Call for Tender - Dealing with the Past

The Academy for Conflict Transformation, part of Pro Peace, is looking for a trainer to develop and deliver a seven-week online thematic training on the topic of “Dealing with the Past”, scheduled for September/October 2026.

1. Background information

The Academy for Conflict Transformation is a place of learning for peace and conflict work. Our educational programmes are aimed at peace workers and anyone who deals with local and social conflicts or intends to do so. Since 1997, around 4,000 people have taken part in our courses and trainings. They contribute to sustainable peace and non-violent coexistence. In doing so, they confirm our conviction that constructive conflict transformation can be learned.

We offer both online and in-person courses. Participatory and experiential learning form the basis of our training approach. The knowledge and experience of the participants are therefore intentionally incorporated. This integration allows participants to benefit from the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of their learning group through mutual exchange. Together, we engage with current discourses and methods and put fundamental concepts into practice. Key elements here include self-reflection and an examination of roles, positioning and one's own attitude. Acknowledging ongoing postcolonial continuities, we aim to critically reflect on power dynamics and create spaces for discrimination-sensitive practice. Participants are accompanied by our trainers, who, in addition to their pedagogical skills, have in-depth knowledge and relevant experience in conflict transformation.

The Academy is part of the international non-profit organisation Pro Peace. Founded in 1996, Pro Peace fosters non-violent conflict transformation and paves paths towards a more just and peaceful future. Pro Peace is active today in 13 countries and is a government-recognised member of the Civil Peace Service and a signatory to the Transparent Civil Society Initiative.

The Academy’s portfolio consists of longer, comprehensive training courses in peace and conflict work as well as shorter trainings focused on specific topics – both as in-person and online. Furthermore, we offer specific exchange platforms for alumni and orientation trainings for people interested in the Civil Peace Service (CPS). The Academy also offers tailor-made trainings in the field of peace and conflict transformation.

2. Training description

For many years the Academy has offered a thematic online training on the topic of “Dealing with the Past”. In addition to the basics of the Dealing with the Past framework, the training will highlight current developments in this field and focus on civil society actors or activists that aim to transform conflicts by dealing with a violent past. The training is designed to give participants a deeper understanding of the connections between dealing with the past and its significance for conflict transformation. After the training, participants should at least have accomplished the following learning objectives.

Participants…

• …acquired a thorough understanding of international norms and conceptional frameworks of Dealing with the Past including their opportunities and limits;
• …explored entry points and theories of change for peace and conflict work and the role of conflict transformation in this field;
• …have explored the connections between Dealing with the Past and collective trauma, including perspectives on collective memory, narratives and cycles of violence;
• …learnt about possible initiatives (case studies) in this field through a variety of best-practice on a grassroots level, incl strengths and weaknesses;
• …explored ideas for their own working/living context.

The planned schedule is seven weeks of training with weekly two-hour live sessions. Adjustments are possible, if they are suitable for the topic. Between the live sessions, the participants will work independently and together with others on material selected by the trainer(s) (literature, podcasts, videos or similar). The training aims to be as hands-on-oriented as possible and to be embedded in the context of the participants. Larger project-related tasks can create this practical connection over those seven weeks. Overall, the weekly workload for the participants including the self-paced material and the live sessions should be about 6 hours.

The Academy for Conflict Transformation promotes 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, is also crucial and a valuable resource. We emphasize a warm, encouraging, trusting and appreciating atmosphere in this online setting. The facilitator’s expertise and the personal exchange between participants will constitute key components of these trainings. The Academy is aware of different power structures and considers it in the designing of the content and the training. Together with the trainers, we are striving to create a group atmosphere where related thoughts and concerns are discussable.

To ensure a productive exchange on both a professional and personal level, the target number of participants is 16 people. If there are any changes in this regard, the trainer will be notified in a timely manner.

Our online thematic trainings are conducted on the learning platform, ILIAS. For the live sessions we use Zoom. This virtual learning space is only open to participants and the facilitator.

3. Deliverables

The trainer shall perform an online thematic training (preparing, holding and follow-up) and is responsible for designing and accompanying both the synchronous and asynchronous parts of the learning process, supported by and in agreement with the Academy’s team. This includes the following tasks:

Conceptualization and preparation of the training

• Providing information on the training for the acquisition of participants
• Depending on the needs, at least one consultation with the Academy’s educational advisor on the tools used during the training. After a detailed briefing we expect the facilitator to be able to use these platforms independently.
• Providing the content for the different modules (including its presentation on the learning platform) and designing the tasks and deliverables for participants to invest 4 hours weekly in the training on self-paced learning in regular consultation with the educational advisor
• The detailed and updated training outline shall be sent to the educational advisor four weeks before the start

Implementation of the training

• Independent facilitation of the live sessions and preparation thereof
• Feedback to participants’ deliverables and contributions
• Creating a safe space in the online environment
• Adapting the training to participants’ needs and the learning process
• Friendly and responsive communication with the participants and our staff

Evaluation of the training

• One last evaluative meeting with the educational advisor or a written report

The Academy for Conflict Transformation supports the methodical and content-related organization and is responsible for the advertising of the training, done in cooperation with the trainer. It also provides the technical infrastructure for the training (e.g. access to the learning platform ILIAS and the video conferencing tool Zoom). Additional software and platforms, such as interactive whiteboards or brainstorming tools, can be used and offered by the Academy if agreed to in advance. Prior to the training, we provide the trainer with information on participants’ experience and expectations before the start of the training. The educational advisor is always available for consultation.

4. Requirements to apply and assessment procedure

The following seven criteria have to be fulfilled:

1. Substantial knowledge of the theory of the training subject
2. Relevant hands-on experience in peace and conflict work as well as areas related to the training subject
3. Substantial experience as a trainer and/or in adult education in transcultural contexts
4. Strong communication skills, ability to recognize and respond to participants’ needs, willingness to implement constructive feedback
5. Previous experience with online learning processes, dynamic and interactive online tools and the creation of safe spaces in the virtual environment.
6. Excellent skills of the training language (English)
7. Being aware of various power relations and one’s own role as well as taking an anti-racist stance

5. Fees

The Academy offers a daily rate of 650 € (excl. VAT) for each live session.¹ As this training includes seven days of live training, the total trainer compensation will be 4,550 €.² This rate includes preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the training.

6. Submission of proposals

The proposals should include:

• A CV
• A cover letter explaining your motivation and working approaches, including information on availability
• A training concept and outline (see annex 1)

Please submit all documents in English.

[1] If you wish to apply as a trainer tandem, the daily rate needs to be shared.

[2] Remark: The Academy receives public funding and therefore this rate is not negotiable.