JOINT ASEAN-IPR & CMI NEWS UPDATE Second Iteration of the ASEAN-IPR and CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation Introductory Training on Conflict Analysis and Conflict Resolution
3-5 June 2026
Jakarta, Indonesia
“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to conflict, and effective conflict analysis is crucial to solving the problem halfway.” This statement was emphasised by Mr. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Executive Director (ED) of ASEAN Institute for Peace & Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR), during the opening of the ASEAN-IPR and CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation Introductory Training on Conflict Analysis and Conflict Resolution. The ED of ASEAN-IPR also underscored the importance of equipping officials from ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat, and various ASEAN bodies/centres/entities with the knowledge and skills to conduct in-depth analysis in response to emerging regional and global challenges.
This Training was a second iteration collaboration of the ASEAN-IPR with CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation following its first iteration at the ASEAN Secretariat/Headquarters, Jakarta, back in November 2025. This year’s training is also supported by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Norway-ASEAN Regional Integration Programme (NARIP).
The Training was preceded with an online Module Zero on 29 May 2026, which served as an introduction to the overall training programme and featured discussions on regional and global peace mechanisms. Key highlights of the online session included presentations and interactive discussions with Ms. Thao Thi Thanh Nguyen of the ASEAN Secretariat, Dr. Janne Taalas, CEO of CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, and H.E. Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, State Secretary of the Kingdom of Norway. In the following week, participants convened in Jakarta, Indonesia, to undergo the in-person training from 3-5 June 2026.
The three-day training programme aimed to combine theory-informed sessions with practical, experience-oriented approaches to conflict resolution and its application in the ASEAN context. Specifically, the Training has been designed to introduce the participants to conflict resolution policies and mechanisms, as well as to identify area of improvement and develop practical recommendations to strengthen peace and stability in the region.
In her opening remarks, H.E. Mariann Ruud Haagen, Ambassador of Norway to ASEAN, noted that the programme was taking place at a time of growing regional and global complexity, where conflicts are increasingly shaped by political, economic, environmental, and technological pressures. In this context, she highlighted the importance of strengthening practical capacities and tools for conflict analysis, prevention, and resolution. She also emphasised that Norway’s support for the Training reflects its long-standing commitment to peace and conflict resolution, as well as its partnership with ASEAN in promoting regional stability and peacebuilding.
Highlighting the growing significance of regional approaches to peacebuilding, Ms. Minna Kukkonen-Karlander, Senior Manager, Asia Team at CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, also acknowledged the increasingly important role of regional organisations in conflict resolution amid a shifting international landscape. She further underscored the value of partnerships and capacity-building initiatives, such as the Training, in strengthening regional capacities for dialogue, cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution.
The Training brought together twenty-eight (28) participants comprising of officials from ASEAN Member States, staff members of ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN bodies/centres/entities, as well as members of the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry (AWPR) and ASEAN-IPR Advisory Board (AB). Throughout the programme, participants engaged in structured sessions covering key aspects of conflict analysis, conflict resolution, mediation, and dialogue processes.
Sessions combined theoretical frameworks, practical exercises, and contextual discussions relevant to Southeast Asia. Topics included the regional and global peace and security landscape, key concepts and theoretical foundations of conflict resolution, conflict analysis and assessment methodologies, negotiation and mediation, dialogue processes, and the strengths and limitations of various peacebuilding approaches. The Training also incorporated gender-sensitive perspectives on conflict and peacebuilding, recognising the importance of inclusive approaches in conflict prevention and resolution.
Participants also took part in a scenario-based simulation and case study analysis tailored to the ASEAN context. The exercise focused on conflict prevention, conflict management, and conflict resolution, encouraging participants to formulate practical recommendations to address emerging challenges and conflicts in the region. Through collaborative discussions, participants proposed actionable recommendations and explored potential approaches that ASEAN and ASEAN Member States may consider in responding to such issues.
At the closing of the Training, and to mark the continued collaboration between the two institution, the training participants witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ASEAN-IPR and CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, reaffirming the two institutions’ shared commitment to promoting culture of peace and further strengthening their partnership. The MoU is expected to facilitate the implementation of future joint programmes/activities and pave the way for new collaborative initiatives in the areas of peacebuilding, conflict prevention and conflict resolution.
For more information about ASEAN-IPR and CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, please visit our respective websites (www.asean-aipr.org, www.cmi.fi) and follow us on social media platforms.
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