Important note: Due to the global health situation, it was decided that this year's course would be run remotely in the form of an interactive online training.

Course description

Policy-makers and practitioners in the fields of peacebuilding, security and development still lack critical skills in results-based management (RBM) and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). This course, now in its 10th year, provides skills development in results-based approaches and theories of change, implementation of monitoring and evaluation, considering gender-responsiveness and implications for Agenda 2030. The course is aimed at practitioners wanting to extend or upgrade their expertise. To make the best use of the time during the course, all participants are required to complete an online preparatory course in advance to ensure a common baseline. The preparation takes about eight hours. There is emphasis on complex environments, with Outcome Mapping, Outcome Harvesting and the Cynefin framework included. The learning focuses on practical work in small groups, based on case studies.

Course focus

The course consists of instruction in essential tools and techniques, current lessons from the field, guidance from experts, and hands-on practice developing skills for peace, security and development programmes. About 40% of the course time is spent in a small group setting working on relevant problems. Course modules include:

• RBM, results and impacts
• gender analysis
• theories of change
• evaluation questions and design
• indicators and data gathering
• theories of change for the complex domain

Learning objectives

As a participant, you will enhance your ability to:

• design a project or programme using RBM and theories of change
• plan and implement monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning frameworks and activities
• plan and implement an evaluation based on an evaluation matrix
• manage a project or an annual review based on results and impact
• resolve problems of demonstrating results, especially for gender related issues
• understand and work in complex environments

Who should attend

This course is designed to build the skills of practitioners who already work in results-based management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning, or complexity, in the fields of peacebuilding, security and development:

• national development, peace and security officials, representatives from local and international development, political and security agencies
• technical advisors/programme officers from UN and other relevant agencies
• key policy makers from violence-affected countries
• officials from security and development agencies from donor countries
• independent experts and specialists in the peace sector.

The needs of individuals from both public and non-governmental institutions will be addressed.

Registration requirements

All applicants must include a 200 word (max) summary of a problem relevant to the course - the work in small groups will be based on actual issues submitted. The problem should fall within the following categories:

• Challenge of thinking through a coherent approach, planning for results, defining (and updating) theories of change, understanding the context and identifying assumptions, investing time in defining and collecting baseline data (challenges of planning before work starts).
• Challenge of setting-up and using a MEL system, collecting the data for indicators, costs of the collection of data in difficult environments, using the information from the MEL system, especially ensuring that the “learning” is effectively used by decision-makers (challenges of MEL).
• Challenge of monitoring and evaluating outcomes and impact, and learning from these results; going beyond measuring what is done to identifying the difference that is achieved, using evidence-based results (challenges about making a difference with RBM).
• Challenge of applying RBM and MEL tools in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and security sector reform (challenges of the complex domain).

Apply now

Registration deadline

30 April 2020

Language requirements

The course will be held in English; no translation will
be provided.

Venue

Due to the current global health situation, the course will be run remotely in the form of an interactive online training.

Tuition fees

The course is offered free of charge. All other expenses including travel, lodging, visas and health insurance are the responsibility of the participant.

Contact

Email: execedu@gcsp.ch 
Telephone: +41 (0)22 730 96 00
Web: http://www.gcsp.ch 

This five-day course on “Security and Justice Governance and Reform” is facilitated by DCAF-ISSAT in collaboration with the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre (FINCENT) and the European Security and Defence College (ESDC). It will be held at FINCENT from 01-05 June 2020.

The course provides participants with the knowledge and practical tools on security governance and reform (SSG/R) and justice-related processes. It touches upon the holistic nature of SSG/R and covers dimensions related to human security, access to justice and good governance with a focus on both people-centered and state-centered security and justice in various development contexts.

The 5-day course will present the contemporary theories and debates concerning SSG/R in order to provide participants with an opportunity to critically discuss and evaluate 'when, where and why?' to use different approaches and thinking. Alongside the presentation of theory, course participants will have the opportunity to apply a range of specialized analytical and problem-solving tools in order to build their analytical skills and problem-solving 'muscle memory'. In addition, participants will engage in a series of exercises aimed at increasing their individual awareness in order to contribute to changes in their attitudes and practices in line with the principles of good governance – most notably the distinction between supporting and engendering a locally owned process in contrast to promoting a practitioner identified solution and trying to obtain local buy-in.

In order to focus on engagement and practical application rather than information/theory transfer, the course will include exercises and introduce tools related to the program cycle that build DCAF-ISSAT’s experience in SSG/R and justice.

