In short
Programme	Preparedness for Humanitarian Assistance and Peacebuilding in West Africa (HAWA V)
Issue date	29 October 2026
Deadline for applications	30 November 2026

 

Background and Purpose of the Call

For more than thirteen years, the programme Preparedness for Humanitarian Assistance and Peacebuilding in West Africa (HAWA) has built capacities in humanitarian assistance, disaster management and peacebuilding across the region. It is implemented by the Austrian Centre for Peace (ACP), the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and CARE Austria. It is funded by the Austrian Development Agency and the Austrian Ministry of Defence as part of International Partnerships Austria. Through training courses at KAIPTC and local and cross-border dialogues in fragile border regions, HAWA strengthens coordination among humanitarian, development and peace actors, builds trust and networks across institutional and national boundaries, promotes women’s participation, and integrates climate and environmental considerations.

Under HAWA V, a key deliverable is the production of updated training curricula aligned with gender, climate/environment and conflict-sensitivity standards. A specialization course originally piloted in 2023 under HAWA IV was reviewed in a stakeholder workshop in March 2026 and has since been redesigned. To deliver this course, and potentially further courses in the future, KAIPTC and ACP are establishing a pool of qualified trainers.

 

Scope of the Pool

• The pool will be used for the HAWA specialization course (see Section 3).
• It is intended to be transferable to other training courses at KAIPTC and, potentially, at ACP in Austria.
• Pool membership is not tied to one course or to one assignment.
• The call is open to international applicants. Applications from West African experts are particularly welcome.

 

The First Course: Purpose and Description

Note: The final title of the course is still to be confirmed. The working title is “Specialization Course on the Climate-Environment-Peace Nexus in West Africa”.

Purpose. The course equips humanitarian professionals to design and implement climate- and gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive interventions in humanitarian contexts, strengthening the climate–environment–peace nexus in West Africa.

Target audience. Mid-level and senior practitioners from humanitarian response agencies, disaster management institutions, NGOs and civil society, government ministries and local authorities, peacebuilding and mediation actors, regional organizations (e.g. ECOWAS, AU), security institutions engaged in civilian protection or coordination, and development actors working in fragile settings. The course also targets natural scientists, professionals and academics, working in the field of local (including transnational) impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.

Thematic scope. Climate and environmental risk, gender, conflict sensitivity, the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) nexus, and Women, Youth, Peace and Security (WYPS). Whilst climate impacts on peace and security are at the core, gender is treated as cross-cutting lens throughout.

Learning progression. Analyze, Inform, Design, Learn & Adapt.

Structure. (5 in-person days plus 3 hours self-paced pre-course)

• Module 0 – Pre-course module: self-paced online learning on climate and conflict and how they interconnect informed by gender-responsiveness considerations (approx. 3 hours). This module is already available; no tutored or semi-tutored webinars are planned.
• Module 1 – Understanding the Climate/Environment-Gender-Conflict Nexus: case-based foundations, culturally sensitive gender and climate analysis, and analytical tools (including CARE Gender Framework, Rapid Gender Analysis, Gender Marker, CVCA).
• Module 2 – Analysing Climate, Gender and Conflict Risks in HDP Contexts: drivers of risk, gender-differentiated impacts (e.g. Lake Chad Basin), Do No Harm, and action frameworks (DRR, HDP, resilience, climate change adaptation).
• Module 3 – Designing Integrated Humanitarian Interventions: protection, climate-risk informed programming, conflict prevention and a multi-actor HDP nexus simulation.
• Module 4 – Adaptive Programming and Learning in Nexus Interventions: community engagement, MEAL system design, adaptive management and coordination frameworks.

The in-person modules are practice-oriented: case studies, simulations, problem-solving in small groups as well as the application of tools introduced during the training based on West African cases.

Language. English. A second iteration delivered in French language is planned in 2028. Additional iterations subject to the availability of funding.

