Organization: Coalition for Peace in Africa
Registration deadline: 07 Mar 2018
Starting date: 12 Mar 2018
Ending date: 16 Mar 2018
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
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
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.
Main Facilitators:
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. George 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.
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
Babu Ayindo
For over two decades, Babu has been involved in the designing and facilitation of conflict transformation and peacebuilding processes and projects with various agencies in different parts of the world. Most of his work focuses on program design, implementation and management; evaluation of peace and social justice initiatives; teaching and training; facilitation of peace processes; building of healthy organizations; writing and experimenting with arts approaches to peacebuilding in diverse cultural contexts in Africa, North America and Asia.
In addition, he has taught in a number of peace institutes including: the Summer Peacebuilding Institute of Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia (USA); the Peace and Development Institute of the American University, Washington, DC; the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute, the Philippines; and, the Canadian School of Peacebuilding. In Africa, he is one of the main trainers for the Coalition For Peace in Africa (COPA).
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).
How to register:
The Application form and training prospectus can be obtained from www.copafrica.org
Alternatively, they can be requested from martha@copafrica.org/copa@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