CONFLICT PREVENTION COURSE 2025

Background

Since the end of the Cold War, Africa has faced various types of armed conflicts, which have resulted in millions of deaths and displaced many others as refugees or internally displaced persons. Some of these conflicts have caused the collapse of state and societal structures and the spread of small arms and light weapons, among other issues. Although efforts are being made by the African Union (AU) Commission and Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms to address conflict situations, much remains to be done to ensure that the right conditions are created to prevent the recurrence of such conflicts, if not make them impossible. In many countries across the continent, the conditions that trigger violent conflict are still prevalent. This partially explains why many believe that military interventions and election-related conflicts, which should now be a thing of the past worldwide, still pose threats in Africa. The experiences of some African countries highlight the harsh realities of conflict on the continent. Evidence suggests that there are some African nations where the risk of similar conflicts remains high.
As a contribution to the conflict prevention efforts of the AU and ECOWAS in particular, KAIPTC will conduct the Conflict Prevention Course from 1–12 December 2025. The core elements of the training will be based on the Conflict Prevention Resource Pack for Civilian Actors, which was developed through a collaboration between KAIPTC and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), with support from the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ). This resource serves as a comprehensive civilian-driven operational strategy for conflict prevention and peacebuilding in West Africa, supporting the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF).

Course Aim

The overall aim of the course is to provide knowledge and expertise on conflict prevention through an understanding and explanation of the factors that cause and trigger conflicts.  Hence, the course will contribute to the implementation of the ECPF and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA)

Target Group

The course will target a diverse group of practitioners in the field and those seeking to be involved in an operational theatre. Due to the two-sided approach of the course, priority will be given to personnel working with communities on the frontlines, Non-Governmental Organisations, and multilateral organisations within ECOWAS member states. The selection process will also aim to include personnel from the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF), AU Commissions, and the United Nations. Every effort will be made to ensure gender balance.

Course Content

This course puts the work of conflict prevention experts in context by offering an enhanced explanation of specific methods and techniques applied to preventing conflict. The course content is in three modules covering seventeen lessons. There will be an exercise at the end of the course to consolidate the modules/lessons covered during the course. The Course content includes the following:

• Nature of the African State
• Contemporary Security Challenges and Conflict Prevention
• Introduction to Theories of Conflict
• Early Warning and Early Response
• Gender and Conflict Prevention
• Conflict Analysis/Conflict Mapping
• Youth and Conflict Prevention
• Citizens, Governance and Conflict Prevention
• Community and Conflict Prevention
• Media, Communication, and Conflict Prevention
• Rule of Law and Transitional Justice
• Preventing Violent Extremism
• Human Rights Theory and Practice
• Indigenous Approaches to Conflict Prevention
• Security Sector Reforms
• Natural Resource Governance and Conflict Prevention
• Elections, Democracy and Conflict

Teaching Method

The Collaborative Problem-Based Learning approach will be employed in delivering the course, ensuring that participants actively engage under the guidance of an experienced team of facilitators. The course content will be delivered through a variety of tools such as lectures, case studies, small group work, brainstorming, and exercises.

Selection Process

The selection process will involve submitting bio-data via the KAIPTC application portal, after which applicants will be screened and shortlisted. The process will be conducted by a selection committee from the centre.

Application

Interested applicants are requested to kindly fill and submit an online application form. Access the application form using the link that will be provided.

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