This project aims to uncover indigenous peace practices in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands through collaborative and transdisciplinary research involving elders, practitioners, and peace histories. By focusing on community-oriented Melanesian cultures, the research will address the often overlooked group dynamics, masculinity norms, and cultural factors that drive conflict and violence. The findings will contribute to academic knowledge through published papers and inform the development of an undergraduate peacebuilding course, fostering a new generation of peacebuilders and enhancing violence prevention and peacebuilding efforts in the sub-region.

Aims
> Conduct a review of peacebuilding practices in Melanesia by 2025, detailing the actors, networks, practices, and tools utilized to prevent or reduce violence in post-conflict settings, with a particular focus on gender, masculinity and violence.
> Develop an outline for undergraduate teaching materials with indigenous scholars that can be taught at universities (Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands).

Scope
Research will span history, sociology, gender studies, peace and conflict studies, addressing gender and masculinities. Our research is co-designed with investigators with experience in peacebuilding across different contexts and guided by a council of elders, ensuring that the research interview guide and curriculum outline are deeply informed by indigenous knowledge and practitioner insights. Our knowledge will be developed through interviews and focus groups, using indigenous forums for discussion (tok stori) and collaboration across researchers and practitioners.

Outputs
Two journal articles on findings of the research, specifically on
a. Masculinity, gender and peace practices (Dr Mercy Masta lead)
b. Peace histories (Dr Anna Kwai lead)

A curriculum brief outlining proposed peace skills and community peace practices to form a framework for a Melanesian Peacebuilding Course for consideration by national universities (Dr Ride/Dr Miletic coordinators).

Indigenous peace internships and papers exploring local ways of peacebuilding through practitioner and student experiences and cross disciplinary research and dialogue.

Project Team

Mercy Masta - Anouk Ride - Anna Kwai - Tania Miletic

External Collaborators

• ANU Gender Institute 
• ANU Pacific Institute 
• Solomon Islands National University 
• Divine Word University (PNG)
• Initiative for Peacebuilding (University of Melbourne)