Kenya: Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation Course

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.

Further the curriculum will combine basic concepts in peacebuilding with practical opportunities to apply the concepts. The basic concepts include identifying the link between peacebuilding and development, when and where peacebuilding occurs, various roles of peacebuilders, the relationship-centered nature of peacebuilding, some basic operating principles, an integrated framework for identifying peacebuilding activities, and a visioning component.

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 mechanisms

· Influence of indigenous mechanisms on external conflict interventions

Expected Training results

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

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

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

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

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

· Appreciation of indigenous conflict resolution strategies

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/marthandogoto@gmail.com