Humanitarian Assistance and Peacebuilding in West Africa (HAWA) Core Course 2026
Course Fee: - All participants receive a partial scholarship covering tuition, accommodation and meals at the KAIPTC. Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses.
- A limited number of full scholarships are available. These cover tuition, accommodation, meals at the KAIPTC, and travel costs.
Terms and Conditions:
- Participants must be available to attend the entire course and complete any required pre-course online self-learning modules.
- Travel costs are normally expected to be covered by participants' employing organizations. A limited number of travel scholarships are available, with priority given to women from civil society organizations. Military applicants may be supported through the Austrian Ministry of Defence.
- Accommodation and meals at the KAIPTC are covered under the partial scholarship. Any additional costs (e.g. visas, insurance, local transportation) remain the responsibility of participants and/or their organizations.
| In short | |
| Course Date/Duration | 02nd – 13th November 2026 |
| Course Capacity | 32 participants |
| Target Group | Professionals engaged in humanitarian assistance, disaster preparedness and response, and peacebuilding, including:
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| Course Language | The course will be delivered in English & French (simultaneous interpretation) |
| Application Deadline | 21th September 2026 |
Course Objective
The HAWA Core Course, the flagship practical training of the Humanitarian Assistance and Peacebuilding in West Africa (HAWA V) Programme, is delivered at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). The course aims to strengthen both individual and institutional capacities for gender-responsive humanitarian preparedness and response, while promoting sustainable peacebuilding that integrates environmental considerations. It focuses on developing operational skills, strengthening intersectoral coordination, and applying Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus approaches. Participants translate commitments related to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas, as well as climate and environmental priorities, into practical action. The course emphasizes planning, coordination and decision-making involving humanitarian, development, peacebuilding and security actors, with a strong focus on practical application in real crisis situations and cross-border contexts. Beyond classroom learning, the Core Course serves as an entry point into the broader HAWA learning journey. It is complemented by a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme, a Specialization Course on Gender-Responsive Climate Action in Humanitarian Assistance, field workshops in border communities, a structured alumni engagement platform, and follow-up initiatives designed to generate measurable impact within participants’ organizations and in the field. The HAWA Programme is jointly implemented by the Austrian Centre for Peace (ACP), the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and CARE, with financial support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Austrian Ministry of Defence under the framework of International Partnerships Austria.
Target Audience
The course is designed for professionals working in, or supporting, humanitarian assistance, disaster preparedness and response, and peacebuilding across West Africa. It is intended for:
- Staff of government institutions and emergency management agencies at both national and local levels;
- Representatives of international organizations, international and national NGOs, and civil society organizations engaged in humanitarian action, protection and peacebuilding;
- Military and police personnel involved in humanitarian support, civil-military coordination and crisis response;
- Professionals working in cross-border coordination, migration and displacement, climate and environmental risk management, or community-based preparedness initiatives.
Particular consideration will be given to applicants who can demonstrate their ability to apply and disseminate the knowledge gained within their institutions through their professional responsibilities or planned follow-up activities (such as staff briefings, internal workshops, or organizational learning initiatives).
The programme aims to achieve at least 45% female participation. In addition, places are reserved for young professionals under the age of 35, whose applications are strongly encouraged (see eligibility requirements below).
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Apply a Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus approach to strengthen preparedness, response and recovery planning.
- Integrate gender-responsive approaches (particularly the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda) and inclusion into humanitarian and peacebuilding practice.
- Incorporate climate and environmental considerations into humanitarian and peacebuilding interventions.
- Apply conflict-sensitive and Do No Harm approaches in volatile cross-border contexts.
- Integrate climate, environmental and environmental peacebuilding dimensions into crisis preparedness and response.
- Strengthen intersectoral coordination among government authorities, civil society organizations, NGOs and security actors, while building professional networks that promote collaborative action.
- Apply practical tools for gender analysis, protection and inclusion, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation, safeguarding mechanisms and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) in crisis preparedness and response.
- Develop a realistic preparedness or response improvement plan for their organization or area of responsibility, including anticipatory action and organizational preparedness measures.
- Strengthen civil-military coordination and cross-border cooperation by clarifying roles, information-sharing processes and coordination mechanisms, while upholding humanitarian principles.
- Translate course learning into practical actions that promote sustainable institutional ownership and long-term impact.
Eligibility Criteria
Selection will be conducted in accordance with the KAIPTC’s standard admission criteria, while ensuring a balanced and diverse cohort. The main selection criteria include:
- Minimum professional qualifications and/or employment status;
- Previous academic training and/or practical experience in humanitarian assistance and/or peacebuilding;
- Proficiency in English or French;
- Nationality balance, with a particular focus on participants from West African countries, including—but not limited to—Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo, while ensuring broader geographical representation, including professionals working in or with border areas;
- Gender balance, with a target of at least 45% female participation. Where candidates have comparable qualifications, preference may be given to women. Appropriate measures to address barriers to participation may be considered on a case-by-case basis;
- Institutional and sectoral diversity, with an indicative composition of approximately:
- 30% security sector
- 30% public sector
- 40% NGOs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
- At least 15% young professionals under the age of 35;
- Institutional affiliation and demonstrated capacity to apply and disseminate the knowledge gained, including a willingness to brief colleagues and contribute to organizational follow-up activities.
