Introduction

The ‘*Training of trainers in peacebuilding and conflict transformation Course’* is targeting 15 peacebuilding practitioners with an interest in deepening their knowledge and skills in peacebuilding and conflict transformation and in designing, facilitating and evaluating trainings. The five day training is divided into two parts: part one, will focus on Understanding Conflict, Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Peacebuilding strategies; the second part will focus on skills and knowledge required to be an effective trainer in designing, facilitating and evaluating a training programme. The first part will take 2 days and the last 3 days.

At the end of the five days, participants are expected to have gained the most up-to-date knowledge and skills in peacebuilding relevant to African contexts. In addition, they would practice fundamental skills in conducting training in various contexts.

Core thematic areas:

Part One:

1. Introduction: Understanding Conflict, Conflict analysis

2. Theories of conflict and peace

3. Peacemaking and Peacebuilding: Learning from African Indigenous cultures

4. Strategies of Peacebuilding Interventions

5. Fundamental Skills in Conflict Resolution

Part Two:

1. Fundamentals in Adult learning in the African context

2. Exploring the role of a facilitator/training in dynamic contexts

3. Designing a training curriculum

4. Facilitation skills and techniques

5. Evaluating a training programme

Objectives of the training

By the end of the training, participants would have had the space and opportunity to:

1. Deepen their understanding and knowledge of conflict, peace, conflict analysis, theories of peace and conflict;

2. Enhance their skills and capacities in peacebuilding strategies relevant to their various contexts;

3. Enhance their skills in peacebuilding training design, delivery and evaluation;

Training/Learning Methodology and Approach

This intensive training will utilize Adult Learning methodology, drawing from Paulo Freire and others. Participants will be required to fully contribute from their knowledge and reflections in peace, development, human rights, gender rights and humanitarian work, amongst other fields. The learning will, therefore, be experiential and will engage participants in individual tasks, group tasks, case studies, mini-lectures and role-plays and simulations, amongst others. The practical elements are designed to help the participants synthesize the learning and make it relevant to their contexts. Participants will also have the opportunity to design and do ‘actual training’ facilitation.

Lead facilitator – Dr. Babu Ayindo

Dr. Babu Ayindo has over two decades of experience as a storyteller, teacher, facilitator, researcher and writer. He has taught short courses on arts-based approaches to peacebuilding in seven peacebuilding institutes in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and North America. He holds a B.Ed from Kenyatta University (Nairobi, Kenya) and M.A in Peace and Conflict Studies from Eastern Mennonite University (Virginia, USA). His PhD from the University of Otago –New Zealand is on Arts, Peacebuilding and Decolonzation.

Some of his publications include: co-authoring When You Are the Peacebuilder (published by United

States Institute of Peace, 2001); “Arts Approaches to Peace: Playing Our Way to Transcendence

“published in Barry Hart (ed) Peacebuilding in Traumatized Societies (University of America Press,

Inc.,2008); “Trauma Awareness and Healing in the Somali Cluster: A Report on the Status of Achievements, Lessons and Outcomes” (published by Pact, 2010); Mpatanishi: A Handbook for Community Based Mediators (published in 2010 by PeaceNet Kenya); and, In Search of Healers (published by the Coalition of Peace in Africa in 2011).

Important Information International Participants

1. A Yellow Fever Certificate will be required

2. Unless where otherwise advised by COPA, visas are issued upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at a cost of $50.

How to Apply

Application forms can be downloaded from www.copafrica.org. They can also be obtained by requesting the same from copa@copafrica.org. Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA by email. All received applications will be acknowledged. If successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to copa@copafrica.org and cc to martha@copafrica.org

Admission Criteria

1. English speakers-The training will be facilitated in English

2. Practitioners in Peacebuilding, humanitarian relief, human rights and development

3. Practitioners who are keen to deepen their knowledge in Peacebuilding matters

4. Trainers or those who are keen to start engaging as trainers

Introduction
The 5 day curriculum is an introduction to the fundamental skills, theories and processes required for conflict transformation and peacebuilding practice. It will combine class work and “open spaces” for creativity and joint action in peacebuilding theory and conflict transformation to be drawn from a variety of sources and traditions, to complement and build on indigenous African knowledge systems. Learning will be based on participatory adult learning models including inquiry, analysis and reflection from participants’ knowledge. Participants will engage in individual and group tasks, concept presentation, mini-lectures, case study analysis and videos.

The Course Content

1. Understanding Conflict
This section is designed to help the participants gain a deeper understanding of the factors that cause conflict and violence with the aim of being able to identify appropriate strategies for intervening in conflict. Different analytical models will be applied to:
• Explore the nature and dynamics of conflict
• Understand different levels and types of conflict
• Analyze conflicts and causes

2. Peacebuilding theories and practice
This section will give an overview of peacebuilding theories, concepts and practice. During the sessions, participants will be given the opportunity to:
• Identify context specific peacebuilding interventions
• Work in teams to practice new theories and concepts
• Apply these ideas and skills to cases that relate to their experiences and contexts

3. Conflict Sensitivity in Peacebuilding
This section looks at the strategies and methods that help peacebuilding and multi-mandated interveners to examine and take into account the unintended impacts of their interventions on the context of conflict and crisis. The participants will explore:
• Understanding conflict sensitivity
• Application of conflict sensitivity in peacebuilding programs
• Conflict analysis
• Conflict sensitive approaches

4. Skills for conflict transformation and peacebuilding
In this section participants will discuss the essential skills and knowledge needed for conflict transformation in interpersonal and group settings. Some of the skills will include:
• Negotiation and mediation
• Working with stories to create change
• Forgiveness and reconciliation

5. Exploration of indigenous mechanisms in peacebuilding
This section will focus on the practices of indigenous mechanism in peacebuilding and discern its role in contemporary peacebuilding practice. Discussions will be on:
• Community mechanisms and peace processes
• Indigenous dispute resolution mechanis ms
• Influence of indigenous mechanisms on external conflict interventions

Expected Training results
i. A clear understanding of peace, violence and conflict and their inter-relations
ii. Increased understanding of different conflict analysis tools and the inter-relations between a conflict context and intervention strategies
iii. A better understanding of peacebuilding theories including the ones applicable to participants projects interventions
iv. An improved awareness of the ‘Do No Harm Approach’ and how the operating context interacts with proposed interventions
v. Improved knowledge and skills of different conflict management strategies including negotiation and mediation
vi. Appreciation of indigenous conflict resolution strategies

The training prospectus and application form can be downloaded from www.copafrica.org. Alternatively, they can be requested from copa@copafrica.org/martha@copafrica.org. Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA by email. All received applications will be acknowledged and if successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to copa@copafrica.org/martha@copafrica.org

Introduction

The training is aimed at empowering the participants with advocacy skills so that they can be able to identify and advocate for issues that are of interest in their programmes/projects. Participants will be able to get a wider understanding of the principles, strategies and techniques of effective advocacy campaigns. Various advocacy activities that can be used in participant’s contexts will be explored. Some of these will include lobbying, flyers, newsletters, negotiations, poster campaigns, talk shows, public forums among others.

Through the training, participants will be able to identify and prioritize critical local and national advocacy issues and themes that are pertinent to their programmes. They will also be able to get a better understanding on what effective advocacy entails and how their agendas can gain support at the implementing levels.

At the end of the training, the expectations are that the participants will be able to draw up advocacy strategies at their projects levels and will also be able to execute, monitor and evaluate the same.

Content

1. Understanding Advocacy: The session will be an introduction to what advocacy really is and what it entails at different levels of society including strategies that the participants can employ at the different levels.

