Deadline:
July 31, 2025
Program Starts: September 10, 2025
Program Ends: September 19, 2025
Location(s)
Online
This course is offered in an interactive virtual format. The course consists of preparatory readings, 6 half-days of virtually facilitated course, and individual tasks in-between course days. In-between course days, participants will work independently on readings, individual tasks, and reflect on conflict sensitivity in their own work context.
Overview
Peacebuilding, development and humanitarian interventions aim at contributing to a positive impact on the contexts within which they take place. External interventions in volatile environments thus need to be sensitive to the context. This includes the identification and mitigation of the risks of exacerbating conflict, and strengthening of opportunities to contribute to positive change.
Working in volatile and potentially quickly changing contexts requires organizations and their interventions to be adaptive and flexible. A conflict sensitive approach systematically takes into account both the positive and negative impacts of interventions on contexts and the impact of these contexts on the interventions.
Details
In this course you will:
- acquire an understanding of the concept and aim of conflict sensitivity;
- learn about practical tools for conflict sensitive program management, and apply them to concrete practical cases;
- explore best practices and lessons learned with conflict sensitivity practitioners from different contexts;
- discuss cases from your own or other participants’ work;
- exchange experiences and become part of a community of practice.
Faculty
Leading international scholars and experienced practitioners from governments, civil society, and the private sector facilitate this course:
Experts:
- Tania Hörler, Senior Program Officer, Analysis & Impact Program, swisspeace (Course Lead)
- Flavia Eichmann, Program Officer, Analysis & Impact Program, swisspeace (Course Lead)
Additional Experts to be confirmed.
Methodologies
The course uses innovative teaching techniques to enhance the learning experience of our participants. These include:
- expert inputs from and exchange with experienced international scholars and practitioners
- exercises in which participants apply the acquired knowledge and skills and relate them to their own experiences
- peer exchange during which participants share best practices and develop strategies to face potential challenges in practice or research
- self-study, in which participants deepen their knowledge on specific methodological tools and approaches for peacebuilding, development and humanitarian actors working in conflict-affected and fragile contexts
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
This course is designed for:
- professionals working in or on fragile and conflict-affected contexts and interested in improving their conflict sensitive project management skills
- practitioners and academics interested in bridiging their own experiences with current conceptual insights and practical knowledge.
The existing swisspeace online conflict sensitivity course will be used for the individual preparation and processing of the content. The virtual course provides a deepening of the content of the existing online course, and is equally suitable for participants who already attended it as for those who have not.
Is this course a good match for you? If unsure, do not hesitate to contact us for counseling.
Candidates must have:
- a university degree in a related discipline such as political science, law, economics or sociology
- at least two years of professional experience
- a good command of English.
Please also note that your participation requires the following technical requirements:
- Internet connection: Stable connection with sufficient bandwidth
- Hardware: Laptop/ PC, headphones or loudspeaker, microphone and camera (Webcam)
Dates
Deadline: July 31, 2025
Program starts:
September 10, 2025
Program ends:
September 19, 2025
Program Starts: September 10, 2025
Program Ends: September 19, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
Tuition fee: 1,500 CHF
Successful participants receive a Confirmation of Participation. This course can be taken as one module (2 ECTS) of the Certificate, Diploma and Master of Advanced Studies in Civilian Peacebuilding programs offered by swisspeace and the University of Basel.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
