The Peacebuilding and Development Institute in Sri Lanka (PDI-SL) opened in 2007 as the first regional institute that provides training and learning opportunities on issues related to conflict, peacebuilding and development in South Asia. The Institute is currently in its first phase of development. Over the next two years it aims to grow into the centre in South Asia to which organisations, institutes, practitioners and academics turn to for high quality and regionally specific training, support and research.

Since 2007 we have held an annual professional training programme in Sri Lanka which brings together practitioners and policy makers from across South Asia to share experiences, reflect on their practice and develop new approaches for working in and on conflict in their country. An integrated field work component in each specialised course enables participants to put their learning into practice straight away.

From mid-2009 we will provide professional expertise and technical support to institutions and organisations. We will constructively analyse current practice and offer bespoke learning and training opportunities to increase the effectiveness of their work.

From 2010 our training and capacity building will be supported by a South Asia specific research programme. The research programme will bring together practitioners and academics from South Asia to innovate and share their work on approaches to peacebuilding and development in South Asia.