Kenya: COPA's Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation Course; 25th to 29th November 2019, Nairobi, Kenya

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