Training Methodology
The course applies adult learning principles through a highly interactive and practice-oriented methodology. It combines expert presentations, facilitated discussions, group work, case clinics and scenario-based simulations within a structured bilingual learning environment that promotes interaction between English- and French-speaking participants. To maximize practical learning during the residential phase, the course adopts a blended learning approach. Participants are required to complete designated online self-paced learning modules and submit the corresponding certificates before the start of the residential training. A dedicated Youth Component may include a pre-course mentoring webinar for young professionals, as well as coaching during and after the course, in line with the objectives of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda. The programme is delivered in accordance with environmentally responsible practices, including the efficient use of resources.
Course Content
The course combines conceptual foundations, practical tools and field-oriented exercises. It is structured around the following key modules:
- Humanitarian principles, standards and coordination mechanisms in complex operational environments, including roles, mandates and civil-military coordination.
- Disaster preparedness, early action and organizational preparedness, including risk analysis, contingency planning, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and coordination triggers.
- Gender-responsive humanitarian action, protection and inclusion, with a focus on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas, safeguarding mechanisms, Gender-Based Violence (GBV)risk mitigation, and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
- Climate, environment and environmental peacebuilding in crisis settings, including climate-security dynamics, natural resource pressures and environmental risk factors.
- Conflict sensitivity and contextual analysis, including stakeholder mapping, the Do No Harm approach, risk management and interventions in cross-border contexts.
- Intersectoral and cross-border collaboration among government institutions, NGOs, CSOs and security actors, including civil-military coordination.
- Applied coordination skills, including information management, joint planning, decision-making under pressure and communication in multi-stakeholder environments.
- A capstone practical exercise, featuring a comprehensive scenario-based simulation that integrates the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course.
Follow-up Opportunities and Field Impact
The HAWA V Programme is designed to ensure that learning translates into measurable impact. Upon completion of the Core Course, participants are encouraged to continue their engagement through follow-up initiatives and to apply their newly acquired knowledge within their organizations and cross-border professional networks. A structured alumni support system is provided, and selected participants may have the opportunity to take part in field-based activities in border communities.
- Training of Trainers (ToT)
Outstanding alumni may be selected to participate in a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme (in English or French), enabling them to deliver HAWA-aligned training and contribute to institutional capacity development within their organizations.
- HAWA Alumni Platform
The HAWA Alumni Platform provides moderated online networking spaces and regular community engagement activities that facilitate experience sharing, professional collaboration, and access to resources and opportunities. Alumni are encouraged to showcase the preparedness and response improvements they have implemented after completing the course.
- “Ready for Action” Follow-up Initiative
Participating institutions are encouraged to support trained staff in sharing their knowledge through staff briefings, internal workshops, participation in relevant working groups, and contributions to the development or revision of institutional policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Cross-border Community Workshops
Targeted field activities bring together communities and organizations in border areas—including the Ghana–Burkina Faso, Ghana–Togo, and Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire border regions—to strengthen preparedness and coordinated response by applying course learning in real operational contexts.
- Women’s Leadership and Reflective Practice
Complementary activities under the HAWA Women’s Initiative and Gender Labs strengthen leadership and crisis management skills while providing a platform for reflection on gender dynamics and masculinities in humanitarian action and peacebuilding.
- Specialization Pathway
Participants may also be considered for a specialized course on Gender-Responsive Climate Action in Humanitarian Assistance, which provides more advanced knowledge on climate and environmental issues beyond those covered in the Core Course.
Application and Selection Process
Interested applicants are invited to click the “How to Apply” button and complete the online application form (the link to the Learning Management System (LMS) platform will be provided). Only applications that are fully completed and submitted through the KAIPTC Registration Portal will be considered.
The Learning Management System (LMS) will guide applicants through the application process. All required fields and supporting information needed to complete the application are available on the platform.
Following the application deadline, the KAIPTC Selection Committee will review all applications and make its final selection based on the quality of the applications and the need to ensure a balanced cohort in terms of sector, gender, nationality and youth representation.
- The Selection Committee will establish a list of successful applicants and a waiting list.
- Applicants selected for the main list will be invited to confirm their participation within a specified deadline.
- Should places become available, they will be offered to applicants on the waiting list in the order determined by the Selection Committee.
Contact Information
| Mr. Desmond Ofosuhene
Training Coordination officer Tel. : 00 233 (0) 302 71 82 00 poste 1012 Email: training.coordination@kaiptc.org
For Course Content Enquiries Only
Ms. Princella Godzi Course Director Tel. : +233 (0) 302 71 82 00 Poste 2165 (Omit the (0) when calling from outside Ghana) Mobile : +233 (0) 20 919 5045 E-mail : Princella.Godzi@kaiptc.org |