2. Advocacy and society: This session will help the participants to get a better understanding of the various entry levels that they can use to launch their advocacy work in society

3. Roles and qualities of an advocate: This session will cover the good practices of an advocate including their roles and the skills they need to have in order to be successful

4. The Advocacy Cycle; The session will introduce participants to the cycle of activities that take place in an advocacy campaign.

5. Building alliances: Effective advocacy works requires that we work with others in our campaigns. The session will help participants to gain skills of how to identify their allies at the different levels

6. Grassroot mobilization: This session will provide the participants with the skills necessary to gain support and following at the level of project implementation

7. Lobbying policy and decision makers: Advocacy goes hand in hand with lobbying the right people to help push an identified agenda. This session will enable the participants get a better understanding on how to work with the change makers.

8. Monitoring and evaluating advocacy initiatives: This session will take participants through the process of how to assess their advocacy initiatives to know if they are successful or not and to also get a better understanding of what needs to change.

Kindly send your completed application form to copa@copafrica.org

This five day interactive training will bring together 16-20 practitioners and NGO leaders from across Africa to examine the links between policy and practice in fragile, conflict-affected contexts led by conflict transformation specialist, Dr. Simon Fisher.

The bespoke course is designed to draw on the experience and practice of professionals working in development, humanitarian aid or peacebuilding and aims to strengthen internal policies and programmatic approaches to working in fragile and conflict affected countries.

Drawing on current best practice and emerging trends, participants will develop effective approaches to peacebuilding, development and post-conflict reconstruction. Participants will identify how they can balance their organizational mandate with the demands of working in complex and rapidly changing political emergencies.

After five days of collaboration, in-depth discussion and practical exercises, you will come away with a comprehensive set of approaches and tools you can use to analyze conflict contexts and apply practically to your work.

How the training course will benefit your work

Participants will:

• Explore the relationship between organizational policy and practice in situations of instability, conflict or violence.

• Deepen their understanding of peacebuilding from a conflict transformation perspective and apply their learning to their own work.

• Learn how to apply appropriate conflict analysis to their own organizations and contexts.

• Examine issues relating to aid and conflict in order to develop conflict sensitive policies for their organizations.

• Consider the key policy and practice issues relating to the prevention of violent conflict and peacebuilding.

• Strengthen their competence in proactively contributing to the development of appropriate policies and best practices when working in environments affected by conflict or violence.

About this course

The Strengthening Policy and Practice (SPP) course has been run by the UK-based organisation Responding to Conflict for over 20 years. In 2016 Responding to Conflict became the training arm of part of Peace Direct, a UK based organisation that works with local peacebuilding organizations across the world.

The Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA) has been running the SPP course with Responding to Conflict for over five years.

Since its inception it has proved to be an extremely popular course, teaching participants the latest tools and techniques for analyzing conflict contexts, while drawing on the skills and experience of the training participants.

Lead Facilitator/Trainer: Dr. Simon Fisher

Dr. Simon Fisher is a conflict transformation specialist with extensive global experience and a PhD from Oxford Brookes University. Dr. Fisher has comprehensive experience in education, development and conflict transformation in Africa, Europe and Asia.

He has worked with many kinds of organizations in over 40 countries in support of initiatives to prevent violence and build sustainable peace. In 1991 he founded and became the first director of Responding to Conflict, where he was responsible for a range of conflict transformation training and support programmes worldwide.

Suitable for

This course is for staff of international and national agencies and those with advisory and management responsibility for relief, development, and peacebuilding programmes.

It is particularly relevant for anyone engaged in the planning and implementation of field-based programmes in fragile and conflict affected contexts, or those responsible for developing policies for appropriate responses in complex, political emergencies.

For queries or registration to the course please contact us as per the emails below:

Coalition for Peace in Africa
P.O Box 61753-00200 City Square,
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 020 3866686
Cell: + 254 703 429 667
Email: copa@copafrica.org/martha@copafrica.org
Web: www.copafrica.org

Peace Direct
Studio 302, 203-213 Mare Street
London, E8 3QE
Tel: +44 203 422 5549
Email: courses@peacedirect.org
Web: www.peacedirect.org

Background

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) is an integral part of every intervention. When systematically done, MERL makes it easy to articulate a project’s theory of change and to determine if envisaged results are being achieved. It also enables programme staff to draw lessons from what is working and recommend appropriate measures for what is not working. Though MERL is beneficial, many organizations and project staffs shy away from it because many see it as technical in nature, others find it time consuming and yet others fear negative appraisals. In spite of this, it is important for project staff to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills that would in turn allow them to effectively engage in MERL for the growth of their projects and their organizations.

Course objectives

1. Introduce participants to MERL from a peacebuilding perspective2. Enhance participants understanding of the various contextual tools of analysis applied in MERL in the peacebuilding practice

2. Build participants understanding of a project’s Theory of Change 4. Enhance participants’ skills in developing an evaluation and a learning agenda for their Peacebuilding projects

The Course Content

1.Introduction to monitoring and evaluation for conflict prevention and peacebuilding: In this session, participants will be introduced to MERL from the peacebuilding practice including an understanding of the different criteria that is used to assess the effectiveness of a peacebuilding project.

2.Contextual analysis tools: This session will introduce participants to the different contextual analysis tools used in MERL.

3.Developing effective monitoring tools for conflict prevention and peacebuilding: In this section, participants will be taken through the process of developing an MERL plan for their specific projects. The session will focus on creating a common understanding of what an MERL plan is, what it is used for, who is involved in its designing, the most appropriate time for its designing and who it is used on

4. Developing a Theory of Change: the session will focus on understanding what a Theory of change is, how it is developed, its relationship to the project cycle and who really should be involved in its designing. This session will enable participants broaden their knowledge of the project cycle and the logical linkages from one stage to the other. The session will examine how proposed project activities lead to the desired social change. At the end of the session, participants should be able to identify and expound on the various theories of change that inform their projects.

5. Evaluation and developing a learning agenda: The session will take participants through the concept of evaluation and its importance and applicability in projects, the different types of evaluation and audiences will also be discussed including how to develop an evaluation schedule for a project. At the end of the session, participants should be able to develop an evaluation schedule for their projects and to identify some learning agenda questions for their projects.

Filled in applications should be sent to COPA by email. Applications can be downloaded from the 'upcoming events' section on the COPA website<www.copafrica.org>. They can also be requested by writing to copa@copafrica.org. All received applications will be acknowledged and if successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to copa@copafrica.org.

Introduction

The ‘*Training of trainers in peacebuilding and conflict transformation Course’* is targeting 15 peacebuilding practitioners with an interest in deepening their knowledge and skills in peacebuilding and conflict transformation and in designing, facilitating and evaluating trainings. The five day training is divided into two parts: part one, will focus on Understanding Conflict, Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Peacebuilding strategies; the second part will focus on skills and knowledge required to be an effective trainer in designing, facilitating and evaluating a training programme. The first part will take 1.5 days and the last 3.5 days.

At the end of the five days, participants are expected to have gained the most up-to-date knowledge and skills in peacebuilding relevant to African contexts. In addition, they would practice fundamental skills in conducting training in various contexts.

