WEST AFRICA PEACEBUILDING
INSTITUTE (WAPI)
Enabling Peacebuilding Practice
BACKGROUND
• The incessant outbreak and reoccurrence of violent
conflicts in West Africa proved the inadequacy of
effective peacebuilding capacity in the region. Hence, it
became imperative to formulate long term sustainable
approaches to changing relationships and structures
underlying conflicts, and changing the attitudes at the
core of the culture of violence.
• To address this gap, a peacebuilding institute in the
region to provide the space and platform required for
Africans to develop and actualize their own home-grown
initiatives became essential.
INTRODUCTION
• WAPI was therefore institutionalized in 2002 by the West
Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) to provide
specialized, intensive, and cultural sensitivity training in
conflict transformation and peacebuilding to individuals,
CSOs, business community, policy makers and other
relevant actors in West Africa
• WANEP is one of the leading peacebuilding organisations
in Africa with a mandate to build the capacity of
peacebuilding, development and human rights practitioners
in Africa and worldwide on peace and security issues to
promote and protect human security through context
specific tools and indigenous techniques.
INTRODUCTION Contd.
• In 2010, WANEP entered into an MOU with the
Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training
Centre (KAIPTC) to jointly organise WAPI and
engage in research, training mentoring and
strategic interventions
• Since 2002, WAPI has trained over 450 experts
in peace, dialogue & mediation, early warning,
and human security, etc.
• Its visibility and sustainability is evident in the
increasing number of participants across the
globe including ECOWAS, AU, UN Staff,
Government agencies & corporate institutions
Graphical presentation of the concept of WAPI
Strengthening capacity of African CSOs as well as the intergovernmental
bodies especially AU and ECOWAS
Knowledge/Skill
s
Attitudinal
Change
Experience sharing
Capacity for
Community/Ins
titutional
Conflict
Transformation
AIM & OBJECTIVE
• The aim of WAPI is to provide knowledge and expertise on
peacebuilding and conflict prevention to reduce and eliminate
the frequency and severity of violent conflict
Specific objectives among others include:
• Develop action oriented capacity for conflict transformation and
peacebuilding
• Increase number of competent, informed and active
peacebuilding practitioners
• Provide quality training in peacebuilding
• Develop context specific and indigenous models of conflict
transformation and peacebuilding that can be integrated with
existing models
• Provide skills to respond to workplace disputes
METHODOLOGY
• Courses at WAPI blend theory and
practice
• Teaching method is highly participatory
and interactive, enabling space for
extensive contribution by participants
• Participants are frequently grouped to
share experiences
Faculty/Participants
• Faculty Members at WAPI are drawn from highly
qualified
and
experienced
peacebuilding
scholars, practitioners and educationists. 3
lecturers of the Peace and Conflict Programme
of the Institute of African Studies are members
of the WAPI Faculty
• Participants are drawn from intergovernmental
organisations including UN, AU, ECOWAS,
CSOs, National Peace Architectures, security
agencies, business community, universities etc.
At least 5 students from MA-PCS and 2 of
CEPACS have participated in WAPI
OVERVIEW OF COURSES
1.Peacebuilding Paradigms: Concepts and Praxis
2.Peacebuilding Program design, Implementation and Evaluation
3.Dialogue and Mediation: Design and Processes
4.Natural Resource Governance & Conflict Management
5.Peace Education
6.Human Security & Development
7.Early Warning & Early Response: Building Capacity for
Preventive peacebuilding
8.Gender and Peacebuilding
PEACEBUILDING PARADIGMS : CONCEPTS AND PRAXIS
This course equips participants with knowledge of peacebuilding field
and improves their understanding of concepts, theories and praxis of
peace and security. It builds on the understandings of conflicts and the
theoretical foundations of peace and peacebuilding practice. The
outline follows the sequence from understanding of conflicts to the
analysis of conflicts; and provides conceptual clarifications on the
various elements of peacebuilding and human security.
Major elements in the course:
•Understanding conflicts
•Theoretical foundations including conflict theories
•Conflict Mapping and Analysis
•Conflict Sensitive Approach to Peacebuilding Work
•Managing pressure and External Influence in peacebuilding and
Conflict transformation
•Peacebuilding Practice: Operating principles and Frameworks; Roles
of Actors and Peacebuilding foci; etc.
PEACEBUILDING PROGRAM DESIGN,
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
The course equips agencies, organizations and practitioners working in
conflict, crisis and post-war stabilization and recovery with skills and
knowledge to improve the quality, effectiveness and sustainable impact of
their programs. Most importantly, it’s an operational program. Participants
bring actual projects they are working in their institutions and are supported
to learn and apply effective skills for designing peacebuilding program for
sustainable impact.
Major elements of the course include:
• Overview of Aid and Development
• Operational Framework for Effective peacebuilding program
design
(conflict-sensitive programming)
• Needs and Capacity Assessment, stakeholders analysis and Risk
Analysis/Mitigation
• Peacebuilding Monitoring and Evaluation: Logical Framework and Result
Based Program Management
• Project Management Cycle
• Procurement Processes and Financial Management
DIALOGUE & MEDIATION: DESIGN AND
PROCESSES
While dialogue and mediation has been identified and utilized as a critical tool for
addressing conflicts and ensuring peaceful coexistence, the skills and knowledge
required to facilitate the process remains low. This course builds capacity of
participants in the design and processes for effective dialogue and mediation. The
course adopts a hands-on approach, allowing participants to develop and work on
a case study in order to appreciate the ‘nitty-gritty’ of dialogue and mediation
Major elements of the course include:
•Introduction and conceptual frameworks
•The nexus between theory and practice of dialogue and mediation
•Mediation Tracks: Overview of CSOs, ECOWAS African Union and UN Mediation
efforts
•Communication and Facilitation skills
•Conflict Analysis
•Getting to the Table; At the Table: Dialogue and Mediation Skills; Getting to and
Reviewing Agreements
•Follow-up and monitoring of outcomes (Sustaining outcomes)
HUMAN SECURITY & DEVELOPMENT
The course examines the nexus of human security, peacebuilding and
development. It particularly builds the capacity of course participants in using
preventive peacebuilding strategies to anticipate and manage issues relating to
human security in Africa. It further provides participants with the capacity to
analyze human security issues as they relate to daily life experiences of families,
groups and communities in the continent.
