Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies

What Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies does

The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) is a Cambodia-based non-profit peacebuilding organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Siem Reap. It serves Asian peace practitioners, scholars, security sector institutions, and armed movement actors through three integrated pillars: (1) the ACTS (Applied Conflict Transformation Studies) MA and PhD programmes, accredited in partnership with Paññāsāstra University and designed for practitioners to study while remaining in their work contexts; (2) a publications division spanning Listening, Learning, Research & Analysis, and Peace History categories, plus the proprietary Listening Methodology and the 2025 Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding Trainers Manual authored by Board Chair Soth Plai Ngarm; and (3) the annual Peace Practitioners' Research Conference (PPRC), running since 2012 and convening 60-plus participants from over 20 countries in Siem Reap.

The organization's core technology is qualitative rather than digital: the Listening Methodology is a structured approach to capturing community narratives in conflict zones, and the broader product suite is built on three decades of accumulated field experience. Recent strategic activity has expanded the organization into security sector governance, exemplified by the 2023-2024 MOWIP Barriers Assessment conducted with DCAF, UN Women, NPMEC, and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and into Oceania through the ACMC-funded 'Reimagining Security Sector Support' report.

Revenue is generated through a mix of restricted project grants from institutional donors (ACMC, DCAF, UN Women, Elsie Initiative Fund), ACTS tuition and programme fees, conference registration, and publication distribution. No pricing is publicly disclosed and financial figures are absent, consistent with a grant-funded NGO operating model. The organization employs 37 staff and is led by Director Emma Leslie and Board Chair Soth Plai Ngarm, the founding faculty of the ACTS programme.

Name

Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies

Legal name

Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies

Website

https://centrepeaceconflictstudies.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies is a Cambodia-based non-profit that delivers accredited MA and PhD programmes in conflict transformation, practitioner-focused publications, and the annual Peace Practitioners' Research Conference for peacebuilders, scholars, and security sector institutions across Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAEAK

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYTHAHAJAD

Education, Research & Academic Congresses

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Association, Government & Academic Congresses

SECONDARYEDADALAK

Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

Keywords

• Conflict transformation training
• Peacebuilding education
• Applied conflict studies
• Peace practitioner research
• Security sector governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Siem Reap

HQ country

Cambodia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Academic Programme Fees: The ACTS MA and PhD programmes generate revenue through tuition and programme fees for the practitioner-scholar educational offerings.
2. Publications: The organization produces practitioner-focused research and publications, making resources accessible for peace practitioners and scholars in the Asia region and beyond.
3. Conference Fees: Annual Peace Practitioners' Research Conferences serve as platforms for networking and learning, likely generating revenue through participant registration fees.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CPCS runs accredited MA and PhD programmes in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies (ACTS), produces practitioner-focused publications and research, hosts an annual regional Peace Practitioners' Research Conference, delivers conflict transformation training workshops to organizations, and develops methodologies such as the Listening Methodology to support peace processes across Asia.

Product overview

CPCS operates as a unified portfolio of interconnected peacebuilding products rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include the ACTS academic programme (MA and PhD degrees), a publications division covering Listening, Learning, Research & Analysis, and Peace History categories, the annual Peace Practitioners' Research Conference, the Myanmar: Portraits of Diversity film series, the Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding Trainers Manual, and the Listening Methodology research tool. These products are designed to work together: academic training feeds practitioners who produce publications and research, while conferences provide platforms for knowledge exchange. The organization also produces specific reports such as the MOWIP Cambodia Report and Reimagining Security Sector Support report.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACTS Master's Programme: Master's Programme in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies offered in partnership with Paññāsāstra University.
• ACTS PhD Programme
• Peace Practitioners' Research Conference (PPRC)

Products and services

• ACTS Programme (Applied Conflict Transformation Studies) Academic programme comprising MA and PhD degrees in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies, designed for Asian peace practitioners and accredited through Paññāsāstra University in Cambodia.
• CPCS Publications (Listening, Learning, Research & Analysis, Peace History)