Core thematic areas:

Part One:

1. Introduction: Understanding Conflict, Conflict analysis

2. Theories of conflict and peace

3. Strategies of Peacebuilding Interventions

Part Two:

1. Fundamentals in Adult learning

2. Exploring the role of a facilitator/training in dynamic contexts

3. Designing a training curriculum

4. Facilitation skills and techniques

5. Evaluating a training programme

Objectives of the training

By the end of the training, participants would have had the space and opportunity to:

1. Deepen their understanding and knowledge of conflict, peace, conflict analysis, theories of peace and conflict;

2. Enhance their skills and capacities in peacebuilding strategies relevant to their various contexts;

3. Enhance their skills in peacebuilding training design, delivery and evaluation;

Training/Learning Methodology and Approach This intensive training will utilize Adult Learning methodology, drawing from Paulo Freire and others. Participants will be required to fully contribute from their knowledge and reflections in peace, development, human rights, gender rights and humanitarian work, amongst other fields. The learning will, therefore, be experiential and will engage participants in individual tasks, group tasks, case studies, mini-lectures and role-plays and simulations, amongst others. The practical elements are designed to help the participants synthesize the learning and make it relevant to their contexts. Participants will also have the opportunity to design and do ‘actual training’ facilitation

How to Apply

Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA by email. All received applications will be acknowledged. If successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to copa@copafrica.org

Application forms can be downloaded from www.copafrica.org or by writing to copa@copafrica.org

Introduction

The purpose of the training will be to develop an understanding of gender and violence prevention in post-conflict transitions and how to integrate women in the peacebuilding processes. The participants will explore the various International Human Rights Instruments that support gendering human security, conflict transformation and peacebuilding. The meaning and impact of violence as experienced by women in various conflict contexts will be discussed and conflict transformation activities identified and planned to reduce the impact of all forms of violence against women in the participants’ contexts. As an addition, there will also be a session on how to integrate human security into participants projects as a strategy towards achieving reduced cases of gender based violence and increase cases of women in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

The Course Content

1.Understanding violence against women: Violence is one way of dealing with conflicts (Galtung (1990, 1996) and is represented in three separate types distinguished as physical, structural or cultural. Among the issues to be looked at the training will be the escalation of violence against women in situations of violent conflicts and representing tragic development in which women are targeted in all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

2.Linking Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Human Security and Peacebuilding: Current international standards addressing GBV in conflict and post conflict areas draw upon a wide array of provisions contained in a variety of human rights instruments that safeguard women and girls. The course will help participants identify relevant provisions in selected CEDAW articles which they can advance towards the prevention of sexual violence against women in situations of conflict.

3.Gendering Conflict transformation around UNSCRs: In reference to grassroots based cases studies benefiting indirectly and directly from the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), the participants will look at what these resolutions are, their various provisions, relation to women in conflict areas, and how to incorporate them in ongoing peacebuilding and reconstruction work with the participants contexts.

4.Human security paradigm and its relevance to women violence prevention: Human security paradigm perceives the ordinary citizen including women as a purpose and not as a means to security. The training will identify and emphasize the considerations for human security as integrated approach to conflict transformation and peacebuilding.

5.Gender Mainstreaming in peacebuilding: Women continue to be underrepresented in peacebuilding processes, be it in conflict prevention, management or post conflict reconstruction, yet research shows that where women engage in the above, violence often declines and it becomes easier to build more sustainable peace. The session will explore the various strategies that programmes/organizations can put in place to ensure effective participation and contribution of women in the processes.

Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA by email. All received applications will be acknowledged and if successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to copa@copafrica.org

the application form can be obtained by writing to copa@copafrica.org or by downloading it from www.copafrica.org

The ‘**training of trainers in Peacebuilding & conflict transformation Course'** by Coalition For Peace in Africa (COPA) is targeting 15 peacebuilding practitioners who would like to expand their knowledge and refine their skills in different areas pertaining to the peacebuilding practice and in designing, facilitating and evaluating trainings. It is divided into two parts: Part One’s focus is on Understanding Conflict, Conflict Analysis and Peacebuilding strategies (1.5 days). Part Two's focus is on skills and knowledge required to design, facilitate and evaluate a training (3.5 days)

At the end of the five days, participants are expected to have gained the most up-to-date knowledge and skills in peacebuilding relevant to African contexts and to be better placed with fundamental skills in conducting trainings in various contexts.
Core thematic areas:
Part One:

1. Conflict analysis
2. Theories of conflict and peace
3. Strategies of Peacebuilding Interventions
   Part Two:
4. Fundamentals in Adult learning
5. Exploring the role of a facilitator/training in dynamic contexts
6. Designing a training curriculum
7. Facilitation skills and techniques
8. Evaluating a training programme
   Objectives of the training
   By the end of the training, participants will have had the space and opportunity to:
9. Deepen their understanding and knowledge of conflict, peace, conflict analysis, theories of peace and conflict;
10. Enhance their skills and capacities in peacebuilding strategies relevant to their various contexts;
11. Enhance their skills in peacebuilding training design, delivery and evaluation;
    Training/ Learning Methodology and Approach
    This intensive training will utilize Adult Learning methodology, drawing from Paulo Freire and others. The participants will be guided in the use of personality profiles as important tools in learning management (participants are highly encouraged to bring their laptops to facilitate this). Participants will be required to fully contribute from their knowledge and reflections in peace, development, human rights, gender rights and humanitarian work, amongst other fields. The learning will, therefore, be experiential and will engage participants in individual tasks, group tasks, case studies, mini-lectures and role-plays and simulations, amongst others. The practical elements are designed to help the participants synthesize the learning and make it relevant to their contexts. Participants will also have the opportunity to design and do 'actual training' facilitation.

Training centre
The training will be held at the Convent International Guest House located in Nairobi's Convent Drive, off James Gichuru Road in Lavington. It is about 15 Kms from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. For more information, visit www.cigh.co.ke
Important Information for International Participants

1. A Yellow Fever Certificate will be required
2. Unless where otherwise advised by COPA, visas are issued upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at a cost of $50.
   Contacts:
   Coalition for Peace in Africa
   P.O. Box 61753-00200 City Square, Nairobi, Kenya
   Office Phone No.: +254 020 38666686
   Cell: +254 703 429 667
   Email: copa@copafrica.org
   Website: www.copafrica.org
   Dhanjay Apartments, 3^rd floor, Lavington, Nairobi, Kenya

How to Apply
Application forms and the prospectus can be requested from copa@copafrica.org. Alternatively they can be downloaded from www.copafrica.org. Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA by email. All received applications will be acknowledged. If successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to copa@copafrica.org

Introduction

The purpose of the training will be to develop an understanding of gender and violence prevention in post-conflict transitions and how to integrate women in the peacebuilding processes. The participants will explore the various International Human Rights Instruments that support gendering human security, conflict transformation and peacebuilding. The meaning and impact of violence as experienced by women in various conflict contexts will be discussed and conflict transformation activities identified and planned to reduce the impact of all forms of violence against women in the participants’ contexts. As an addition, there will also be a session on how to integrate human security into participants projects as a strategy towards achieving reduced cases of gender based violence and increase cases of women in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

The Course Content

1.Understanding violence against women: Violence is one way of dealing with conflicts (Galtung (1990, 1996) and is represented in three separate types distinguished as physical, structural or cultural. Among the issues to be looked at the training will be the escalation of violence against women in situations of violent conflicts and representing tragic development in which women are targeted in all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

2.Linking Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Human Security and Peacebuilding: Current international standards addressing GBV in conflict and post conflict areas draw upon a wide array of provisions contained in a variety of human rights instruments that safeguard women and girls. The course will help participants identify relevant provisions in selected CEDAW articles which they can advance towards the prevention of sexual violence against women in situations of conflict.

3.Gendering Conflict transformation around UNSCRs: In reference to grassroots based cases studies benefiting indirectly and directly from the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), the participants will look at what these resolutions are, their various provisions, relation to women in conflict areas, and how to incorporate them in ongoing peacebuilding and reconstruction work with the participants contexts.

4.Human security paradigm and its relevance to women violence prevention: Human security paradigm perceives the ordinary citizen including women as a purpose and not as a means to security. The training will identify and emphasize the considerations for human security as integrated approach to conflict transformation and peacebuilding.

5.Gender Mainstreaming in peacebuilding: Women continue to be underrepresented in peacebuilding processes, be it in conflict prevention, management or post conflict reconstruction, yet research shows that where women engage in the above, violence often declines and it becomes easier to build more sustainable peace. The session will explore the various strategies that programmes/organizations can put in place to ensure effective participation and contribution of women in the processes.

Expected Outcome

Application to Participants Contexts: The course will enable the participants to analyze their contexts, envision sustainable peace and draw plans for their conflict transformation and peacebuilding framework.

How to Apply

An application form and prospectus can be obtained from www.copafrica.org. They can also be requested from copa@copafrica.org. All received applications will be acknowledged and if successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to copa@copafrica.org

This is to introduce you to the ‘**Gendering Human Security, Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation Course'** by Coalition For Peace in Africa (COPA). The training is targeting 15 practitioners from around the continent whose work revolves around gendering peacebuilding initiatives, gender mainstreaming in organizations, prevention of sexual violence against women in situations of conflict and integrating UNSCR 1325, CEDAW and Human Security into organizational projects/programmes.

The Course Content

1.Understanding violence against women: Violence is one way of dealing with conflicts (Galtung (1990, 1996) and is represented in three separate types distinguished as physical, structural or cultural. Among the issues to be looked at the training will be the escalation of violence against women in situations of violent conflicts and corresponding tragic developments in which women are targeted in all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

2.Linking Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Human Security and Peacebuilding: Current international standards addressing GBV in conflict and post conflict areas draw upon a wide array of provisions contained in a variety of human rights instruments that safeguard women and girls. The course will help participants identify relevant provisions in selected CEDAW articles which they can advance towards the prevention of sexual violence against women in situations of conflict.

3.Gendering Conflict transformation around UNSCRs: In reference to grassroots based cases studies benefiting indirectly and directly from the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), the participants will look at what these resolutions are, their various provisions, relation to women in conflict areas, and how to incorporate them in ongoing peacebuilding and reconstruction work in their contexts.

4.Human security paradigm and its relevance to women violence prevention: Human security paradigm perceives the ordinary citizen including women as a purpose and not as a means to security. The training will identify and emphasize the considerations for human security as integrated approach to conflict transformation and peacebuilding.

5.Gender Mainstreaming in peacebuilding: Women continue to be underrepresented in peacebuilding processes, yet research shows that where women get engaged, violence often declines and it becomes easier to build more sustainable peace. The session will explore the various strategies that programmes/organizations can put in place to ensure effective participation and contribution of women in the processes. Training centre

The training will be held at the Convent International Guest House located in Nairobi's Convent Drive, off James Gichuru Road in Lavington. It is about 15 Kms from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. For more information, visit www.cigh.co.keContacts:
Coalition for Peace in Africa
P.O. Box 61753-00200 City Square, Nairobi, Kenya
Office Phone No.: +254 020 38666686
Cell: +254 703 429 667
Email: copa@copafrica.org
Website: www.copafrica.org
Dhanjay Apartments, 3^rd floor, Suite 301, Lavington, Nairobi, Kenya

How to Apply
Application forms can be downloaded from www.copafrica.org

alternatively they can be requested from copa@copafrica.org

Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA by email (copa@copafrica.org). All received applications will be acknowledged. If successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant.

This webinar focused on the newly-launched abbreviated version of the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI). IFPRI’s WEAI Research Coordinator, Hazel Malapit, joined by Farzana Ramzan and Emily Hogue from USAID’s Bureau for Food Security, discussed the reasons for developing a shorter version of the WEAI, described the development and piloting process, and highlighted the differences between the AWEAI and the original WEAI. Time was also allowed for a question and answer session with webinar participants.

Find the webinar here: https://www.ifpri.org/event/webinar-abbreviated-womens-empowerment-agriculture-index-weai

Contact

For questions, please contact Chiara Kovarik at c.kovarik@cgiar.org

Introduction

This course is ideal for practitioners who would like to build their knowledge and skills on how to carry out their conflict transformation and peacebuilding initiatives in ways that are comprehensive, inclusive and conflict sensitive. The course provides participants with an avenue to deeply explore the various terminologies that relate to conflict, violence and peace as well as an opportunity to gain skills that are relevant to handling of post violent conflict situations.

Within the 5 days, participants go through various tools of conflict analysis relevant to their contexts including explorations of how the tools can be used to determine the direction their organizations programming should take and identification of their niche areas of focus depending on their expertise and available

Further, there is focus on various peacebuilding and conflict transformation theories and an analysis of how this knowledge can be used to build on African knowledge and processes of conflict transformation.

The course makes use of participatory adult learning models including inquiry, analysis and reflection from participants’ knowledge. Participants engage in individual and group tasks, concept presentation, mini-lectures, case study analysis and videos

1 The Course Content

1.Understanding Conflict

This section is designed to help the participants gain a deeper understanding of the factors that cause conflict and violence with the aim of being able to identify appropriate strategies for intervening in different conflict situations. The different analytical models that will be applied include:

• Exploring the nature and dynamics of conflict

• Understanding different levels and types of conflict

• Analysing conflicts and causes

2.Peacebuilding theories and practice

This section will give an overview of peacebuilding theories, concepts and practice. During the sessions, participants will be given the opportunity to:

• Identify context specific peacebuilding interventions

• Work in teams to practice new theories and concepts

• Apply these ideas and skills to cases that relate to their experiences and contexts

3.Conflict Sensitivity in Peacebuilding

This section will look at the strategies and methods that help peacebuilding and multi-mandated interveners to examine and take into account the unintended impacts of their interventions on the context of conflict and crisis. The participants will explore:

• Understanding conflict sensitivity

• Application of conflict sensitivity in peacebuilding programs

• Conflict analysis

• Conflict sensitive approaches

4.Skills for conflict transformation and peacebuilding

In this section participants will discuss the essential skills and knowledge needed for conflict transformation in interpersonal and group settings. Some of the skills will include:

• Negotiation and mediation

• Working with stories to create change

• Forgiveness and reconciliation

5.Exploration of indigenous mechanisms in peacebuilding

This section will focus on the practices of indigenous mechanism in peacebuilding and discern its role in contemporary peacebuilding practice. Discussions will be on:

• Community mechanisms and peace processes

• Indigenous dispute resolution mechanisms

• Influence of indigenous mechanisms on external conflict interventions

Expected Training results

i. A clear understanding of peace, violence and conflict and their inter-relations

ii. Increased understanding of different conflict analysis tools and the inter-relations between a conflict context and intervention strategies

iii. A better understanding of peacebuilding theories including the ones applicable to participants projects interventions

iv. An improved awareness of the ‘Do No Harm Approach’ and how the operating context interacts with proposed interventions

v. Improved knowledge and skills of different conflict management strategies including negotiation and mediation

vi. Appreciation of indigenous conflict resolution strategies

How to Apply

Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA by email. All received applications will be acknowledged and if successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to copa@copafrica.org/martha@copafrica.org

application forms can be obtained from copa@copafrica.org

they can also be downloaded from www.copafrica.org

Background
Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) is an integral part of every intervention. When systematically done, MERL makes it easy to articulate a project’s theory of change and to determine if envisaged results are being achieved. It also enables programme staff to draw lessons from what is working and recommend appropriate measures for what is not working. Though MERL is beneficial, many organizations and project staffs shy away from it because many see it as technical in nature, others find it time consuming and yet others fear negative appraisals. In spite of this, it is important for project staff to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills that would in turn allow them to effectively engage in MERL for the growth of their projects and their organizations.