Major Elements of the course include:
•Human Security: Overview, Evolution, Conceptual clarifications
•Democracy, Human rights and inclusive governance
•Gender and Human Security
•Poverty, unemployment and Underdevelopment
•Identity and violent extremism
•Trans-national organised crimes
•Environmental security
•Migration flows
PEACE EDUCATION
This course facilitates the understanding and the use of Peace Education as a long
term preventive mechanism against violence. It explores Peace Education as
response mechanism to balance power, create and sustain awareness towards
the transformation of conflicts and unjust situations. The issues are examined
within the context of the West African region, but also draw on experiences and
models from other parts of Africa and the world at large.
Major Elements of the course include:
•The Context of Peace Education (Legal framework and guiding principles)
•Peace Education Theory and Pedagogy
•Formal and informal peace education programs
•The Practice of Peace Education: design and implementation
•Peer Mediation
•Monitoring and Evaluating Peace Education
•Policy Options for Peace Education in West Africa
EARLY WARNING & EARLY RESPONSE: BUILDING CAPACITY
FOR PREVENTIVE PEACEBUILDING
Early warning is about assessing the likelihood of violent conflicts, the possibility
of a resurgence or escalation of violence and identifying the windows of
opportunities for peace and stability. This course provides analytical frameworks
for understanding the nature, causes, dynamics and actors of conflict; developing
skills for developing indicators, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting conflict and
human security. Particular focus is placed on how to conduct and write risk
assessment reports, policy briefs; monitor and report qualitative and quantitative
early warning indicators, and mobilize strategic, integrated responses to prevent
conflicts or relapse to violence.
Major Elements of the course include:
•Introduction to EW Concepts
•Continental, Regional and National and Community EW Systems
•Developing Indicators and Conflict Monitoring processes
•Engendering Early Warning
•Analysis and Scenario Building
•Early Warning outputs and Audience
•Response Planning & Mobilization
GENDER & PEACEBUILDING
Gender roles have contributed to discrimination and oppression across the region
and globally. This course recognises that conflicts affect men and women
differently. In this regard, the effective participation of both in peace processes is
crucial to sustainable peace. In order to address these inequities, the course also
seeks to provide gender perspectives in peacebuilding and equip participants
with the skills for gender analysis. This course is structured to challenge thinking
so as to enable understanding of the significant role of both men and women in
conflict and peace processes.
Major Elements of the course include:
•The concept of Gender
•Gender issues in conflict and peacebuilding (Perspectives on the Impact of
Conflict & Violence)
•Gender and Violent Extremism
•Inclusivity in Peacebuilding and Decision Making
•National, Regional, Continental and International instruments for Gender
Mainstreaming Into Peacebuilding
•Gender, Peace Support Operations and post conflict reconstruction
NATURAL RESOURCE GOVERNANCE AND
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Intrastate conflicts in West Africa and indeed most countries in Africa since the
1990s have been associated with the management and exploitation of natural
resources. As West African population continues to upsurge, and the demand
for resources endures, there is potential for conflicts over natural resources to
deepen and escalate in the coming years. The course equips participants with
the skills for understanding, analyzing and managing natural resource conflicts
while ensuring that natural resource management for sustainable development
forms part and parcel of governance, institutional policies and decision-making.
Major Elements of the Course include:
•Overview and classification of Natural Resources in West Africa
•Frameworks for natural resource conflict management (National and
International)
•Natural Resource Governance and Development
•Gender perspective to Natural Resource Governance and Conflict
•Managing Relationship between Government, Host Communities and
Multinational Corporations
•Corporate Social responsibility and peacebuilding
SCHEDULE OF WAPI 2014
Peacebuilding Paradigms: Concepts and Praxis
WEEK ONE (Sept. 1- 5)
Peacebuilding Project Design, Implementation,
Monitoring & Evaluation
Peace Education
WEEK TWO (Sept. 8 12)
Human Security & Development
Natural Resource Governance & Conflict
Management
WEEK THREE (Sept. 15 Gender and Peacebuilding
– 19)
Dialogue & Mediation: Design & Processes
WEEK FOUR (Sept. 22
– 26)
Early Warning & Response: Building Capacity for
Preventive Peacebuilding
BENEFITS OF WAPI
• Enhanced knowledge and expertise in peacebuilding
• Practice-oriented that equips participants with practical skills in
managing peace & security challenges confronting the region
• Enhanced platform for networking among participants during and
after WAPI via WAPI Alumni forum, which is linked to the
ECOWAS Early Warning mechanism Peace Exchange Forum
• Participants are regularly updated on employment platforms,
academic & professional resources, & other career opportunities
via WAPI forum
A Musician from Kenya- Beatrice Achieng Odhiambo had this to say
after WAPI 2013: “This is a training that all people across Africa
need. Why don’t we make the training ‘Africa Peacebuilding
Institute (API)’ and take it to a place that all across Africa can
participate in? This training understands the context of Africa and
practically builds on current African conflicts”
WAPI Participants & Dignitaries during the Opening
Ceremony of WAPI 2013
Visit
www.wanep.org/wapi
for application form and related updates
SEE YOU AT WAPI 2014!
THANK YOU