The fulfillment of the IPC’s goals is anchored on research, the major focus of its activities. From this knowledge base emanate two other principal areas of competence-capability building and knowledge dissemination. With the interrelated pursuit of these activities within multidisciplinary perspectives, the IPC is able to meet academic and development needs.
Research
IPC research follows two tracks. The first focuses on its regular programs, namely, agrarian reform, environment and natural resource management, children and youth, community health, poverty, and women’s studies. Over the years, the IPC has produced research reports and papers analyzing the situation of groups and communities; helped build the capacity of government and civil society partners for understanding and serving their partner or clientele population; and played key roles in networks active in advocacy.
The second centers around issues or themes aimed at offering solutions to persistent problems while building theory on the dynamics of Philippine society and culture. They have been grouped into five substantial clusters:
- social justice, poverty, and resilience;
- civil society, social change, and cultural and faith-based values;
- asset building and social capital formation in community-based health, education, shelter, and natural resource management;
- cultures of work, conflict, and peace;
- the impact of globalization. ; and
- preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.
Capability Building
The IPC’s capability-building activities take place in two related arenas: