Introduction

Sustainable peace and effective conflict resolution are unattainable without the meaningful integration of gender perspectives. Historically, peace processes have often overlooked the distinct experiences, needs, and invaluable contributions of women and gender-diverse individuals, leading to agreements that fail to address root causes of conflict or ensure inclusive recovery. Recognizing that conflict impacts genders differently—from patterns of violence to roles in informal peace initiatives—is crucial. By actively engaging women in all stages of peacebuilding, from negotiation to post-conflict reconstruction, and by applying a gender lens to security sector reform and transitional justice, we can foster more comprehensive, equitable, and durable peace outcomes that benefit entire societies. This essential training course focuses on Gender in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution, equipping participants to build inclusive and lasting peace.

This intensive training course is meticulously designed to equip peacebuilding practitioners, policymakers, humanitarian actors, and civil society advocates with the knowledge and practical skills to integrate a gender perspective throughout the conflict cycle. Participants will delve into the gendered dimensions of conflict, understand the critical importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security Agenda), and learn to apply gender analysis to peace processes, mediation, and post-conflict recovery. The course will cover topics such as gender-based violence in conflict, women's meaningful participation in peace negotiations, gender-responsive security sector reform, and transitional justice mechanisms. By mastering the principles and methodologies of gender in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, participants will be empowered to design and implement initiatives that promote human rights, foster social cohesion, and build truly inclusive and sustainable peace.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• Peacebuilding Practitioners
• Conflict Resolution Mediators
• Humanitarian and Development Workers in conflict-affected areas
• Government Officials working on peace and security
• UN Agency Staff
• Civil Society Organizations focused on peace, security, and women's rights
• Human Rights Advocates
• Researchers and Academics in Peace and Conflict Studies
• Military and Police Personnel involved in peacekeeping
• Gender Advisors and Specialists

Course Objectives

• Understand the diverse ways gender impacts conflict and peace processes.
• Grasp the significance of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda (UNSCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions).
• Learn to conduct gender analysis in conflict and post-conflict settings.
• Develop strategies for ensuring women's meaningful participation in peace negotiations and mediation.
• Acquire knowledge of effective responses to gender-based violence (GBV) in conflict.
• Comprehend the role of gender in security sector reform (SSR) and disarmament.
• Explore gender-responsive approaches to transitional justice and reconciliation.
• Identify and address barriers to gender-inclusive peacebuilding.
• Examine global best practices and case studies in gender-sensitive peace processes.
• Develop a practical action plan for integrating gender into peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts.
• Enhance advocacy and communication skills for gender-just peace.

Course Content

Module 1: Gender, Conflict, and Security: Core Concepts

• Defining gender, conflict, and peacebuilding.
• Understanding the gendered causes and dynamics of conflict.
• Differential impacts of conflict on women, men, and diverse gender identities.
• The role of masculinities in conflict and violence.
• Introduction to the human security framework with a gender lens.

Module 2: The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda

• Origins and evolution of UNSCR 1325.
• The four pillars of the WPS Agenda: Participation, Protection, Prevention, Relief and Recovery.
• Overview of subsequent WPS resolutions (e.g., 1820, 1888, 1889, 2122, 2242, 2467, 2493).
• National Action Plans (NAPs) for WPS implementation.
• Challenges and opportunities in operationalizing the WPS Agenda.

Module 3: Gender Analysis in Conflict and Peace Contexts

• Tools and frameworks for conducting gender analysis in conflict situations.
• Collecting gender-disaggregated data and qualitative information in fragile contexts.
• Identifying gender roles, needs, and capacities during and after conflict.
• Analyzing intersecting identities and their impact on conflict experiences.
• Ethical considerations and do no harm principles in gender analysis.

Module 4: Women's Participation in Peace Processes and Mediation

• The importance of women's meaningful inclusion in formal and informal peace processes.
• Barriers to women's participation in peace negotiations.
• Strategies for increasing women mediators and negotiators.
• The role of women's civil society organizations in peace advocacy.
• Case studies of women's contributions to peace agreements.

Module 5: Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Conflict

• Understanding conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) as a weapon of war.
• Forms of GBV in conflict and post-conflict settings.
• Legal and policy frameworks for preventing and responding to GBV (e.g., international criminal law).
• Survivor-centered approaches to GBV response.
• Risk mitigation strategies for GBV in humanitarian settings.

Module 6: Gender and Security Sector Reform (SSR)

• Integrating gender into police, military, and justice sector reforms.
• Promoting women's recruitment and retention in security forces.
• Addressing gender-based discrimination and harassment within security institutions.
• Enhancing accountability for human rights violations by security actors.
• Gender-sensitive disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) processes.

Module 7: Gender-Responsive Transitional Justice and Reconciliation

• Understanding transitional justice mechanisms (truth commissions, reparations, prosecutions).
• Ensuring women's voices and experiences are central to transitional justice.
• Addressing gender-specific harms and ensuring access to remedies.
• Promoting gender-equitable reconciliation processes.
• The role of memorialization and historical narratives from a gender perspective.

Module 8: Gender in Post-Conflict Recovery and Development

• Rebuilding livelihoods and economic empowerment for women in post-conflict settings.
• Gender-responsive reconstruction of infrastructure and public services.
• Addressing land and property rights for women in post-conflict contexts.
• Women's roles in peace sustainment and early recovery.
• Integrating gender into humanitarian-development-peace nexus programming.

Module 9: Challenges, Innovation, and Future Directions

• Overcoming political, cultural, and financial barriers to gender-inclusive peacebuilding.
• The role of technology and digital tools in advancing the WPS Agenda.
• Engaging men and masculinities in peacebuilding for gender justice.
• Intergenerational dialogue and youth engagement in peace processes.
• Strengthening partnerships and global solidarity for women, peace and security.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training