Systemic Conflict Analysis

Who can register for this training?

This training is intended for people who work in or plan to enter the field of civil conflict transformation, peacebuilding or conflict-sensitive relief or development cooperation and want to gain a well-founded understanding of conflict analysis, it´s application and impact on the practical work.

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

There is more to a conflict than just one particular cause or single event. It is therefore of decisive importance for peacebuilding projects to take the whole system and all parties involved into consideration when conducting a conflict analysis. A nuanced and thorough analysis is essential to finding the right approach to a peace project and to anticipating the possible effects of an intervention. The training introduces a variety of different analysis methods and offers insight into their practical application in the field.

Objectives

• Get familiar with and be able to apply different conflict analysis tools
• Understand the respective strengths and pitfalls of these tools
• Gain a deeper understanding for the essentially subjective nature of conflict analysis
• Gain an awareness of questions of power and privilege and how they relate to conflict analysis, and be able to address them appropriately

Key Concepts

• Introduction to conflict analysis and various tools, its uses and its limitations
• Systems thinking in Conflict Transformation
• Systemic Conflict Analysis
• Systemic Conflict Analysis application, limitations and potential challenges
• Entry points for intervention

Methodology

The training uses inputs, exercises in pairs and small groups, plenary discussions and group work on case studies in order to let participants experience different conflict analysis tools. The emphasis of the training is on letting participants work on real-life examples in order to underline the actuality and usefulness in practice of the tools. The work on analyses of real-life examples is supplemented with reflections on issues such as power and privilege, objectivity versus subjectivity and the difference between linear and systemic approaches in conflict analysis.

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

Certification Requirements

The course certification requirements serve as a guideline for the participants to critically evaluate their own learning progress and as a point of reflection on the importance of their continued engagement with the group, participation in the course and commitment to the tasks.

The specific requirements are the following:

• Punctuality and regular attendance during the course. Participants are allowed up to 25% of absence, with permission from the Academy, to attend to urgent issues;
• Completion of 90% of the compulsory tasks and deliverables per module; and
• Respect and observance of the agreements about the learning process such as; active participation, treating each other with respect, readiness to work on one’s own skills, willingness to resolve conflicts in a constructive way, and openness to reflect on one’s roles and behaviours, emotions and thoughts.

Exceptions on individual basis and/or alternative tasks as compensation of missed requirements could be granted in agreement with the course team. Gaining new knowledge and perspectives and learning new skills are the core outcomes of the course.  However, inability to meet most or all the requirements may lead to the participant not receiving a certificate at the end of the course.