Course objectives 1. Introduce participants to MERL from a peacebuilding perspective

1. Enhance participants understanding of the various contextual tools of analysis applied in MERL in the peacebuilding practice
2. Build participants understanding of a project’s Theory of Change
3. Enhance participants’ skills in developing an evaluation and a learning agenda for their Peacebuilding projects

The Course Content1. Introduction to monitoring and evaluation for conflict prevention and peacebuilding:** In this session, participants will be introduced to MERL from the peacebuilding practice including an understanding of the different criteria that is used to assess the effectiveness of a peacebuilding project.

2. Contextual analysis tools: This session will introduce participants to the different contextual analysis tools used in MERL.

3. Developing effective monitoring tools for conflict prevention and peacebuilding: In this section, participants will be taken through the process of developing an MERL plan for their specific projects. The session will focus on creating a common understanding of what an MERL plan is, what it is used for, who is involved in its designing, the most appropriate time for its designing and who it is used on

4. Developing a Theory of Change: the session will focus on understanding what a Theory of change is, how it is developed, its relationship to the project cycle and who really should be involved in its designing. This session will enable participants broaden their knowledge of the project cycle and the logical linkages from one stage to the other. The session will examine how proposed project activities lead to the desired social change. At the end of the session, participants should be able to identify and expound on the various theories of change that inform their projects.

5. Evaluation and developing a learning agenda: The session will take participants through the concept of evaluation and its importance and applicability in projects, the different types of evaluation and audiences will also be discussed including how to develop an evaluation schedule for a project. At the end of the session, participants should be able to develop an evaluation schedule for their projects and to identify some learning agenda questions for their projects.

Main Facilitator: Dr. George Kut

He has extensive experience in strengthening government and civil societies’ collaboration and dialogue through participatory training. He has designed and facilitated processes for conflict early warning and response systems, peacebuilding policy analysis and advocacy with governments including designing and conducting several researches and documentation for civil society organizations and UN agencies. He also offers technical support on conflict and gender sensitive programming.

Dr. Kut’s experience in training in multicultural contexts for over 25 years spans across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He has developed a number of courses and training materials on peacebuilding for civil society organizations, local community groups and UN agencies. Dr. Kut has a PhD in International Studies and Social Sciences from Coventry University, U.K and is also a holder of MA degree in Peace and Reconciliation Studies from the same university

Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA by email. All received applications will be acknowledged and if successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to copa@copafrica.org/martha@copafrica.org

Application forms can be requested from copa@copafrica.org.

They can also be downloaded from www.copafrica.org

Background

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) is an integral part of every intervention. Knowledge of MERL makes it easy to formulate and articulate a project’s theory of change and to draw organizational learning from it. It also makes it easier to draw evidence of achieved results, draw lessons from what is working and recommend appropriate measures for what is not working.

Though MERL is beneficial, many organizations and project staffs shy away from it because they see it as technical in nature, others find it time consuming while others fear that results may not be achievable in rapidly changing contexts.

Irrespective of this, knowledge and skills in MERL allows organizations and staff to more effectively engage in MERL for the growth of their projects and the organizations.

Course objectives

• Introduce participants to MERL from a peacebuilding perspective

• Enhance participants understanding of the various contextual tools of analysis applied in MERL in the peacebuilding practice

• Build participants understanding of a project’s Theory of Change

• Enhance participants’ skills in developing an evaluation and a learning agenda for their Peacebuilding projects

The Course Content

1. Introduction to monitoring and evaluation for conflict prevention and peacebuilding: In this session, participants will be introduced to MERL from the peacebuilding practice including an understanding of the different criteria that is used to assess the effectiveness of a peacebuilding project.

2. Contextual analysis tools: This session will introduce participants to the different contextual analysis tools used in MERL.

3. Developing effective monitoring tools for conflict prevention and peacebuilding: In this section, participants will be taken through the process of developing an MERL plan for their specific projects. The session will focus on creating a common understanding of what an MERL plan is, what it is used for, who is involved in its designing, the most appropriate time for its designing and who it is used on

4. Developing a Theory of Change: the session will focus on understanding what a Theory of change is, how it is developed, its relationship to the project cycle and who really should be involved in its designing. This session will enable participants broaden their knowledge of the project cycle and the logical linkages from one stage to the other. The session will examine how proposed project activities lead to the desired social change. At the end of the session, participants should be able to identify and expound on the various theories of change that inform their projects

5. Evaluation and developing a learning agenda: The session will take participants through the concept of evaluation and its importance and applicability in projects, the different types of evaluation and audiences will also be discussed including how to develop an evaluation schedule for a project. At the end of the session, participants should be able to develop an evaluation schedule for their projects and to identify some learning agenda questions for their projects.

Lead Trainer-Dr. George Kut

Dr. Kut has extensive experience in strengthening government and civil societies’ collaboration and dialogue through participatory training. He has designed and facilitated processes for conflict early warning and response systems, peacebuilding policy analysis and advocacy with governments including designing and conducting several researches and documentation for civil society organizations and UN agencies. He drafted the national peacebuilding policies for Kenya and Uganda. He also offers technical support on conflict and gender sensitive programming.

Dr. Kut’s experience in training in multicultural contexts for over 20 years spans across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He has developed a number of courses and training materials on peacebuilding for civil society organizations, local community groups and UN agencies. He recently designed an internationally popular course module on the application of CEDAW and UNSCRs 1325 in peacebuilding, gender based violence prevention, conflict transformation and human security work. He has a PhD in International Studies and Social Sciences from Coventry University, U.K and is also a holder of MA degree in Peace and Reconciliation Studies from the same university. He also holds a Post Graduate diploma in Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University.

Filled in applications should be sent to COPA by email. All received applications will be acknowledged and if successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant. Please send your completed application to martha@copafrica.org or copa@copafrica.org.

Application forms and prospectus can be obtained from www.copafrica.org or by sending an email to copa@copafrica.org

Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA) will in the period 24^th to 28^th June 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya conduct the annual ‘**Gendering Human Security, Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation Course'.** The training is targeting 10-15 practitioners from around the continent whose work revolves around gendering peacebuilding initiatives, gender mainstreaming in organizations, prevention of sexual violence against women in situations of conflict and integrating UNSCR 1325, CEDAW and Human Security into organizational projects/programmes.

The Course Content

1.Understanding violence against women: Violence is one way of dealing with conflicts (Galtung (1990, 1996) and is represented in three separate types distinguished as physical, structural or cultural. Among the issues to be looked at the training will be the escalation of violence against women in situations of violent conflicts and corresponding tragic developments in which women are targeted in all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

2.Linking Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Human Security and Peacebuilding: Current international standards addressing GBV in conflict and post conflict areas draw upon a wide array of provisions contained in a variety of human rights instruments that safeguard women and girls. The course will help participants identify relevant provisions in selected CEDAW articles which they can advance towards the prevention of sexual violence against women in situations of conflict.

3.Gendering Conflict transformation around UNSCRs: In reference to grassroots based cases studies benefiting indirectly and directly from the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), the participants will look at what these resolutions are, their various provisions, relation to women in conflict areas, and how to incorporate them in ongoing peacebuilding and reconstruction work in their contexts.

