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Call for Applications - Working with Conflict: Analysis, Strategy and Intervention
Africa University, Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance (IPLG)

Deadline: 7 April 2012

Africa University is delighted to announce the launch of a new certificate course for professionals, civil society actors, government officials, civil servants, academics, students and leaders in Southern Africa:

Working with Conflict: Analysis, Strategy and Intervention
Dates: 21 May - 1 June 2012

Course Description

From 21 May - 1 June 2012, Africa University's Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance will offer a short course titled, Working with Conflict: Analysis, Strategy and Intervention. The course will run on the beautiful campus of Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. This course has been specially tailored and developed for professionals across a wide sector of activity in the Southern Africa region. It offers the chance for participants to expand their overall competence in conflict transformation and peace-building in a manner which closely combines theory with practice. The course format is highly practical, participative and experience-based. It will move sequentially from analysis, to strategy building, exploration of modes of intervention and evaluation.

Targeted Participants

The course is designed for professionals, executives and leaders across many sectors in the region, policymakers and practitioners alike, who are faced every day with myriad challenges and conflicts. The course is intended to help participants to understand and work better in conflict settings as well as to include conflict sensitivity in programming. Those who will find the course especially useful include: the justice and security sector (police, army, prisons, judiciary) political parties, civil servants; traditional leaders; faith-based organisations; local and international NGOs; women's organisations, democracy, development, humanitarian and human rights organisations; and those who work with youth.

Course Objectives

• To provide students and practitioners with a platform to understand conflict and its transformation;
• To equip participants with skills of conflict transformation and other modes of intervention;
• To provide space for reflection and shared learning about conflict and conflict intervention

Expected Outcomes

Participants will learn and apply key insights and competences in the field of conflict transformation to their specific situations. They will become more self aware, more skilled, confident and resourceful in managing and resolving conflicts. Furthermore, participants will be able to understand and apply their new knowledge and skill strategically to their work, organisations and communities as needed, to help people move from "its either you or me" to "this is a shared conflict which we can solve together."

They will be familiar with conflict sensitive programming tools and able to plan and assess the impact of conflict-related work. Participants will be able to take an active role in designing and implementing specific interventions to resolve conflicts at different levels, including the interpersonal level. They will be able to play a competent and supportive part in negotiation and mediation processes.

Course Structure and Methodology

Course facilitation will be carried out by academic and practitioner experts in the integrated fields of peace and conflict, peace-building and sustainable development. Highly varied and interactive teaching and learning approaches will be used, geared to the needs and capacities of the students on the course. Practical exercises will also be undertaken, along with small group discussion, analysis, and consideration of policy and intervention options. The experience and challenges brought by participants to the course will form a central part of the content, and opportunities will be provided to work on specific situations faced by participants in consultation with expert tutors. Creativity and imaginative problem solving will be central to the whole process.

The techniques and approaches will be drawn from across the world and delivered in a manner which emphasises the role of culture as a resource as well as the need for cultures to adapt to modern needs.

Course Content

The course is composed of four main sections:

• Section 1: Understanding and analyzing conflict;
• Section 2: Building an effective strategy;
• Section 3: Selecting methods of intervention;
• Section 4: Integrating new learning into policy and practice.

Each section is structured so as to provide opportunities for participants to explore key ideas, apply specific tools to actual situations of relevance to them and their work, and reflect on the relevance of these to their professional values and practice as a whole.

Course Dates and Duration

The course will be offered over a 10-day period in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The training course will be hosted by the Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance at Africa University in Mutare beginning Monday 21 May, and will conclude on Friday 1 June 2012. Accordingly, travel dates will be 19 May and 2 June 2012.

Certificate of Competence

Participants who successfully complete the course and fulfill the requirements which include attendance and active participation will receive a certificate of competence from Africa University.

Admission Requirements

Prospective participants are expected to meet the following criteria:

1. Possess an undergraduate degree or more than 1 year experience in any field and sector;
2. English proficiency (as the course will be delivered in English);
3. Commitment to participate for the duration of the full course.
4. Be from any Southern African country:

Course Fees

The course fees are USD500, which includes tuition fees and refreshments. Participants may make their own arrangements for accommodation off campus. Participants who opt to stay on campus at Africa University will be charged an extra USD400 for accommodation and meals. A limited number of Africa University students may attend the course free of charge. A small number of places are also available to academic, administrative and support staff of Africa University. They will be charged a reduced fee of USD 150.00. Participants are however, advised to take make arrangements for their personal and health insurance as the organizers cannot take liabilities in this regard.

Application Procedures

The number of participants on the course is limited to ensure a high quality of personal attention. Early application is recommended. Although admission is on a rolling basis, the deadline for submission of applications is 7 April 2012.

For more information and application instructions please email:
iplgsec@africau.ac.zw or iplgdirector@africau.ac.zw
and cc institute.africauniversity@gmail.com

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