About Us

We run Capacity Building Courses on request by churches or other civil society organisation or even community groups in the region. Our certificate courses when taken together can lead to a Diploma in Applied Mission Studies (Social Analysis, Leadership and Management, Gender Voices for Dignity or Peace and Conflict Resolution). Our participant numbers increase every year. We have participants who are teachers, or theologians or leaders in their communities and ordinary persons that give and share in the work of God. While they learn various skills through the courses for e.g. leadership, social analysis skills, and even how to set up a project, the ‘good work’ or ‘labour of love’ has always belonged to the participants. We simply facilitate the learning and amplify the hope and initiative they already have in ‘Changing their individual and collective stories of development.

The Vakatabu/Vakatu: Including Indigenous Knowledge and Culture in the Pacific Development Discourse is an intervention for a flawed, neoliberal development model that has impacted the wellness and wellbeing of Pasifika – and its peoples, and once thriving ecosystem of life. The Vakatabu is the Itaukei Fijian (indigenous Fijian) concept of slowing down in all areas of life to allow for rejuvenation and renewal of life. This project is borne out of deep desire to change our development story. A story wrought with pain and suffering as development statistics show. An example is the chokehold of non-communicable diseases across Pasifika. We are currently doing consultations with villagers, an aim of which is to gather their concepts of Vakatabu and to hear what they envisage as good project they will want to indulge in to promote Vakatabu.

The Institute undertakes research that informs the church stakeholders and other partners of the current context. One of the first research publications by the Institute is titled Globalization and the Re-shaping of Christianity in the Pacific Islands. Published in 2006, the volume provides a historical account of the global issues that shape Christianity in Pasifika. Other wok over the years brought together Pacific researchers for example under the Reweaving the Ecological Mat (REM) programme. The REM programme, once coordinated by the Institute is now run by the Pacific Conference of Churches. The most recent one is Re STORYing the Pasifika Household, an account but different authors edited by the Institute Director Aisake Casimira and the Pacific Theological College (PTC) Principal Rev. Professor Upolu Vaai.

Through the personnel exchange programme, IMR sponsors the exchange of skills and learning regionally. This helps church stakeholders address skills gaps. In 2021, IMR sponsored students students from New Caledonia – Kanaky, West Papua and Maohi Nui to study English in Fiji. The English course taught English for an interactive experience. In 2023, five volunteers from South Korea learnt English as part of the programme that partnered with the Korea International Cooperation Agency. After their English training, the volunteers will be placed in various Fijian government ministries.