The Central Asia Program began in 2000 with an exploratory mission to the Central Asian States.  Information gathered during this mission prompted research collection and the planning of the first regional forum dialogue to explore Lessons of the Tajik Conflict and Peace Process.   This dialogue prompted CAP to organise an international conference on the theme of Lessons of the Tajik Conflict and Peace Process for Afghanistan and to commission the writing of thirty case studies by international and Central Asian experts on various sub-themes of the conference topic.  The research brought to this conference became a key element in the University for Peace s multi-year program for advancing peace education in Central Asia through training and research in collaboration with educational institutions from the region.  Both the first regional forum dialogue (2001) and later the international conference (2002) were held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan; the conference was held on the fifth anniversary of the Tajik Peace Accords.

Since the success of the high-level conference in 2002, CAP has continued to work in the region.  CAP activities include: regional dialogues, academic course development seminars, civil society training seminars, and research initiatives.  CAP has also established and nurtured relationships with various universities, professors and civil society organizations throughout the region.  The Central Asia Program is currently pursuing research and activities related to the following themes: religious identity, Islam, peace-building and conflict prevention.

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