Joint NPI-Africa and CORAT

Africa PEACE BUILDING

INSTITUTE 2015

1.0 The Institute

Peacebuilding Institute (PBI) is an annual training programme initiated in 2006 with a
purpose of imparting skills, building capacities and creative exploration and articulation of
deep issues which inform violent conflicts in the continent and beyond. The trainings that
target peacebuilding actors from across Africa and beyond seek to provide nexus between
classroom reflection to participants knowledge and real life experience. In doing this, the
exercise envisions enhancing capacities of translating theory to practice while on the other
hand, using classroom framework to interrogate key lessons from the field.
The training sessions target strategic actors both from state and non-state sectors. These
include non-governmental organizations, faith communities, and public servants interested
in deepening their understanding on conflict transformation and wishing to work in
conflict settings or committed to including conflict-sensitive approaches in their
programme work. This is to respond to myriad of challenges of managing conflicts from
simple ones, found in places of work or residence, to complex situations of national and
regional strife.
NPI-Africa and The Christian Organizations Research and Advisory Trust of Africa (CORAT
Africa) are collaborating to run PBI to focus on enhancing capacities of peacebuilding
strategic actors across Africa and beyond to respond to the current and emerging
challenges and new frontiers in peace and conflict mitigation. In order to do this, the 2015
PBI contains a wide array of topics and training modules which include examination of the
current (and emerging) trends of peace and security with emphasis of both internal and
external factors; critical analysis of continental conflict situation; and deepening
understanding on theoretical inputs and exploring innovative interventions at all levels of
society. Additionally, the training will explore various trajectories of managing transitions
and dilemmas of post-violent conflict societies; the place, role and strategic relevance of
faith communities in peacebuilding; and strategies for building and sustaining networks as
peace infrastructure. In order to ensure practical learning, there shall be case studies based
on real life situations and follow-up plan development. It is expected that the session will
result into formation of networks as part of collaborative frameworks for peacebuilding in
the continent among the participants.

2.0 About the Organizers

CORAT Africa
The Christian Organizations Research and Advisory Trust of Africa (CORAT Africa) is a PanAfrican, not-for-profit Christian Organization established in March 1975 that exists to
enhance harmonious and ethical society. CORAT has a purpose of enabling effective
leadership, management and accountability of Churches and Church related organizations
to fulfil their mission of bringing peace in conflict areas and carry themselves in a
professional way. The organization therefore brings to the Institute more than three
decades of experience of working with and strengthening capacity of Faith Based
Organizations (FBOs) to be effective in their development work

NPI-Africa
Nairobi Peace Initiative-Africa (NPI-Africa) is a peace resource organization, committed to
the promotion and/or facilitation of peaceful transformation of conflicts and reconciliation
in Africa. Founded in 1984, NPI-Africa has a mission to facilitate conflict transformation
processes towards the realization of a peaceful, thriving and cohesive Africa through
initiatives that promote dialogue, mediation, healing and reconciliation; training and
capacity building; action-oriented research and policy influencing. NPI-Africa staff has vast
experience in training on conflict analysis and transformation, mediation, dialogue
facilitation, reconciliation and healing.

3.0 Modules and Content

MODULE 1:
4th 8th May 2015
Theological Foundations of Peace
Contextualizing Conflicts in Africa

building

and

Conflict

Resolution;

and

The first part of this module looks at the increasing involvement of the religious
communities and institutions in the search for lasting peace, and aims to equip leaders and
workers involved in issues of justice, peace and reconciliation at various levels of society.
Additionally, participants will gain knowledge and skills on developing networks and
balancing ideologies while addressing contextual issues that relate to peace and conflicts.
The second part of the module is designed to provide broad perspectives on and locate the
roots and patterns of the complexity of conflicts in Africa and beyond with the purpose of
developing options and strategies for peacebuilding. It aims at assisting participants to
develop analytical skills for dealing with a complexity of factors through linking the present
and the historical, the local, national and the global, and the social, political and economic,
in terms of understanding conflicts in Africa.

