Contributing to Australia’s Conversation on Conflict Prevention 

Canberra, June 19, 2026 – As Australia examines how its international development program can contribute to preventing conflict across Asia and the Pacific, public hearings are continuing as part of Parliament’s inquiry into aid and conflict prevention.  

The inquiry reflects a broader shift in policy thinking: development assistance is increasingly recognized not only as a tool for economic and social progress, but also as a strategic investment in regional stability, resilience, and security. 

The Asia Foundation recently contributed to this discussion through a parliamentary submission and participation in a public hearing on the role of development in conflict prevention. Drawing on decades of experience across Asia and the Pacific, TAF emphasized that conflict prevention is most effective long before crises emerge: through sustained investments in trusted institutions, local leadership, regional cooperation, and the relationships that enable societies to manage tensions peacefully. 

A key theme raised during the parliamentary discussion was the need to strengthen regional capabilities for dialogue, de-escalation, and dispute resolution.  

Just as Australia is pursuing new mini-lateral arrangements in the defense and security space, so too should it consider how mini-lateralism—supported by its development program—can contribute to creating groupings, networks and forums conversant in the skills of de-escalation, conflict negotiation and conflict resolution. 

With speed of response critical when it comes to rising tensions and the threat of conflict, ensuring such mechanisms exist is a critical and worthwhile investment that Australia can leverage its development program to achieve today. 

The Asia Foundation’s submission outlines practical recommendations, including supporting regional institutions such as ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum, strengthening conflict prevention and early warning capabilities, investing in local institutions and leadership, and integrating conflict prevention more systematically into development policy and programming.  

This emphasis on prevention is reflected across The Asia Foundation’s broader Peace, Stability, and Resilience programming, which supports institutions, leaders, and communities to address tensions before they escalate into conflict. One example is Strengthening Local Conflict Prevention in Asia and the Pacific report (2025), which examines how community leaders, civil society organizations, informal mediators, and local government institutions often serve as the first line of response when tensions emerge. The report highlights the importance of strengthening these networks and mechanisms before disputes escalate into wider instability. 

As Australia considers the future role of development assistance in an increasingly complex region, the inquiry highlights an important reality: sustainable peace and stability are rarely achieved through crisis response alone. They are built through long-term investments in the institutions and relationships that enable societies to manage tensions before they become conflict. 

Mentioned in this article: