The Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University (CPJ) organised a three-day long workshop from 10-13 March 2023 at BCDM Rejendrapur to develop a new three-year research agenda. The workshop was also an opportunity to onboard new team members, including CPJ’s Research Director, Dr M Sanjeeb Hossain.

The workshop was attended by CPJ’s leadership and its researchers from Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar. Also in attendance were Dr Faustina Pereira (CPJ’s Senior Fellow), Ms Rebecca Granato (Director of OSUN hubs for Connected Learning Initiative), and Dr Adam Burke (Director of the Conflict and Fragility Unit, The Asia Foundation).

Dr Hossain inaugurated the workshop and welcomed everyone on Friday over a late afternoon team adda. Dr Burke briefly presented findings from The Asia Foundation’s report “Identity tensions and domestic drivers of instability in South and Southeast Asia” before facilitating a group discussion on regional conflict and fragility trends and dynamics.

In the following two days, participants were engaged in discussions, reflections and writing sprints to develop content for CPJ’s three-year research agenda. Research themes and questions identified during the sessions will contribute directly to CPJ’s research priorities in the coming years. The workshop also led discussions on research ethics and guidelines, which will lend to CPJ’s upcoming Research Ethics Guidelines.

Discussions and outputs from the workshop will contribute to the finalisation of CPJ’s Research Agenda (2023-2026). A final version of the Research Agenda will be made available on CPJ’s website.