Gender-sensitivity in Peace Projects

Who can register for this course?

The course is designed for specialists who already work or intent to work on international peace projects and conflict-sensitive development, and for peacebuilders across the globe engaged in project management in their organisations, who want to expand and deepen their existing knowledge and to be supported to practically apply it in their work.

The course welcomes participants of different gender, age, nationality, sexual orientation etc. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable participation of candidates with disabilities.

In order to make the best out of this course, participants should have basic understanding in regard to gender, conflict sensitivity and project management. Spoken and written fluency in English language will enable participants to follow the content smoothly.

Depending on methods and topic of the training, we limit the number of available spaces to a manageable size (a maximum of 20 participants). Register early to reserve your place!

Content

Gender-sensitive and intersectional approaches are crucial when it comes to an intervention in the field of conflict transformation. This specific lens helps identifying invisible angles and new opportunities for comprehensive project management and conflict analysis.

The programme aims to provide emotional experience that walks the talk on feminist principles, in addition to equipping participants with technical skills to apply them in real life context. It strives to encompass beyond-Western-gaze on the subject, and provides learning opportunities through reading, writing, doing, listening and gamification, with the goal to accommodate different learners and preferences.

Through seven segments, the programme will tackle:

1. Own intersectionality of identity aspects, social location, epistemology of knowledge production and bias in connection to peacebuilding;
2. Intersectionality concept, including its origins, main feminist schools of thought on interplay of power and gender, and application in human rights framework;
3. Development of conflict analysis and other main project elements, with application of intersectional lenses throughout;
4. Options for strategizing goals of peacebuilding efforts which acknowledge structural inequalities and challenge power that produces them.

Objectives

It is expected that by the end of the training, the participants:

• have reviewed and refreshed their knowledge of the main terms and concepts related to gender, feminism, gendered views on peacebuilding and conflict transformation, including an intersectional perspective;
• have an awareness of power and its dynamics related to gender in different conflict situations;
• have continuously and critically reflected on their own role and position within the intersecting dynamics of gender, power and identity;
• shall be better abled to integrate an intersectional and gender-responsive lens into conflict analysis,
  project planning, monitoring, and evaluation, and understand its potential for conflict transformation;
• have created project ideas or adaptations related to their specific working/living environment and embedded in the context of peace work.

Key Concepts

• gender-sensitivity and -responsiveness
• intersectionality
• conflict analysis
• feminist approaches to peacebuilding
• human security

Theoretical base: Social location theory, critical feminist security studies, critical peacebuilding scholarship, feminist IR, intersectionality and human security concept.

Methodology

The planned schedule is seven weeks of training with weekly two-hour live sessions. The training will emphasize a warm, encouraging, trusting and appreciating atmosphere in the online setting. It foresees an interactive, varied and playful learning environment and exchange-oriented communication of content in the digital space. In addition to input from the trainer, the exchange of ideas among the participants, for example in group work and discussions, will also be used.

Methods:

• Radical reflexivity (encourages deep self-reflection and critical analysis of power dynamics and biases. It involves questioning assumptions, identifying personal privileges and disadvantages, and examining the impact of one's own actions on systems of inequality);
• Scenario-based learning, i.e. usage of case studies, storytelling and learning by immersion and engaging actively with material;
• Collaborative creation and design thinking;
• Holistic listening and
• Overall engaging, hands-on non-formal education good practices, in digital setups.

In the course, participants use a variety of tools, including a digital learning platform, a video conferencing tool, and an online whiteboard. Participants should therefore have a good internet connection (1 Mbit down/upload or better). A headset is highly recommended.

Workload

Deliverables:

By the end of the training, participants will develop individual or group project ideas, applicable to their context. And they will produce smaller scope deliverables leading to the overall idea after each segment of the programme. For each ‘homework’ there will be feedback or reflective questions provided by the trainer.

After a successful participation, participants receive a certificate and become part of our alumni network.

Total expected weekly hours: 6 to 8 hours per week