This short talk presented to the BuildPeace 2017 Conference in Bogota describes the process and outcomes from implementing systemic action research in Myanmar. The presentation argues that by taking a systems view and empowering local communities in conflict settings to be the agents of change according to the priorities that they themselves define, peacebuilding efforts can be more scalable and sustainable. A recipe for effective bottom up peacebuilding and testament to often overlooked capacities of local communities to articulate and implement peacebuilding better than outsiders can.