WAPI 2010 COURSE OFFERINGS

SESSION I: August 30 – September 03

WAPI 001: Introduction to Peacebuilding Paradigms, Facilitated Dialogue and Mediation
Mr. Emmanuel Bombande & Mr. John Katunga

The course will examine the fundamental assumptions and understandings about peacebuilding. Beginning with a critical review on conflicts, participants will appreciate what it takes to be a peacebuilder. The course will enhance capacities for high-quality conflict analysis in order to establish the parameters for effective peacebuilding, how to design peacebuilding processes and how to contribute in the mitigation of violent conflicts. A set of conceptual frameworks and tools will be used in skill building for conflict analysis. Case studies from West African conflicts in selected countries will be used to provide the setting for real conflict situational analysis to enhance the capacities of Practitioners in the course. Dialogue and mediation will be treated to contribute to effective peacebuilding. While the course will underscore the emerging importance of peacebuilding, it will seek to learn the emerging trend at the levels of the United Nations with new initiatives such as UN Peacebuilding Commissions, the experiences of ECOWAS and the African Union. Participants will also examine how to design a peacebuilding project including effective monitoring and evaluation of peacebuilding projects.

WAPI 002: Justice Building and Conflict Resolution
Prof. Paul Kuruk & Ms. Oury Traoré

This course examines the relationship between human rights violations and violent conflict and explores the role of human rights in building sustainable peace. It looks at the complexity of conflict and attempts to establish the linkages between human rights and Peacebuilding by examining tensions, complementarities and possible collaboration between the two fields. The course combines theoretical frameworks and practical examples from the field. Case studies will be drawn from the West African sub-region. The course will help Peacebuilding practitioners acquire the skills and knowledge needed to integrate a human rights framework into practical application. Participants will have the opportunity to develop a basic understanding of international human rights law, its applicability and added-value to Peacebuilding. The course is intended to provide participants with the theoretical underpinnings as well as the basic skills and information required for conflict resolution programs premised on justice-building.

SESSION II: September 06 – 10

WAPI 003: Youth and Peace Education
Levinia Addae-Mensah & Dr. Lydia Umar

This course seeks to facilitate the understanding and the use of Peace Education as a long term preventive mechanism against violence in the West African sub-region. The course will therefore explore how to develop non-violent methods through Peace Education to balance power, create and sustain awareness towards the transformation of conflicts and unjust situations. The above shall be examined within the context of the West African sub-region, but will draw on experiences and models from other parts of Africa and the world at large.

WAPI 004: Human Security and Peacebuilding
Prof. Isaac Albert & Dr. Linda Darkwa

Though very difficult to conceptualize with any air of finality, the emphasis of human security is on ‘freedom from fear' and 'freedom from want'. It emphasizes the complex relationships and often-ignored linkages between social well-being, disarmament, human rights and development. It is thus often referred to as 'people-centred security' or 'security with a human face'. Today all security discussions demand incorporation of the human dimension. In this spirit, this module seeks to examine the nexus of human security and peacebuilding. It particularly seeks to build the capacity of course participants in using peacebuilding strategies to anticipate, prevent and manage with the problems of human security in Africa, with particular emphasis on three strategically important issues: Elections; Trans-border organized crimes, and Environmental security.

SESSION II: September 13 – 17

WAPI 005: Early Warning and Early Response: Building Community Capacities for Preventive Peacebuilding
M. Takwa Suifon & M. Chukwuemeka B. Eze

Conflicts do not just fall from the sky. There are always signs, signals, and indicators that give clues to what may likely happen or follow as a result of the symptoms. Conflict early warning is about assessing the likelihood of violent conflicts, the possibility of resurgence or escalation of violence and identifying windows of opportunities for intervention and peacebuilding in a structured, systematic and organized manner. The course will introduce the participants to the following issues: Regional Early Warning Systems; Concepts and methodologies in developing Early Warning and Response Systems (Indicators, mapping, and models); Stakeholder analysis in Conflicts; Building Scenarios and analysis; Early Warning Reporting, Response Planning, and resource mobilization.
The overall objective of the course is to introduce the participants to the concepts, theories and practice of early conflict early warning and response as tool for peacebuilding, drawing from practical examples and experiences from West Africa and other regions of the continent.

WAPI 006: Women and Gender Mainstreaming into Peacebuilding
Naomi Akpan-Ita & Marguerite Yoli-Bi

This module is hinged on UNSCR 1325 paragraph 5 which talks about women’s inclusion in peacebuilding and decision making. Although recent developments within the region shows a marginal increase in the representation of women at peace tables and in decision making positions, there is a need for conscious efforts to increase the quantity and quality of women’s input in this regard. The goal is to bring to the front burners the issue of underutilized and untapped potentials that women can bring into peace processes and peacebuilding by working alongside their male counterparts. The module aims to help participants understand gender and gender disparities with regards to peacebuilding; address the inadequate representation of women in peacebuilding and decision making; examine the peculiar and varied reasons for women’s exclusion, deconstruct stereotypes, and explore strategies for addressing women’s exclusion from peacebuilding processes and decision making. In doing this, the module would look at sex roles and how these impact on, and are affected by conflict, violence and peacebuilding. Also it provides capacity for men to work with women in this regard, as peacebuilding for women has to begin with the individual and grow to the larger community.