Centre for Peace & Development
Promoting peace, research, dialogue, sustainable development and academic excellence
A passion for creating spaces
The Centre for Peace and Development (CPD) is an interdisciplinary research and practice-oriented institution dedicated to promoting peace, human security, and sustainable development. Founded in 2004 and rooted in the historic and pluralistic ethos of Varanasi, CPD works to bridge the gap between theory and practice through rigorous research, policy engagement, and capacity building. The Centre brings together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to foster dialogue, generate knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to just, inclusive, and peaceful societies.
Peace and Conflict Research
CPD promotes rigorous interdisciplinary research that integrates insights from peace studies, political science, sociology, economics, gender studies, science & technology, liberal arts, defense and strategic studies and development studies to deepen understanding of conflict dynamics and peacebuilding processes.
Policy-Oriented Analysis
The Centre is committed to translating scholarly research into policy-relevant knowledge that informs decision-making and public discourse. Through evidence-based analysis and advocacy, CPD seeks to contribute to the formulation of inclusive, just, and sustainable policies that support peace, human security, and development at local, national, and international levels.
Conflict Resolution Training
CPD designs and delivers training programmes that build practical skills in conflict analysis, mediation, negotiation, and peacebuilding. These initiatives equip students, practitioners, administrators, and civil society actors with the tools required to address conflicts constructively and to foster dialogue, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
Gender, Justice, and Human Security Studies
CPD promotes research and dialogue that highlight the experiences of marginalized groups and advocates for inclusive approaches that recognize gender equality, social justice, and science and technology as essential foundations of sustainable peace.
Geopolitics and Power Politics
CPD actively advances perspectives rooted in South Asia and the Global South, challenging dominant narratives in international politics and peace research by foregrounding localized knowledge, historical contexts, and lived experiences.
Research–Practice–Policy Integration
At the core of CPD’s work is the integration of research, practice, and policy within the broader framework of international politics and global governance. The Centre serves as a bridge between academic inquiry and real-world application, fostering collaborations among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
An array of resources
Our comprehensive suite of professional services are designed to serve a diverse range of stakeholders, from individual scholars and practitioners to academic institutions and policy organizations.
Peaceworks: An Interdisciplinary Journal
- Flagship peer-reviewed journal promoting interdisciplinary research.
- Platform for original, critical, and policy-relevant scholarship from diverse global perspectives.
- Committed to academic rigor, integrity, and advancing peace research nationally and internationally.
Workshops, Seminars, and Training Programmes
- Capacity-building programmes.
- Learning opportunities with world-class international professors and leading experts in the field.
- Integration of theory and practice through interactive workshops, dialogue, and experiential learning.
“Women’s empowerment is a process that enables a woman to analyse her own circumstances, decide on her priorities, develop solutions to her problems, and take action towards improving her own situation.”
Professor Anjoo Sharn Upadhyaya
Women’s Empowerment in India
From Rights to Agency
