Conflict Sensitivity

Peacebuilding, development and humanitarian projects aim at contributing to a positive impact on the contexts in which they are implemented. In order to maximise positive impacts and avoid unintended negative ones, such external interventions in volatile/conflict-affected environments always need to be aware of and sensitive to the contextual history, actors, and power dynamics. This includes the identification and mitigation of the risks of exacerbating conflict, and strengthening of opportunities to contribute to positive change.

Working in volatile and potentially quickly changing contexts requires organizations and their interventions to be adaptive and flexible. A conflict sensitive approach systematically takes into account both the positive and negative potential impacts of interventions on contexts, as well as the impact of these contexts on the interventions – and explores avenues to react and adapt to actual events.

As a participant you will be able to:
acquire an understanding of the concept and aim of conflict sensitivity;
learn about practical tools for conflict sensitive program management, and apply them to concrete case examples in facilitated group work exercises; 
explore best practices and lessons learned with conflict sensitivity practitioners from different contexts;
discuss cases from your own or other participants’ work;
exchange experiences and become part of a community of practice.

This course is designed for professionals working in or on fragile and conflict-affected contexts who are interested in improving their conflict-sensitive project management skills. Interested practitioners and academics with prior knowledge of humanitarian, development or peacebuilding project design and implementation are invited to bring in their own experiences and connect them to current conceptual insights and practical knowledge. Kindly note that the course strongly relies on interactive group-work formats, requiring participants to dedicate their time and attention to the course and its sessions for the duration of the six half-days. 

The existing swisspeace self-paced online conflict sensitivity learning module will be used for the individual preparation and processing of the content. The virtual course provides a deepening of the content of the existing online training module, and is equally suitable for participants who already completed it as for those who have not.

Is this course a good match for you? If unsure, do not hesitate to contact us for counseling. 

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