What we do
Priorities & Overall Strategy
At the center of our approach is bridging peoples and communities—connecting their learnings, experiences, and collective struggles to influence policy, transform conflicts, and protect and expand civic space. Through capacity-building, network strengthening, dialogue facilitation, research, and advocacy, IID works to build movements that advance justice, accountability, and lasting peace.
IID delivers this strategy through three core programs: TRANSFORM, BUILD, and RESIST—each addressing a distinct but interconnected dimension of peace and democratic participation.
TRANSFORM
The TRANSFORM Program addresses the long-standing historical injustices and identity-based conflicts that continue to impact Moro, Indigenous Peoples, and settler communities across the Bangsamoro and Mindanao. These unresolved issues—land dispossession, discrimination, violent conflict, and stalled transitional justice—demand community-driven solutions grounded on rights, accountability, and inclusive engagement.
BUILD
The BUILD Program addresses persistent gaps in political participation and governance that affect peace sustainability in the Bangsamoro, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia. Weak inclusion, limited civic space, and uneven engagement between communities, civil society, and state institutions continue to constrain responsive and people-centered governance. BUILD responds by strengthening peace constituencies, expanding participatory platforms, and equipping communities and leaders with the skills and tools needed to meaningfully engage decision-makers and advance inclusive peace processes.
RESIST
The RESIST program strengthens civil society, youth movements, and human rights defenders across Mindanao, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia to confront state repression and hard-security policies. We equip communities and networks with the skills, platforms, and solidarity needed to defend civic space, challenge securitized narratives, and advance people-centered, rights-based governance.