Peacebuilding

With this course on “peacebuilding” experts from governments, civil society, the private sector, international institutions and agencies as well as international non-governmental organisations will be prepared and supported for their engagement in crisis prevention, crisis management, humanitarian aid and development cooperation.

Course Description

The course is based on a comprehensive peacebuilding approach emphasising the human security and basic human needs of the population in a conflict area, protecting and promoting human rights, supporting good governance, democratisation and civil society participation as well as sustainable socio-economic and ecological development, protecting the population by the rule of law and promoting culture, education and information dissemination. This peacebuilding approach aims at counteracting violent escalations flexibly and practically at an early point by non-violent means, and favours a multidimensional peace-keeping approach including military and civilian components on a co-operative and co-ordinated but distinct basis.

The course links this comprehensive peacebuilding approach to the specific professional and personal challenges of experts from a wide range of professional and organisational backgrounds who are already involved or plan to become involved in planning and implementing peacebuilding activities, either from their home base in governmental or non-governmental organisations or in a leading position in the field. Police and military experts involved in planning and implementing police or military activities in conjunction with Peacebuilding activities are also important addressees.

Participants are provided with an overview on the approaches, tasks, instruments and actors for peace-building. Special emphasis is given to the role of gender, gender equality and the contribution of women to peace-building. The importance of the evaluation of peacebuilding projects and programmes for “lessons learned” as well as the relevance of networking for better co-operation is also emphasised.

Methodology

The methodology of the course aims at communicating the content taught in the modules in such a way that participants can later adapt and apply it in their daily work or in a new setting. Therefore, the methodology of the training is based on adult learning principles which allow the transfer of knowledge not only cognitively but also experientially.

Course participants coming from different fields will be encouraged to contribute with their specific experience to the content of the course, to the discussions and working groups. They should also actively share their experiences and their respective professional and practical insights with other course participants throughout the course.

Reading materials will be sent to the participants prior to the course in order to support the creation of a common basic knowledge among participants Moreover participants are asked to complete the online module on IDL, the ESDC long-distance learning system, prior to the course. The successful completion of the online module is a prerequisite to obtaining a certificate for the course.

Target Group

Experts from governments, civil society, the private sector, international institutions and agencies as well as international non-governmental organisations who are engaged in crisis prevention, crisis management, humanitarian aid and development cooperation are invited to participate at this course.

The duration of the course is 7 days. (Approximately 25 participants)

Next ESDC Course on Peacebuilding: 12 – 19 October 2012

Application Deadline: 29 June 2012