4.Human security paradigm and its relevance to women violence prevention: Human security paradigm perceives the ordinary citizen including women as a purpose and not as a means to security. The training will identify and emphasize the considerations for human security as integrated approach to conflict transformation and peacebuilding.

5.Gender Mainstreaming in peacebuilding: Women continue to be underrepresented in peacebuilding processes, yet research shows that where women get engaged, violence often declines and it becomes easier to build more sustainable peace. The session will explore the various strategies that programmes/organizations can put in place to ensure effective participation and contribution of women in the processes.

Main Facilitator: Dr. George Kut

He has extensive experience in strengthening government and civil societies’ collaboration and dialogue through participatory training. He has designed and facilitated processes for conflict early warning and response systems, peacebuilding policy analysis and advocacy with governments including designing and conducting several researches and documentation for civil society organizations and UN agencies. He also offers technical support on conflict and gender sensitive programming.

Dr. Kut’s experience in training in multicultural contexts for over 25 years spans across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He has developed a number of courses and training materials on peacebuilding for civil society organizations, local community groups and UN agencies. Dr. Kut has a PhD in International Studies and Social Sciences from Coventry University, U.K and is also a holder of MA degree in Peace and Reconciliation Studies from the same university

Selected COPA trainings

1.Gendering Human Security, Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation Training (2013-2018).

For six years this course has run in Nairobi, Kenya for a range of participants working in peacebuilding, gender, human rights and development in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Kenya, South Sudan, Burundi, DRC, Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mali, Iraq, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Lebanon. The training aims at enabling participants get a broader understanding of the various UNSCRs that are supportive of women participation in peacebuilding processes, UNSCRs that are supportive of initiatives aimed at prevention of gender based violence especially in conflict contexts and Human Rights Instruments that support substantive equality across genders such as CEDAW.

2.Strengthening Policy and Practice; Meeting the challenges of working in complex environments Course (2014-2017)

This training aims at broadening practitioner’s knowledge in linking practice and policy and also in exploring how their work informs policies. It has been held in Entebbe Uganda and in Nairobi, Kenya as a partnership between COPA, Responding to Conflict and Peace Direct-UK. Participants for the course have come from Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Liberia, Tanzania, Somaliland, UK, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC

3.Monitoring Evaluation, Reporting and Learning, (2015-2018), Nairobi.

This training is ideal for practitioners who are engaged in MERL activities of their programmes. It introduces participants to M/E from a peacebuiding perspective and also introduces them to relevant tools

4.Training of Trainers in peacebuilding and conflict transformation, Nairobi (2013-2018):

The training has been held in Arusha, Tanzania and in Nairobi, Kenya for practitioners keen to build their capacities in designing, facilitating and evaluating trainings. Participants have been drawn from Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, DRC, Ethiopia, Comoros, CAR, Djibouti, Ivory Coast and Sudan.

5.Interrupting cycles of violence; Integrating healing and emotional wellbeing into peacebuilding & development initiatives; (2013)

The training aimed at enabling participants to better understand linkages between cycles of violence and unhealed trauma and how it relates to peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Participants were drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and DRC

6.Training of Trainers course in peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation for IGAD Partners (2012): The training took place in Nazareth, Ethiopia and brought together 15 IGAD South Sudan partners representing the government and civil society organizations. This was from 17^th to 21^st April

2012

7.Enhancing Local Capacities for Peace Training, a 5 day course held in Gulu, Uganda for 31 peace, development and humanitarian aid partners of UN agencies operating in Northern Uganda in 2012

8.Conflict Analysis and Peace Building training for the African Union held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2012 **

Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA by email (copa@copafrica.org/copafricatrainings@gmail.com). All received applications will be acknowledged. If successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant.

Application forms can be downloaded from www.copafrica.org

They can also be requested from copa@copafrica.org//copafricatrainings@gmail.com

The Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA) will conduct her ‘**Training of Trainers in Peacebuilding & conflict transformation Course'** in Nairobi, Kenya from 12^th to 16^th August 2019. The training is targeting 15-20 peacebuilding practitioners who are seeking to expand and refine their knowledge and skills on how to design and facilitate trainings in conflict contexts.

The training is divided into two parts with part one focusing on building competencies in the peacebuilding practice while part two focuses on competencies of a trainer.

At the end of the five days, participants are expected to have gained the most up-to-date knowledge and skills in peacebuilding relevant to African contexts and to be better placed with fundamental skills in conducting trainings in various contexts.
Core thematic areas
Part One (1.5 days):

1. Conflict analysis
2. Theories of peace
3. Strategies of Peacebuilding Interventions

Part Two (3.5 days)

1. Fundamentals in Adult learning Exploring the role of a facilitator/trainer in dynamic contexts
2. Designing a training curriculum
3. Facilitation skills and techniques

4. Evaluating a training programme**Objectives of the training**

5. Deepen participants’ understanding of conflict, peace, conflict analysis and theories of peace.

6. Enhance participants’ knowledge of peacebuilding strategies relevant to their contexts

7. Increase participants’ knowledge and skills on how to design, facilitate and evaluate peacebuilding trainings.**Training/ Learning Methodology and Approach**
   This intensive training will utilize Adult Learning methodology, drawing from Paulo Freire and others. Participants will be required to fully contribute from their knowledge and reflections in peace, development, human rights, gender rights and humanitarian work, amongst other fields.

The learning will be experiential and will engage participants in individual tasks, group tasks, case studies, mini-lectures and role-plays and simulations. The practical elements are designed to help the participants synthesize the learning and make it relevant to their contexts.

Participants will also have the opportunity to design and do 'actual training' facilitation.

Lead facilitator – Dr. Babu Ayindo

Dr. Babu Ayindo has over two decades of experience as a storyteller, teacher, facilitator, researcher and writer. He has taught short courses on arts-based approaches to peacebuilding in seven peacebuilding institutes in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and North America. He holds a B.Ed. from Kenyatta University (Nairobi, Kenya) and M.A in Peace and Conflict Studies from Eastern Mennonite University (Virginia, USA). His PhD from the University of Otago –New Zealand is on Arts, Peacebuilding and Decolonization.

Some of his publications include:

1. Co-authoring When You Are the Peacebuilder (published by United States Institute of Peace, 2001);

2. “Arts Approaches to Peace: Playing Our Way to Transcendence “published in Barry Hart (ed)

3. Peacebuilding in Traumatized Societies (University of America Press, Inc.,2008);

4. “Trauma Awareness and Healing in the Somali Cluster: A Report on the Status of Achievements, Lessons and Outcomes” (published by Pact, 2010);

5. Mpatanishi: A Handbook for Community Based Mediators (published in 2010 by PeaceNet Kenya);

6. In Search of Healers (published by the Coalition of Peace in Africa in 2011).

Selected COPA trainings

1.Gendering Human Security, Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation Training (2013-2018).

For six years this course has run in Nairobi, Kenya for a range of participants working in peacebuilding, gender, human rights and development in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Kenya, South Sudan, Burundi, DRC, Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mali, Iraq, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Lebanon. The training aims at enabling participants get a broader understanding of the various UNSCRs that are supportive of women participation in peacebuilding processes, UNSCRs that are supportive of initiatives aimed at prevention of gender based violence especially in conflict contexts and Human Rights Instruments that support substantive equality across genders such as CEDAW.

