Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University

What Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University does

Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) is a multi-disciplinary, non-profit academic institute operating within BRAC University in Bangladesh. Formally established in March 2017 after an inception phase from 2014, CPJ organises its work under three thematic pillars — Peace and Fragility, Social Justice, and Open Society — and pursues cross-cutting issues including refugee rights, statelessness, gender inequality, social cohesion, faith, and youth empowerment. Its core offerings span four interlocking service lines: research (producing reports, policy briefs, and longitudinal studies such as the Cox's Bazar Peace Index), education (short courses, certificate programs, and a Visiting Scholar Programme priced at BDT 25,000/month), capacity building (training of trainers, paralegal training, leadership colloquiums for humanitarian workers), and advocacy (international consultations and policy engagement on justice and accountability mechanisms, including ICC-related work).

CPJ's delivery architecture combines Dhaka-based institutional operations with a satellite field office — the Refugee Studies Unit (RSU) established in 2020 in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar — that provides direct access to 17 learning centres across 14 Rohingya camps. Through RSU, CPJ runs two flagship refugee education pathways: the LIT (Language, Images and Analytical Thinking) programme (871+ graduates, 1,400+ currently enrolled) and the Refugee Higher Education Access Programme (RhEAP) with 185 learners enrolled. CPJ also operates the Peace Café civic engagement network across five Bangladeshi universities (BRUR, JKKNIU, University of Dhaka, BRAC University, AUW), where 1,067 students have been trained and 18 student-led initiatives launched.

The institute is funded primarily through institutional grants from a concentrated set of bilateral and multilateral donors — including Open Society Foundations, UNHCR, UNDP, UN Women, IDRC, FCDO, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the EU — alongside modest fee revenue from its education programmes. Strategic delivery is conducted through partnerships with UN agencies (UNHCR, UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF, UNOPS, WFP), academic institutions (Bard College via the OSUN Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives), and rights organisations (Amnesty International, Asia Justice Coalition, International Criminal Court). Under the leadership of Executive Director Shahariar Sadat, CPJ has approximately 45 employees and continues to expand its certificate course catalogue and transnational justice work via initiatives such as WIJA Bangladesh.

Name

Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University

Legal name

Centre for Peace and Justice

Website

https://cpj.bracu.ac.bd

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) is a non-profit academic institute within BRAC University in Bangladesh that promotes peace and social justice through research, education, capacity building, and advocacy, serving Rohingya refugees, Bangladeshi students, and humanitarian organisations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research and Policy Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM) (BPADAHAC), Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG)

Keywords

• Peace and justice research
• Refugee education programs
• Capacity building training
• Humanitarian policy advocacy
• Academic institute

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka, Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Short Courses and Certificate Programs: CPJ offers short courses on Social Justice, Refugee Studies, SDG 16, Community-based Participatory Research Methods, and Statelessness. The Visiting Scholar Programme charges BDT 25,000 per month. These educational programs provide revenue through course fees.
2. Research and Training Services: CPJ generates revenue through commissioned research, capacity building training programs, and technical assistance for organizations. Training reports and modules are produced for various stakeholders including humanitarian organizations and civil society.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CPJ is a multidisciplinary academic institute that delivers peace and justice research, education, training, and advocacy under three thematic pillars: Peace and Fragility, Social Justice, and Open Society. Its sellable offerings include commissioned research, short courses and certificate programs, capacity-building and Training of Trainers, refugee education pathways (LIT and RhEAP) delivered via the Refugee Studies Unit in Cox's Bazar, the Peace Café civic engagement program, and the Visiting Scholar Programme.

Product overview

Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) is a multidisciplinary academic institute at BRAC University offering an integrated portfolio of research, education, capacity building, and advocacy services. The core offerings include multi-disciplinary research clustered under three thematic pillars (Peace and Fragility, Social Justice, Open Society), short courses on peace and justice topics, the Refugee Studies Unit (RSU) providing education pathways for refugees, and the Peace Café initiative for student civic engagement. Supporting services include publications, a podcast series, newsletter, visiting scholar programme, and various humanitarian projects. All offerings are coordinated through the Executive Director's Office and align with CPJ's mission to promote global peace and social justice through quality education, research, training, and advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Director's Office Leadership and management division overseeing all CPJ operations, strategic direction, and organizational governance; the central hub through which all programmes are coordinated.
• Research Services Multi-disciplinary research clustered under three thematic areas—Peace and Fragility, Social Justice, and Open Society—delivered to humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, and government stakeholders; produces research reports, longitudinal studies, and policy briefs on refugees, gender inequality, social cohesion, faith, youth, and COVID-19.
• Capacity Building Training programs including Regional Training of Trainers (TOTs), Paralegal Training, Leadership Colloquiums, and workshops on peace, social cohesion, and leadership for humanitarian workers, civil society, and community members.
• Advocacy Advocacy initiatives including international consultations, conferences, and policy engagement on justice and accountability for Rohingya and Myanmar regional solutions, including ICC-related work and the WIJA Bangladesh initiative.
• Short Courses Educational short courses on Social Justice in Action (humanitarian response), Refugee Studies, and SDG 16 for university students and practitioners seeking applied peace and justice training.
• Certificate Courses Certificate-level courses on Statelessness and Refugeehood (focused on the Rohingya people in Bangladesh) and Community-based Participatory Research Methods, delivered to practitioners and graduate-level learners.
• Refugee Studies Unit (RSU) Flagship satellite unit in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar delivering refugee education pathways (LIT and RhEAP programs), research, capacity building, and advocacy for Rohingya refugees and host communities through 17 learning centers across 14 camps.
• Peace Café Student-led civic engagement hubs established at five Bangladeshi universities (Begum Rokeya University, JKKNIU, University of Dhaka, BRAC University, AUW) promoting peace, social cohesion, gender equality, and youth leadership; CPJ provides technical assistance and secretarial support.
• Publications Library Research reports, policy briefs, training modules, practitioners' notes, journal articles, photo books, and annual reports documenting CPJ's findings on peace, justice, refugees, and social cohesion (2017-2024).
• Visiting Scholar Programme Programme for doctoral students, post-doctoral researchers, and academics to conduct research on refugee lives in Bangladesh, providing workspace, internet access, and office library facilities at CPJ's RSU in Ukhiya at BDT 25,000 per month.
• CPJ Podcast | Doorbeen Podcast series featuring conversations on CPJ's journey, research talks, faith and development, and capacity building topics with various guests.

