Conflict Analysis & Conflict Sensitivity Training

Conflict sensitivity is based on the assumptions that any intervention conducted in a conflict-affected area will have consequences that may have positive or negative effects on that conflict. Overwhelming data and experience from the field in the last decades has shown that well-intended interventions in conflict contexts do sometimes more harm than good. Some interventions have very positive outcomes, but also avoidable negative side-effects, while still others could in fact significantly improve their potential to strengthen peacebuilding dynamics.  From a minimalistic view, the course aims to prepare participants to avoid doing harm, and, from a maximalist view, to increase the peacebuilding potential of their interventions. In order to develop such conflict-sensitive interventions, it is essential to have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the conflict context and of the mutual interaction between the intervention and the conflict context, which are the core issues of this course.  This course on conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity aims to increase awareness, knowledge and skills of individuals and organizations working in contexts of conflict.

Target Audience

This course will significantly help officers who are in the pre-deployment, or are assigned to a mission, project advisors, analysts, policy implementers, program staff; mid-level and senior management staff. The course targets all individuals and organizations involved in the planning, implementation and evaluation of interventions in conflict areas or contexts, whether situated in the peacebuilding, humanitarian or development sector, or whether carried out by NGO’s, governments or international institutions.

Expected Training Outcomes

By the end of the course, delegates will be able to:

• Explain the relevance of concepts such as peace, conflict and violence to civilian crisis management
• Conduct a conflict analysis
• Describe the key principles underpinning the conflict sensitive approach
• Explain the relationship between conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity
• Devise conflict sensitive approaches to issues faced in civilian crisis management
• Identify the benefits and limitations of the conflict sensitive approach

Training Modules.

By the end of the program, participants will be able to do gain insight into:

• Understanding Conflict, Violence and Peace
• Understanding Conflict Sensitivity Approaches (CSA)
• Defining Conflict Sensitivity
• Utilizing CSA in the Program Cycle
• Conflict and Change
• Peacebuilding, Development and Humanitarian Aid
• Introduction to Conflict Sensitivity – impact of presence
• Conflict sensitivity – definition and main elements
• Introduction to Conflict analysis – role of conflict analysis in conflict sensitivity approach
• Conflict dynamics (Stages of conflict)
• Conflict actors, relationships and issues
(Conflict Mapping)
• Causes and effects of conflict
(Conflict Tree)
• CS and strategies / mandates / agendas
• Conflict sensitive programming
• Frameworks for Integrating Conflict Sensitivity into Programming
• Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment Framework
• Do No Harm Framework
• Reflecting on Peace Practices
• Steps in Conflict Sensitive Planning
  • Defining the intervention (or program, project) objectives
  • Defining the intervention process
  • Developing indicators
  • Preparing contingency plans.
• Linking conflict sensitivity to programming
• Steps in Conflict Sensitivity Programming
• Overviewing project cycle
•  Conflict Sensitivity Approaches in the project Cycle
• Developing Conflict Sensitive Indicators
• Conflict and peace indicators
• Project indicators
• Interaction indicators
• Levels of Conflict Sensitive Approaches Application
• Organizational level
• Project level
• 􏰜 Donor level
• 􏰜 Government level
• Steps in mainstreaming Conflict Sensitivity
• Reviewing results of Conflict Sensitivity Audit
• Reviewing results of Do No Harm Approaches
• Identifying success stories in implementation of conflict sensitivity
• Conflict sensitive impact assessment
• Conflict sensitivity clinic
• Developing conflict sensitive plans
􏰜 Practice on developing conflict sensitive plans
• Conflict Sensitive Implementation
• Elements of Conflict Sensitive Implementation
• Developing action plans on conflict sensitive implementation
• Conflict Sensitive Monitoring and Evaluation
• Defining Conflict Sensitive Monitoring
• Defining Conflict Sensitive Evaluation
• The key steps in Conflict Sensitive Monitoring and Evaluation
• Conflict Sensitive Exit Strategy
• Selecting conflict sensitive exit strategies
• 􏰜 Working with Partners
• Best Practices in Conflict Sensitivity
• Case study of the Kenya Conflict Sensitivity Consortium
• Drawing best practices lessons

Way forward After the Training

Participants will develop a work plan through the help of facilitators that stipulates application of skills acquired in improving their organizations. ASPM will monitor implementation progress after the training.  

Training Evaluation:

Participants will undertake a simple assessment before the training to gauge knowledge and skills, another assessment will be done after the training in-order to demonstrate knowledge gained through the training.