2.Strengthening Policy and Practice; Meeting the challenges of working in complex environments Course (2014-2017)

This training aims at broadening practitioner’s knowledge in linking practice and policy and also in exploring how their work informs policies. It has been held in Entebbe Uganda and in Nairobi, Kenya as a partnership between COPA, Responding to Conflict and Peace Direct-UK. Participants for the course have come from Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Liberia, Tanzania, Somaliland, UK, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC

3.Monitoring Evaluation, Reporting and Learning, (2015-2018), Nairobi.

This training is ideal for practitioners who are engaged in MERL activities of their programmes. It introduces participants to M/E from a peacebuilding perspective and also introduces them to relevant tools. Participants to the course have in the past come from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Liberia, Mali, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, DRC, Nigeria, Ghana among other countries

4.Training of Trainers in peacebuilding and conflict transformation, Nairobi (2013-2018):

The training has been held in Arusha, Tanzania and in Nairobi, Kenya for practitioners keen to build their capacities in designing, facilitating and evaluating trainings. Participants have been drawn from Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, DRC, Ethiopia, Comoros, CAR, Djibouti, Ivory Coast and Sudan.

5.Interrupting cycles of violence; Integrating healing and emotional wellbeing into peacebuilding & development initiatives; (2013)

The training aimed at enabling participants to better understand linkages between cycles of violence and unhealed trauma and how it relates to peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Participants were drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and DRC

Application forms can be obtained from www.copafrica.org. Alternatively they can be requested through trainings@copafrica.org or copa@copafrica.org. All received applications will be acknowledged. If successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant.

The ‘Practitioners in Conflict: Refreshing Skills & Creating Strategies for Change’ is a new refresher course designed primarily as a continuing professional development opportunity for people who already have experience in the field.

The course is being run as a partnership between the Coalition For Peace in Africa (COPA) and Peace Direct (PD). COPA has over 20 years’ experience deigning and facilitating trainings for practitioners and organizations working in conflict settings in Africa and beyond. In 2016 Responding to Conflict, an organization with over 20 years training experiences in the globe became the training arm of Peace Direct, a UK based organization that works with local peacebuilding organizations across the world.

Target groups:

These will be practitioners working in the fields of Peacebuilding, Peace Keeping Operations, Development, Humanitarian Relief, Human Rights, Post War Recovery and Climate Adaptation in fragile contexts in Africa and beyond.

Introduction

This course has been designed as a stimulating refresher for practitioners with some experience in the field who are dealing regularly with the effects of conflict and violence, and to respond to the main challenges and questions they face in the course of their everyday work.

Some of the questions that the course will address include:

1. Conflict Analysis: How do we conduct real time conflict analysis so that the results are useful in informing programming?, How do we use some of the tools of analysis to determine where our programming strengths as organizations lies?, How can some of the tools of analysis legitimize our work at the community level and among our partners?

2. Understanding Theories of change (TOC): What is TOC?, how is it formulated?, who is involved in its formulation?, How is it connected to M/E activities?, how can we use our existing TOCs to generate organizational learning and to identify our gaps in programming?

3. Conflict Sensitivity programming; What are the various Conflict Sensitive approaches to programming?, which approaches work best for our programming? How do we design our programmes with a conflict sensitive lens?, What is the co-relation between the ‘Do No Harm’ Principle and other Conflict sensitive approaches? Are these Approaches relevant in expanding our programmes?

4. Programming for results in Peacebuilding; Given the fragility of some of the operating contexts which makes it hard to get the desired results, the course will address such questions as; How do we design for results?, What is the emerging evidence that PB in fragile contexts has results? How do we determine impact in our PB projects?

5. Resilience; Because of the kind of environment peacebuilders operate IN, many unknowingly suffer from burnout and emptiness. This session will address how individuals and teams can practice self- care and increase their emotional resilience to stressful situations.

What the Course will do

1. It will provide participants with the opportunity to broaden and enrich their current methods of analysis

2. It will provide an opportunity to understand conflict sensitivity more deeply.

3. It will enable participants to better understand the practical application of TOC in peacebuilding programming

4. It will enhance participants Capacity to learn continuously from their work, and to effectively monitor and assess impact

5. It will provide a range of ways of taking care of ourselves as practitioners, and increasing resilience

Learning Methodologies

The course will make use of the full range of participatory adult learning models including inquiry, analysis and reflection from participants’ knowledge. Participants will engage in individual and group tasks, concept presentation and case study analysis. Everything will be focused on finding practical pathways and responses to real problems through an inspiring and hopeful process.

Facilitators

1. Dr. Simon Fisher:

Simon is a widely respected conflict transformation specialist and academic with extensive global experience. He is a facilitator, writer, educator and trainer who has worked in over 40 countries over the past 25 years. He has spent many years living and working in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia supporting action for change. His background is in education and development, as well as conflict transformation, with governmental and non-governmental organizations.

In 1991 he founded Responding to Conflict (RTC), an internationally renowned education and training organization based in Birmingham, UK, which continues to train policy makers, academics and practitioners from all over the world. Simon has been an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford and holds a PhD from Oxford Brookes University, where he currently lectures in the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP). He also teaches at universities in Zimbabwe and Cambodia. His focus is always on helping people think about change within and without, both individual and organizational.**2. Rachel Wambui Kung’u**

She has been working with the youth since 1998. She is trained on Working with conflict, Engendering Human Security, Girl child, gender advocacy and community development. She has a degree in Social studies and is currently undertaking her Masters in Global Leadership Development at the University of Queesland in Australia.

Wambui is a co-founder of Voluntary Youth Philanthropists-a youth led organization which promotes volunteerism, youth empowerment, intercultural understanding, cultural participation and peacebuilding for peaceful coexistence through community development, skills and talent enhancement and entrepreneurship.

Wambui is a community appraiser and holds artistic talents which she uses to improve the youth self-esteem. She uses technology for conflict early warning and advocacy.

Registration documents can be downloaded from www.copafrica.org. They can also be requested from copa@copafrica.org/trainings@copafrica.org/courses@peacedirect.org

For more information, please contact

Coalition for Peace in Africa
P.O Box 61753-00200 City Square, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 020 3866686/ Cell: + 254 703 429 667
Email: copa@copafrica.org/trainings@copafrica.org
Web: www.copafrica.org

Peace Direct
Studio 302, 203-213 Mare Street
London, E8 3QE
Tel: +44 203 422 5549
Email: courses@peacedirect.org
Web: www.peacedirect.org

Kindly find below information on COPA's next training on Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning in the Peacebuilding Practice, 21^st to 25^th October 2019, Nairobi, Kenya

Background
Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) is an integral part of every intervention. Knowledge of MERL makes it easy to formulate and articulate a project’s theory of change and to draw organizational learning from it. It also makes it easier to draw evidence of achieved results, draw lessons from what is working and recommend appropriate measures for what is not working.

Though MERL is beneficial, many organizations and project staffs shy away from it because they see it as technical in nature, others find it time consuming while others fear that results may not be achievable in rapidly changing contexts.

Irrespective of this, knowledge and skills in MERL allows organizations and staff to more effectively engage in MERL for the growth of their projects and the organizations.

Course objectives1. Introduce participants to MERL from a peacebuilding perspective

1. Enhance participants understanding of the various contextual tools of analysis applied in MERL in the peacebuilding practice
2. Build participants understanding of a project’s Theory of Change
3. Enhance participants’ skills in developing an evaluation and a learning agenda for their Peacebuilding projects

The Course Content

1. Introduction to monitoring and evaluation for conflict prevention and peacebuilding: In this session, participants will be introduced to MERL from the peacebuilding practice including an understanding of the different criteria that is used to assess the effectiveness of a peacebuilding project.***2. Contextual analysis tools***: This session will introduce participants to the different contextual analysis tools used in MERL.