Content
a. Understanding concepts of peace, justice and reconciliation from a Christian
perspective
b. The role of religion in conflict and peacebuilding
a. Inter-Church (Ecumenism) and Cross-religious (Interfaith) engagement in
coordination of peacebuilding and conflict resolutions
-

historical and trends of ecumenical and interfaith relations

challenges and prospects in Africa

coordination in the context of peacebuilding

relevance and strategic advantage

c. Conflicts in Africa: Historical and current perspectives on the entrenchment of

violence
d. The nature of modern and protracted violent conflicts in Africa,
e. Challenges of peace in Africa Aspect of Good Governance and Local Leadership,
Prospects for political and economic renewal in Africa: NEPAD, Millennium
Development Goals, Regional Economic Communities etc
f. Environment and peace
g. Application in participants setting

MODULE 2:
11th 15th May 2015
Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding Interventions: Approaches and Skills
This session will be devoted to the understanding of conflict, its dynamics and possibilities
of transformation, It will have a theoretical component in which participants will be
exposed to theories of conflict, tools for analysis, and strategies of transformation, all
woven from social science discipline and practical experiences. The session will also have a
skills component where participants will be exposed to the theories and practice of
negotiation, conciliation and mediation.
Content
(a)

Defining and understanding conflict

(b)

The conflict cycle

(c)

Conflict analysis tools and process

(d)

Social transformation of conflict

(e)

Perceptions, communication and conflict

(f)

Developing a peacebuilding framework

3

 Actors and approaches

From crises response to strategic vision
From issues to systems
(g)

Approaches and skills for intervention in social conflicts Mediation, Negotiation,

Arbitration etc.

(h)

Role play/Case Study

MODULE 3:
18th 22th May 2015
After Violence: Sustainable Justice, Peace, Healing; and Reconciliation
Many African countries have made agreements on the termination of long-running
conflicts. In the recent past, Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Liberia, Somalia and Sudan have signed
peace agreements. Other countries such as Rwanda, Mozambique, Angola, Sierra Leone,
etc., are in the recovery phase after years of devastating conflicts. All these countries and
many others in Africa have also been undergoing a second type of transition: from closed or
oppressive political systems, to more open and democratic systems.
The signing of peace agreements is preceded by protracted negotiations, themselves
preceded by long periods of usually atrocious war and violence. The signing of peace
accords or the termination of violent conflicts by other means is thought to usher in a
period of post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction. An understanding of the
characteristics and needs of societies emerging from conflict is an essential prior step to an
understanding and design of appropriate programmes and actions for the sustainability of
peace. This course will explore the realities, needs and challenges facing countries
emerging from conflict in Africa and going through transitions.
Content
(a) The definition, nature and types of protracted violence
(b) Ending violence; the nature of negotiated peace and peace agreements
(c) The role of identity, shame and humiliation in the cycle of violence
(d) Dealing with consequences of violence (Transitional Justice: Practice and Dilemmas,
Trauma Awareness and Healing, and Demobilization, Disarmament and
Reintegration)
(e) Reconciliation: Various perspectives and traditions, and its applications at various
levels
(f) Gender Perspective
(g) Human security in peacebuilding
(h) Sustaining structural change: Networks and strategies for sustaining peace
(i) Implications for development facilitators
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4.0 Methodology
Teaching methodology will include introductory and participatory presentations,
discussion of practical experiences and case studies, group discussions, role plays and
simulations and short video clips.

5.0 Costs, Duration and Venue

Institute Duration: Three Weeks
Venue:

CORAT Africa Management and Development Center, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya

Course fees (USD): Tuition

800.00

Boarding

520.00

Total

1,320.00

6.0 For more information Contact:

CORAT Africa
P. O. BOX 42493
Nairobi 00100 Kenya
E-mail: training@coratafrica.com
coratafrica@nbi.ispkenya.com
Wireless 020-8044948
Cell: +254 724 569 660/+254 733 600 045
www.coratafrica.com
NPI-Africa
P. O. BOX 14894-00800
Nairobi, Kenya
Cell: +254 735765688/+254720988384
Landline: +254-20-4441444/4440098
E-mail: bokok@npi-africa.org and info@npi-africa.org
www.npi-africa.org