Indicative timing and venue. In-person training from 12 to 16 April 2027 at the Kofi-Annan-International-Peacekeeping-Training-Centre in Accra, Ghana.

 

Roles and Scope of Work

Profiles. We are seeking the following profiles:

• Lead trainer
• Co-facilitator
• Subject matter expert in one of the following areas: climate/environment, gender/WYPS, conflict sensitivity/peacebuilding, MEAL, protection.

Typical tasks.

• Facilitation of in-person sessions, case studies, simulations and exercises practicing tools.
• Adapting training materials to fit the individual trainer’s style and personality.
• Formative evaluation of participants’ learning throughout the course
• Reporting after the assignment

First-round assignment: master slide deck. Trainers (lead and co-facilitator) selected for the first delivery in April 2027 will receive the draft trainer handbook based on which they will develop a master slide deck for the course. This is an additional task in the first round, over and above facilitation (as outlined above under section Typical tasks). Following the April 2027 course, the master slide deck will be incorporated into the trainer handbook, so that later trainers can work from a complete and tested package. Details on scope, deliverables and remuneration for this additional task will be set out in the contract following 1) successful integration into the pool and 2) selection as trainer for the April 2027 training.

Time commitment. Preparation (slide deck development including feedback and validation) and briefing – 15 working days, in-person delivery – 5 days, post-course reporting and recommendations for adaptation to handbook and training delivery – 2 days. Total: 22 working days.

 

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Mandatory.

• Relevant university education (minimum Master’s degree)
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in a relevant field
• Proven track record in training and facilitation
• Sound knowledge of adult learning methodologies
• Substantive experience in West Africa
• Fluency in English.

Desirable.

• Fluency in French
• Prior involvement in HAWA courses (alumni) or at KAIPTC.
• Training of Trainers (ToT) qualification
• Expertise in gender, WYPS, climate/environment and/or humanitarian practice
• Regional background in West Africa

 

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit the following documents in English:

1. Curriculum vitae
2. Motivation letter stating areas of expertise and preferred role(s) (see Profiles above)
3. A short session concept or training sample
4. Two to three references

 

Selection and Vetting Process

Indicative timeline.

• 30 November 2026: deadline for submission of applications
• December 2026 to mid-January 2027: review of applications, selection and vetting for inclusion in the trainer pool based on provided material.
• Mid-January to 31 January 2027: interviews and contracting of trainers selected for the April iteration of the course.

Vetting Process

A designated board will conduct selection and vetting. Applicants will be assessed based on relevant criteria stated in section 5 above.

 

Safeguarding, Ethics and Conduct

All pool members are required to adhere to the principles of protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), child protection, the code of conduct, confidentiality and the rules on conflict of interest. Applicants must sign ACP code of conduct and ACP Safeguarding Policy. Breaches may lead to removal from the pool.

 

Conditions of Engagement

• Membership of the pool does not guarantee any assignment.
• Remuneration and travel arrangements will follow the standard KAIPTC rates and procedures.
• The contracting entity is KAIPTC for the specialization course. For other courses, it will be the organizing institution (KAIPTC or ACP).
• A performance review takes place after each assignment.

 

Diversity and Equal Opportunity

KAIPTC and ACP are committed to gender balance and regional representation in the pool. Women and applicants from West Africa are explicitly encouraged to apply.

 

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted by email to Affiba at assistant.course-director01@kaiptc.org copying princella.godzi@kaiptc.org and psenner@ac4p.at

Deadline: 30 November 2026, 23:59 GMT

Subject line: Trainer Pool Application – [Your Name]

Format: All supporting documents must be combined into a single PDF file not exceeding 10 MB.

Applicants will be notified of the selection outcome after 31 January 2027.
 

Data Protection and Disclaimer

Applicant data will be stored and used solely for the purpose of this selection process and the management of the pool, in line with applicable data protection regulations, and will not be shared with third parties beyond the implementing partners. ACP and KAIPTC reserve the right to modify or cancel this call at any time without liability.