Identity and Power

Who can register for this training?

The 4-day course is offered to practitioners of peace and conflict work, humanitarian or development cooperation, or those who intend to work in these fields.

Depending on methods and topic of the training, we limit the number of available spaces to a maximum of 16 participants. Register early to reserve your place!  

Content

Identity is complex, fluid and changing. Identity power and relationships can be used as an instrument for inclusion, but also othering, and can therefore prove to be pivotal in conflict transformation. Peace and conflict work includes working with a multitude of actors who have various and multi-faceted identities and often unequal access to power. Their different perspectives on the conflicts in question, their role and willingness to engage in peacebuilding are essential in addressing the root causes and elements of conflict.

The course aims to enable peace and conflict workers to play a role in supporting or providing a space where conflicts are constructively addressed, while at the same time giving them a chance to critically explore identity and power for themselves and reflect on their own motivations, roles, legitimacy and impact in the field.

Objectives

• Critically examine and evaluate peace interventions through the lenses of identity
• Explore the concepts of power, intersectionality, culture and privilege and the importance of those within the peacebuilding field
• Reflect on one’s own privileges, as well as the abilities & expectations that come with that
• Develop tools and strategies for inclusive peacebuilding interventions.

Key Concepts

• Power structures and power dynamics, reflection of privileges and biases
• Role of identity in conflicts and Conflict Transformation
• Intersectionality
• Strategies for inclusive peace work
• Practical tools, checklist to use in mainstreaming the topics power and identity in existing or future programs and projects

Methodology

The training will be practical, participatory and experience-based; the insights, existing skills and knowledge of both the facilitator and the participants will form an integral part of the process. It will be grounded in the principles of adult learning. The tools and methodologies used in the workshop will be practiced and applied to conflict contexts and projects the participants suggest and are familiar with (or that are their own contexts). Participants will be encouraged to adapt and change the tools to make them their own.

After a successful participation, participants receive a certificate and become part of the academy’s alumni network.

Application

Please register for this training online via our website by March 7, 2025. We will then contact you for the next steps. Please note that the number of available spaces per training is limited, and that your participation in the training is only guaranteed if the fee is paid in time. Early registration is highly encouraged.

Please make sure to clearly express your motivation and expectations for the training. Also, please share your experiences relevant to the topic.

Visa: Participants from outside the EU will need a visa to enter Germany. We can generally support the visa process with a formal invitation letter from our side. Be advised that it takes a significant amount of time to get the visa processed, so be sure to start the process 8 weeks before the training start. Please make sure you are eligible and check the specific requirements and usual timeline for processing with your local German embassy. The responsibility for obtain-ing the visa lies with each of the participants themselves.