3. Developing effective monitoring tools for conflict prevention and peacebuilding:*** In this section, participants will be taken through the process of developing an MERL plan for their specific projects. The session will focus on creating a common understanding of what an MERL plan is, what it is used for, who is involved in its designing, the most appropriate time for its designing and who it is used on

4. Developing a Theory of Change: The session will focus on understanding what a Theory of change is, how it is developed, its relationship to the project cycle, who really should be involved in its designing and its relevance in monitoring and evaluation of a project/programme. This session will enable participants broaden their knowledge of the project cycle and the logical linkages from one stage to the other. The session will examine how proposed project activities lead to the desired social change. At the end of the session, participants should be able to identify and expound on the various theories of change that inform their projects.

5. Evaluation and developing a learning agenda: The session will take participants through the concept of evaluation and its importance and applicability in projects, the different types of evaluation and audiences will also be discussed including how to develop an evaluation schedule for a project. At the end of the session, participants should be able to develop an evaluation schedule for their projects and to identify some learning agenda questions for their projects.

Important Information for International Participants

1. A Yellow Fever Certificate will be required
2. Unless where otherwise advised by COPA, visas are issued upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi at a cost of $50.

Filled in applications should be sent to COPA by email. All received applications will be acknowledged and if successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant.

Please send your completed application to trainings@copafrica.org or copa@copafrica.org

Application forms can be obtained from the above email addresses. They can also be downloaded from www.copafrica.org in the 'Upcoming Events' section

Introduction

This course is ideal for practitioners who would like to build their knowledge and skills on how to carry out their conflict transformation and peacebuilding initiatives in ways that are comprehensive, inclusive and conflict sensitive. The course provides participants with an avenue to deeply explore the various terminologies that relate to conflict, violence and peace as well as an opportunity to gain skills that are relevant to handling of post violent conflict situations.

Within the 5 days, participants go through various tools of conflict analysis relevant to their contexts including explorations of how the tools can be used to determine the direction their organizations programming should take and identification of their niche areas of focus depending on their expertise and available

Further, there is focus on various peacebuilding and conflict transformation theories and an analysis of how this knowledge can be used to build on African knowledge and processes of conflict transformation.

The course makes use of participatory adult learning models including inquiry, analysis and reflection from participants’ knowledge. Participants engage in individual and group tasks, concept presentation, mini-lectures, case study analysis and videos

1 The Course Content

1.Understanding Conflict

This section is designed to help the participants gain a deeper understanding of the factors that cause conflict and violence with the aim of being able to identify appropriate strategies for intervening in different conflict situations. The different analytical models that will be applied include:

• Exploring the nature and dynamics of conflict

• Understanding different levels and types of conflict

• Analysing conflicts and causes

2.Peacebuilding theories and practice

This section will give an overview of peacebuilding theories, concepts and practice. During the sessions, participants will be given the opportunity to:

• Identify context specific peacebuilding interventions

• Work in teams to practice new theories and concepts

• Apply these ideas and skills to cases that relate to their experiences and contexts

3.Conflict Sensitivity in Peacebuilding

This section will look at the strategies and methods that help peacebuilding and multi-mandated interveners to examine and take into account the unintended impacts of their interventions on the context of conflict and crisis. The participants will explore:

• Understanding conflict sensitivity

• Application of conflict sensitivity in peacebuilding programs

• Conflict analysis

• Conflict sensitive approaches

4.Skills for conflict transformation and peacebuilding

In this section participants will discuss the essential skills and knowledge needed for conflict transformation in interpersonal and group settings. Some of the skills will include:

• Negotiation and mediation

• Working with stories to create change

• Forgiveness and reconciliation

5.Exploration of indigenous mechanisms in peacebuilding

This section will focus on the practices of indigenous mechanism in peacebuilding and discern its role in contemporary peacebuilding practice. Discussions will be on:

• Community mechanisms and peace processes

• Indigenous dispute resolution mechanisms

• Influence of indigenous mechanisms on external conflict interventions

Expected Training results

i. A clear understanding of peace, violence and conflict and their inter-relations

ii. Increased understanding of different conflict analysis tools and the inter-relations between a conflict context and intervention strategies

iii. A better understanding of peacebuilding theories including the ones applicable to participants projects interventions

iv. An improved awareness of the ‘Do No Harm Approach’ and how the operating context interacts with proposed interventions

v. Improved knowledge and skills of different conflict management strategies

vi. Appreciation of indigenous conflict resolution strategies

Important Information for International Participants

1. A Yellow Fever Certificate will be required

2. Unless where otherwise advised by COPA, visas are issued upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at a cost of $50.

Application forms can be downloaded from

http://copafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Nov-2019-Application-Form.docx

They can also be requested by email from copa@copafrica.org/trainings@copafrica.org

Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA) will in the period 9^th to 13^th December 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya conduct the annual ‘**Gendering Human Security, Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation Course'.**

The training is targeting 10-15 practitioners from around the continent whose work revolves around gendering peacebuilding initiatives, gender mainstreaming in organizations, prevention of sexual violence against women in situations of conflict and integrating UNSCR 1325, CEDAW and Human Security into organizational projects/programmes. Time will be dedicated to discuss how integration of human security in projects/programmes can be used as a strategy for reducing gender based violence, promoting gender equality and building sustainable peace.

The Course Content

1.Understanding violence against women: Violence is one way of dealing with conflicts (Galtung (1990, 1996) and is represented in three separate types distinguished as physical, structural or cultural. Among the issues to be looked at the training will be the escalation of violence against women in situations of violent conflicts and corresponding tragic developments in which women are targeted in all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

2.Linking Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Human Security and Peacebuilding: Current international standards addressing GBV in conflict and post conflict areas draw upon a wide array of provisions contained in a variety of human rights instruments that safeguard women and girls. The course will help participants identify relevant provisions in selected CEDAW articles which they can advance towards the prevention of sexual violence against women in situations of conflict.

3.Gendering Conflict transformation around UNSCRs: In reference to grassroots based cases studies benefiting indirectly and directly from the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), the participants will look at what these resolutions are, their various provisions, relation to women in conflict areas, and how to incorporate them in ongoing peacebuilding and reconstruction work in their contexts.

4.Human security paradigm and its relevance to women violence prevention: Human security paradigm perceives the ordinary citizen including women as a purpose and not as a means to security. The training will identify and emphasize the considerations for human security as integrated approach to conflict transformation and peacebuilding.

5.Gender Mainstreaming in peacebuilding: Women continue to be underrepresented in peacebuilding processes, yet research shows that where women get engaged, violence often declines and it becomes easier to build more sustainable peace. The session will explore the various strategies that programmes/organizations can put in place to ensure effective participation and contribution of women in the processes.

Training centre
The training will be held at the Convent International Hotel located in Nairobi's Convent Drive, off James Gichuru Road in Lavington. It is about 15 Kms from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. For more information, visit www.cigh.co.ke

Important Information for International Participants

1. A Yellow Fever Certificate will be required
2. Unless where otherwise advised by COPA, visas are issued upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at a cost of $50.

Filled in application forms should be sent to COPA through any of the emails, trainings@copafrica.org/copa@copafrica.org/copafricatrainings@gmail.com. All received applications will be acknowledged. If successful a corresponding letter of admission and other necessary documentations will be sent to the applicant.

Training application forms can be downloaded from

http://copafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/application-form-December-2019.docx