Conflict – and especially violent conflict – is common in many parts of the world. Violent conflict not only hinders human development and security, it also reverses many of the gains that society may have achieved over many years. Taking action before conflict has become violent is generally more effective than taking action during violent conflict. But to prevent the development of violent conflict means addressing the underlying causes – both immediate and structural. This course is designed to enable participants to develop effective conflict prevention strategies that can allow constructive dialogue between contending views without the need to resort to the use of violence.
This course was originally developed by Fahamu for the UN High Commission for Human Rights and the UN System Staff College. It is designed to strengthen the capacity of national human rights institutions to engage in conflict prevention, including early warning. It is suitable for the staff of human rights and social justice organisations working to prevent conflict.
The course is designed to be participatory, drawing on participants’ experiences and knowledge. Role-playing, discussions, group work and assignments all contribute to building the necessary skills and knowledge to be effective in the prevention of conflict.
Course content
1 What is conflict?
- Nature, functions and manifestations of conflict
- Handling conflict
- Defining conflict and violence
- The conflict triangle.
2 What is conflict prevention?
- Purpose, importance and focus of conflict prevention
- Contemporary violent conflict
- Conflict dynamics model.
3 Frameworks, concepts and terminology
- Framework documents
- Peace and conflict terms and concepts.
4 Arguments in favour of the role of national institutions (NIS)
- Getting started
- Human rights and conflict
- Mandate and purpose
- Context and relevance
- Comparative advantages.
5 Objections to role of NIS
- Arguments against
- Dealing with objections
- NI strategies.
6 The conflict prevention process
- Analysis
- Strategy
- Action
- Evaluation.
7 Analysing causes of conflict
- Sectoral analysis
- Analysing causal interaction.
8 Actor analysis
- Conflict mapping
- Actor analysis matrix
- The conflict triangle.
9 Analysing capacities for peace
10 Prioritising and setting objectives
- Strategy development
- Prioritising
- Setting overall objectives.
11 Options for preventive measures
- Getting started
- Survey of preventive measures
- Generating and assessing options.
12 Assessing institutional capacity
- Rating
- Getting started
- Areas to consider
- Addressing limitations.
13 Developing a prevention plan
- Planning for prevention
- The preventive measures matrix
- Implementation process
- Action plan for implementation.
14 Implementation and overcoming challenges
- Conflict handling styles
- Communication about human rights
- Playing roles
- Advocacy
- Force field analysis.
By the end of the course
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the complex nature of conflict and violence
- Understand the meaning, focus and purpose of conflict prevention
- Describe the principal international documents on conflict prevention
- Use the terms associated with conflict prevention
- Assess whether national institutions should be involved in conflict prevention
- Explain a seven-step model for conflict prevention
- Conduct a sectoral analysis of the causes of conflict
- Map and analyse the actors in a conflict
- Identify capacities for peace
- Establish priorities and objectives of a conflict prevention strategy
- Identify preventive measures for a strategy
- Assess whether an institution is able to engage in conflict prevention
- Develop and implement a prevention plan.
Course benefits
Every participant will be provided with course materials.
Every participant who successfully completes a course will be awarded a certificate from the University of Oxford and Fahamu.
Audience
This course was originally designed for people working in national institutions of human rights but is also suitable for the staff of human rights and social justice organisations concerned with conflict prevention.
Course length
3 weeks (currently only available as a residential course)
Tuition fee
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