Quantifiable outcome

• 871 graduates and 1400+ learners currently enrolled in LIT program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• The Asia Coalition (AJC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2024Joint initiative 'WIJA Bangladesh' (Women Leaders in International Justice & Accountability) to increase avenues to international justice through women-centred legal interventions. Conducted systems mapping exercises and project development workshops.
• UNITARminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023MOU signed for cooperation on training and capacity building initiatives.
• United States Forest Service International Program - CompassminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2023Partnership agreement signed for collaborative work on environmental and related peacebuilding initiatives.
• UNHCRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPJ collaborates with UNHCR on education pathways and refugee research initiatives. UNHCR is a key partner in the OSUN Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives, with RSU joining forces with UNHCR and Bard College for education access programs in Cox's Bazar.
• Bard College New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBard College co-leads the OSUN Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives with CPJ, delivering education pathways in Kenya, Jordan and Bangladesh. Provides academic framework for refugee higher education access programs.
• Open Society University Network (OSUN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPJ co-leads the hubs for connected learning initiatives which delivers education pathways across multiple countries. OSUN provides network support and resources for the education access programs.
• UN WomenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Women, Peace and Security agenda including Peace Café collaborations, International Day of Peace events, and gender-based violence advocacy initiatives.
• UNDPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on social cohesion research and projects in Cox's Bazar, including the Social Cohesion and Resilience project addressing Rohingya refugee and host community relations.
• ActionAid BangladeshmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-applicant on SUSHIL project 'Supporting the Unity and Sustainability of Civil Society Organisations' funded by European Union, focusing on human rights, national integrity and rule of law in Bangladesh.
• International Criminal CourtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPJ conducts workshops and research on international justice mechanisms including ICC jurisdiction, accountability for Myanmar atrocities, and Rohingya victim participation in international justice processes.
• BRACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization and core institutional partner. CPJ is an institute of BRAC University, which is part of the larger BRAC organization known for humanitarian and development work.
• Amnesty InternationalminorOthersListed as a partner organization in the peace and justice advocacy network.
• Asia Justice CoalitionmajorOthersMember of the Asia Justice Coalition working on justice and accountability issues in the region.
• UNOPSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization for peace and justice initiatives.
• UNICEFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization for humanitarian and child-focused initiatives.
• Peace PriorsminorOthersListed as partner organization in the peacebuilding network.
• World Food ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization for humanitarian response initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• RefugePoint: Non-profit focused on durable solutions for refugees including education and self-reliance programming. Comparable to CPJ's RSU education pathways and RhEAP higher-education access work for Rohingya refugees.

Broad incumbents

• Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue: Independent mediation organization that works to prevent and resolve armed conflict through quiet diplomacy. Comparable to CPJ's peace and fragility thematic area and mediation-adjacent programming.
• International Crisis Group: Global think tank producing field-based research and policy recommendations on conflict and peacebuilding. Comparable to CPJ's research and advocacy work on peace, fragility, and accountability in Myanmar/Bangladesh.
• Danish Refugee Council (DRC): Major humanitarian NGO with extensive operations in Cox's Bazar and globally on refugee protection and durable solutions. Comparable as a major actor in the same operational geography and refugee-serving space as CPJ's RSU.

Direct peers

• Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford: University-based academic center conducting multi-disciplinary research on refugee and forced migration issues. Highly comparable to CPJ's Refugee Studies Unit in combining rigorous scholarship with policy engagement on refugee issues.
• BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD): A sibling institute within BRAC University conducting development-focused research and training. Directly comparable as a BRAC University-affiliated academic center working on governance and policy research in Bangladesh.
• Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI): Global non-profit working on statelessness research, advocacy, and education. Highly comparable to CPJ's certificate course and policy work on statelessness and the Rohingya population in Bangladesh.
• Asia Justice Coalition (AJC): Coalition of which CPJ is a member, working on international justice and accountability issues in Asia. Directly comparable as a peer working on the same Rohingya accountability and international justice agenda that CPJ supports via WIJA Bangladesh.
• Centre for Refugee Studies, York University: Academic center focused on refugee research, policy, and education pathways. Comparable to CPJ for its blend of graduate-level research, community engagement, and protection-oriented programming for displaced populations.

Regional players

• Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD): Leading Bangladeshi multi-stakeholder policy think tank. Comparable as a Bangladesh-based policy research organization, though focused on economic policy rather than peace and justice themes specifically.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-peace-and-justice-brac-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Justice, BRAC University