Contact Information
- Where – Nepal (Asia)
- Website – www.ffp.org.np
- Contact Person – Padma Prasad Khatiwada
- Email – padmapd70@gmail.com
- Address – Ravi Bhawan, Kathmandu
Areas of Expertise
Friends for Peace has expertise in a range of areas, including:
Main Aims and Objectives
Friends for Peace (FFP) is a membership-based non-profit organisation composed of a team of professionals committed to the study and practice of conflict transformation and sustainable peacebuilding in Nepal.
One of FFP’s main objectives is to establish a credible knowledge base that provides technical expertise on issues of concern to the peace process, whilst facilitating greater participation from civil society to bring about a peaceful transformation of conflict. FFP also aims to enhance the capacity of Nepalese researchers in undertaking research on various dimensions of conflict transformation and peacebuilding.
FFP’s work aims to:
- Organise interactions among civil society leaders, politicians, media personnel and other individuals in order to better understand and address conflict-related issues
- Expand and update the research centre with relevant books, periodicals, magazines, journals and newspapers that will help with the development of knowledge on peace processes
- Facilitate a greater exchange of ideas through seminars, conferences, public forums, informal discussion, and international exchanges
- Synthesise regional, national and international experiences, knowledge and expertise on conflict transformation and peacebuilding
- Establish links with the a range of national and international organisations in order to facilitate the development of relevant research.
Upholding the Principles of Conflict Transformation
FFP was established in May 2004 following an initiative in 2003 at a time of intense armed conflict, when Professor Dr. Mathura Prasad Shrestha (now the Chairperson of FFP) led a ten-member team to Rolpa, the headquarters of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (Maoist), to save the people caught in the conflict. There, the team had a very successful dialogue with the CPN leaders for the peace process, as well as with the serving government and army generals in Kathmandu. Interactive programmes were organized with the people from different walks of societies in different district headquarters and city centres throughout Nepal.
Although the first peace dialogue between the rebels and the government failed, FFP continued in their efforts of advocacy and lobbying for the establishment of an inclusive and participatory democracy. Following the success of the 19-day People’s Movement in 2006, FFP members played crucial roles as observers in the historic peace treaty, the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA).
FFP is committed to ensuring that its activities reflect the genuine voices and concerns of people at the grassroots level, and facilitates greater participation of individuals and civil society organisations in bringing about a peaceful resolution of conflicts. FFP has conducted research at the district level to document peace initiatives in order to provide firsthand experience of conflict and people’s perceptions. It has also assessed the infrastructural damage and the effects of conflict in economic, cultural, educational and social terms. FFP has also researched the media’s role in conflict, and has developed a regular media monitoring system.
Where and with Whom?
FFP was established in 2004 with an objective of promoting peace throughout the country. Its Executive and Advisory Boards are constituted by prominent peace and human rights activists, who play an important role in bringing leaders to the negotiating table.
FFP works with local and international partners on specific issues of concern, convenes workshops for the sharing of experiences on peace processes from around the world, and acts as an institute for peace by providing critical information to a range of actors on conflict-related issues.
Main Activities in the Field of Conflict Transformation
Post Conflict Transformation (PCT)
FFP has identified PCT as one of the important areas of research. In order to expand understanding about specific requirements of post0conflict management, FFP is involved in the following main areas of interaction:
- 1) Arms management and integration of armies;
- 2) Rehabilitation and reconstruction;
- 3) Social justice and harmony;
- 4) Truth and reconciliation;
- 5) Humanitarian response.
Local Peace Initiatives
FFP has carried out many research studies which focus on the local districts by recording people’s first-hand experiences and perceptions of conflict, and the peace initiatives carried out at the local level.
Media Response to Conflict
FFP has carried out extensive research on the media’s role in conflict from which it has developed a regular monitoring system. It has kept newspaper clippings on political events and issues related to conflict transformation and peacebuilding.
Security Sector Reform (CSR)
FFP has launched advocacy programmes on ideological and structural reform, democratic control, security budgeting processes, the strengthening of civil society, the democratisation and capacity building of security institutions, the improvement of security sector and community relations, transparency and accountability, judicial-penal reform and strengthening of the rule of law, the management of small arms and explosive materials, regional security measures, demilitarisation and demobilisation, and the linking of security with sustainable development.
International Relations
FFP has conducted research on various themes in the context of current political crisis. Considering the historical relation of Nepal with India, the first series of research was devoted to the following four specific areas of Nepalese-Indian relations:
- 1) Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Nepal and its future challenges;
- 2) Nepal-India open-border and its implications for conflict in Nepal – including how it has benefited the Maoists as well as other armed actors in Nepal;
- 3) Nepal-India water resource projects and associated conflicts – a socio-political analysis of Nepal-India Relations in the context of Nepal’s political crisis;
- 4) India’s possible role in the future peace process in Nepal and an analysis on how India perceives the conflict situation in Nepal.
Future Plans
FFP’s future plans include:
- 1) Developing FFP as a National Peace Academy (NPA);
- 2) Monitoring the peace process in light of the situation of ex-combatants, plus negotiations on a new constitution and its implementation;
- 3) Strengthening the capacity of Local Peace Committees, particularly its women members;
- 4) Democratic dialogue;
- 5) Advocacy and lobbying for effective implementation of agreements, negotiations and consensus made among conflicting parties in the past, including the CPA;
- 6) Continuous dialogue on state restructuring in Nepal;
Recent Comments