SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

True to its commitment to nurture a sustainable peace, the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) strides forward on its collaborative efforts with various stakeholders for a unified approach to peace and development. In 2023, IPDM was able to forge partnerships with universities and gain international support from GIZ SAUP, Centro Nacional Chega, Universidade da Paz (Timor Leste), National University of Battambang (Cambodia), and Marburg University (Germany). Activities this year included mentoring sessions for the establishment of a Research Center at NEMSU and seminars aimed at enhancing young researchers' capabilities to produce publication-worthy scientific papers.

The Institute was also able to implement the “Environmental Peacebuilding Community of Practice Program” which focused on the implications of climate change for peacebuilding. The forum on "Climate Change and Displacement in Asia" for instance, highlighted the need for resilient strategies to address the intersection of environmental issues with peace and conflict. IPDM was able to incorporate key concepts such as “Transitional Justice” and “Healing and Reconciliation” into academic syllabi, preparing students to contribute meaningfully to peacebuilding efforts. Concomitantly, through its youth partner, MYCOP, various capacity-building initiatives such as intergeneration dialogues were conducted, which nurtured young leaders on the complex peacebuilding concepts. 

With the significance of weaving gender perspectives into peacebuilding narratives, IPDM likewise conducted Gender Sensitivity Training sessions in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education Region X and the Philippine Army. These trainings are vital in promoting inclusivity and understanding the role of gender in fostering peace. Notably, in response to the proliferation of small arms and the threat of violent extremism, IPDM has partnered with the Non-Violent Peace force and BARMM's government ministries to establish gun-free zones and community-based policing strategies. The program has rolled out a series of workshops focused on preventing and countering violent extremism, reflecting MSU-IIT’s proactive stance on security and community safety.

All of these initiatives, spanning a broad spectrum from gender sensitivity to environmental peacebuilding and from countering violent extremism to fostering academic collaborations, indubitably reflect IPDM’s dedication to community development and conflict resolution. Notably, in response to the proliferation of small arms and the threat of violent extremism, IPDM has partnered with the Non-Violent Peace force and BARMM's government ministries to establish gun-free zones and community-based policing strategies. The program has rolled out a series of workshops focused on preventing and countering violent extremism, reflecting MSU-IIT’s proactive stance on security and community safety.

All of these initiatives, spanning a broad spectrum from gender sensitivity to environmental peacebuilding and from countering violent extremism to fostering academic collaborations, indubitably reflect IPDM’s dedication to community development and conflict resolution.