Quantifiable outcome

• Cambodia ranked 17th worldwide and second in Asia for gender parity in peacekeeping contingents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Australian Civil-Military Centre (ACMC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Collaborated on the report 'Reimagining Security Sector Support in Crisis-Affected Contexts' exploring community safety, security, and policing in conflict-affected regions with case studies from Myanmar, Philippines, Nepal, and Vanuatu. The Australian Civil-Military Centre provided funding support for the research.
• Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to conduct the 'Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP)' Barriers Assessment in Cambodia 2023-2024. The MOWIP framework was developed by DCAF and Cornell University to assess barriers to women's participation in peacekeeping.
• UN Women CambodiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Royal Cambodian Armed Forces through NPMEC to conduct the MOWIP assessment, contributing to Cambodia's Women Peace and Security commitments and gender parity in peacekeeping missions.
• National Center for Peacekeeping Force, Mine and ERW Clearance (NPMEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnered with RCAF to conduct the MOWIP assessment, demonstrating Cambodia's commitment to strengthening the role of women in Peacekeeping missions.
• United States Institute for Peace (USIP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2015Hosted the film launch for Myanmar: Portraits of Diversity in Washington DC on April 9, 2015. The event included a Q&A with CPCS Director Emma Leslie and featured peace leader Venerable U Tayza Dipati.
• Rubin Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2015Hosted a public screening of Myanmar: Portraits of Diversity film series on April 15, 2015, followed by a discussion with Venerable Tayzar Dipati.
• Paññāsāstra UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic accreditation partner for the ACTS PhD Programme, providing rigorous academic framework while CPCS delivers practitioner-focused curriculum. Located in Cambodia, allowing students to learn from the country's transformation experience.
• All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided training in peacebuilding to ABSDF members as part of Myanmar peace process engagement. The Peace History project helped ABSDF members reflect on their journey from armed struggle to peace process participation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Search for Common Ground: Largest dedicated peacebuilding NGO operating across dozens of countries. Comparable to CPCS in conflict transformation methodology and practitioner training, but materially larger in scale, geographic reach, and donor base.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): U.S. federal institution producing research, training, and convening on conflict prevention. Comparable to CPCS in practitioner training, publications, and convening roles, with whom CPCS has partnered for film launch events.
• Pact: International development NGO with strong peacebuilding, governance, and capacity-building programs in Asia. Comparable to CPCS in practitioner training and organizational capacity-building for civil society and security actors.
• International Crisis Group: Global think-tank producing research and policy advice on conflict prevention. Comparable to CPCS in policy-relevant research output and practitioner-policy bridge, but with a global rather than Asia-specific remit.

Direct peers

• Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre): Mediation-focused organization engaging armed actors and governments in conflict resolution. Comparable to CPCS through direct engagement with armed movements (e.g., ABSDF) and mediation support in Asia and globally.
• Conciliation Resources: Peacebuilding NGO focused on conflict transformation, dialogue, and practitioner learning across divided societies. Comparable to CPCS through its practitioner-scholar approach, publications, and emphasis on locally driven peace processes.
• Berghof Foundation: Independent peacebuilding foundation specializing in conflict transformation research, training, and advisory services. Comparable to CPCS through its focus on applied conflict transformation and practitioner-academic exchange.
• Peace Direct: Organization that supports local peacebuilders and funds locally led peace initiatives. Comparable to CPCS in championing home-grown, practitioner-led approaches and amplifying voices sidelined in formal peace processes.
• Saferworld: International peacebuilding and security organization working on conflict prevention and peacebuilding practice. Comparable to CPCS in practitioner training, security sector engagement, and applied policy research.
• International Alert: International NGO working on peacebuilding and conflict transformation globally. Closely comparable to CPCS in mission, practitioner-focused training, policy advocacy, and multi-country program delivery, though with a much broader global footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cpcs_asia
• Facebookfacebook.com/centrepeaceconflictstudies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-peace-and-conflict-studies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies