia Training Programme – Leg 3: “Post-Conflict and Reintegration Experience in Southeast Asia: Focus on Reconciliation Models”, which shall be organised in Lao PDR, tentatively in the Third Quarter of 2021;
3. Youth-Tech: Utilising Technology as an Instrument of Peace”, which shall be organised in Indonesia, tentatively in the September 2021 (end of Third Quarter of 2021).

This Programme aims to provide a venue where lessons and experiences on peace processes can be discussed, evaluated and form – which lessons may be gained. Furthermore, this Programme aims to enhance understanding and build the capacity of participants on various aspects of peace-making, peace-building and conflict resolution, with a view to better deal with the attendant challenges.

Introduction of Proponents/Implementing Agencies

Lead Proponent: ASEAN-IPR Secretariat

The ASEAN-IPR Secretariat started operations in October 2017, with the appointment of the first Executive Director (ED) of the ASEAN-IPR. The ED heads the ASEAN-IPR Secretariat. In accordance with the Institute’s Terms of Reference (TOR), the ED and the Secretariat represent the Institute in all administrative and operational matters, manage activities of the Institute and perform other functions which may be assigned by the Institute’s Governing Council.

Currently, the ASEAN-IPR Secretariat operates with one ED, three (3) Officers, and one (1) General Staff. The ASEAN-IPR’s annual operational budget (AOB) mostly covers the ASEAN-IPR Secretariat’s daily operations. The ASEAN-IPR’s AOB for 2021 amounts to USD 272,580.00.

Since the ASEAN-IPR Secretariat manages the Institute’s operations and activities, its priorities are reflected in the Institute’s functions, namely: (i) research; (ii) capacity building; (iii) pool of expertise in support of ASEAN bodies; (iv) networking; and, (v) dissemination of information. Moreover, the ASEAN-IPR Secretariat’s priorities are also governed by the Institute’s Three-Year Work Plan 2021-2023.

Website: http://asean-aipr.org

Co-Proponent 1: Myanmar Institute for Strategic and International Studies (MISIS)

MISIS was established in 1991 by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) of Myanmar with the Minister for Foreign Affairs as its Chairman. It is a research and policy analysis institute working on international relations and foreign policy. MISIS is the Myanmar chapter of the ASEAN Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS), an entity associated with ASEAN under the category of Think Tanks/Academic Institutions (similar to the ASEAN-IPR).

MISIS’ current structure has 15 members, including a Chairman, and two Joint-Secretaries (Joint Secretary 1 & Joint Secretary 2).

MISIS’ work/priorities include: (i) carrying out quality research on international issues relevant for Myanmar; (ii) communicate policy-relevant content to decision-makers; (iii) raising awareness of MISIS’ activities in Myanmar and abroad; (iv) cultivate a new generation of international affairs experts in Myanmar; and, (v) actively maintain contact with other Myanmar governmental institutions, and inform their policies.

Website: http://myanmarisis.org

Co-Proponent 2: ASEAN-IPR Lao PDR/ASEAN Department, MFA Lao PDR

The ASEAN-IPR Lao PDR, one of the main functions and mandates of the Permanent Mission of the Lao PDR to ASEAN in Jakarta, performs its work with the guidance and supervision of the ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Lao PDR. The ASEAN-IPR Lao PDR/ASEAN Department is Co-Proponent 2 for the Mainstreaming Peace & Reconciliation in Southeast Asia Training Programme – Leg 3: “Post-Conflict and Reintegration Experience in Southeast Asia: Focus on Reconciliation Models”, which will be organised in the Lao PDR, tentatively in the Third Quarter of 2021.

The ASEAN Department were established on 2 March 1996 by the Decree of Prime Minister of the Lao PDR on the Establishment of the ASEAN Department. The Department consists of 5 Divisions namely: ASEAN Political-Security Community Division, ASEAN Economic Community Division, ASEAN Socio-culture Community Division, External Partners Division and General Affairs Division.

ASEAN Department’s current structure has 30 members, including a Director-General, 3 Deputy Directors-General, Division Directors and Deputy Directors and Technical Officers.

The ASEAN Department serves as the ASEAN National Secretariat of the Lao PDR as well as facilitates the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sectoral Bodies and Macro-management of activities within the ASEAN framework of the Lao PDR, aiming at implementing the work efficiently and effectively. The Department also has mandates, inter alia,  to research policies within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its Dialogue Partners and external partners covering all three ASEAN pillars; promote and enhance cooperation with Dialogue Partners and external partners; research, evaluate, implement and disseminate ASEAN activities/works nationwide in collaboration with all Sectoral Bodies; coordinate and provide guidance to Lao diplomatic Missions abroad on ASEAN matters, including the Permanent Mission of the Lao PDR to ASEAN in Jakarta, especially the work/activities under the ASEAN-IPR framework etc.

Website: http://mofa.gov.la

Implementing Agency for “Youth-Tech”: ASEAN-IPR Indonesia

ASEAN-IPR Indonesia is part of the Directorate of ASEAN Political-Security Cooperation,      Directorate General of ASEAN Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

ASEAN-IPR Indonesia consists of the Indonesian Representative to the Governing Council of ASEAN-IPR, Representative to the Advisory Board of the ASEAN-IPR, and is supported by staffs from the Directorate of ASEAN Political-Security Cooperation. It also closely coordinates with counterparts and stakeholders related with ASEAN-IPR.

The ASEAN-IPR Indonesia has organised and/or led many activities of the ASEAN-IPR since 2014. Amongst recent activities organised and/or led by ASEAN-IPR Indonesia include: (i) Research Project on Lessons Learned from a Process of Conflict Resolution between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as Mediated by Indonesia (1993-1996); (ii) ASEAN-IPR Regional Youth Conference on Peace and Tolerance (2018), which was convened with the support of the MOFA of ROK; and, (iii) ASEAN Women Interfaith Dialogue (2019).

Website: http://kemlu.go.id