Learning Objectives

• Use theory and knowledge to advance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, in the context of SSG/R and justice;
• In the long term, improve professional practices and increase the positive impacts of SSG/R processes.
• Demonstrate enhanced self-awareness and improved understanding in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SSG/R;
• Foster the application of practical tools and methodologies based on the project management cycle;

Learning Methodology

The focus of the course is on engagement and application rather than information/theory transfer. Therefore, this 5-day program will use interactive and peer-learning activities while adopting a problem-solving approach through a series of case studies, hands-on practical exercises, simulations and group activities to help participants understand the challenges related to SSG/R in practice. An inductive approach is used in every session of the course in order to place participants at the centre of the training.

Target Audience

The course will target practitioners and professionals – including civilian, military and police personnel, as well as civil society representatives and professionals from the private sector – who are working on the provision, management and oversight of security and justice governance in the area of policy or practice. This includes state and non-state actors with knowledge of security and justice development who are in a position to influence policy and/or practice in this area. The course also targets those involved in programme design, management and implementation, mission planning and delivery and/or in political/policy dialogues.

DCAF-ISSAT is committed to selecting diverse participants in terms of professional and organisational background, age and nationality, as well as gender balance.

How to apply

Applications to the course should be completed by sending an e-mail to ISSAT at training@issat.dcaf.ch including:

• an up-to-date CV
• a short motivational cover letter
• an 1/2 page biography

The deadline for ISSAT applications to the course is Friday, 24 April 2020. Confirmation of an allocated place will be made by Thursday, 30 April 2020.    

The Irish Ministry of Defence and DCAF-ISSAT will organise a five-day course on “Security and Justice Governance and Reform”, at the United Nations Training School Ireland (UNTSI) in County Kildare, Ireland from 23-27 March 2020. 

The course provides participants with the knowledge and practical tools on security governance and reform (SSG/R) and justice-related processes. It touches upon the holistic nature of SSG/R and covers dimensions related to human security, access to justice and good governance with a focus on both people-centered and state-centered security and justice in various development contexts.

The 5-day course will present the contemporary theories and debates concerning SSG/R in order to provide participants with an opportunity to critically discuss and evaluate 'when, where and why?' to use different approaches and thinking. Alongside the presentation of theory, course participants will have the opportunity to apply a range of specialized analytical and problem-solving tools in order to build their analytical skills and problem-solving 'muscle memory'. In addition, participants will engage in a series of exercises aimed at increasing their individual awareness in order to contribute to changes in their attitudes and practices in line with the principles of good governance – most notably the distinction between supporting and engendering a locally owned process in contrast to promoting a practitioner identified solution and trying to obtain local buy-in.

In order to focus on engagement and practical application rather than information/theory transfer, the course will include exercises and introduce tools related to the program cycle that build DCAF-ISSAT’s experience in SSG/R and justice.

Learning Objectives

• Use theory and knowledge to advance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, in the context of SSG/R and justice;
• In the long term, improve professional practices and increase the positive impacts of SSG/R processes.
• Demonstrate enhanced self-awareness and improved understanding in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SSG/R;
• Foster the application of practical tools and methodologies based on the project management cycle;

Learning Methodology

The focus of the course is on engagement and application rather than information/theory transfer. Therefore, this 5-day program will use interactive and peer-learning activities while adopting a problem-solving approach through a series of case studies, hands-on practical exercises, simulations and group activities to help participants understand the challenges related to SSG/R in practice. An inductive approach is used in every session of the course in order to place participants at the centre of the training.

Target Audience

The course will target practitioners and professionals – including civilian, military and police personnel, as well as civil society representatives and professionals from the private sector – who are working on the provision, management and oversight of security and justice governance in the area of policy or practice. This includes state and non-state actors with knowledge of security and justice development who are in a position to influence policy and/or practice in this area. The course also targets those involved in programme design, management and implementation, mission planning and delivery and/or in political/policy dialogues.

DCAF-ISSAT is committed to selecting diverse participants in terms of professional and organisational background, age and nationality, as well as gender balance.

How to apply

Applications to the course should be completed by sending an e-mail to ISSAT at training@issat.dcaf.ch including:

• an up-to-date CV
• a short motivational cover letter
• an 1/2 page biography

The deadline for ISSAT applications to the course is Friday, 14 February 2020. Confirmation of an allocated place will be made by Friday, 21 February 2020.    

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence has requested DCAF-ISSAT’s support to run the first part of an ESDC SSR training course in Vienna. This tailored introductory SSR training is part of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) Core Course that will run from 1-8 April 2020. It is conducted by the Austrian Ministry of Defence and the Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR), in collaboration with DCAF-ISSAT. 

This international training course will bring together approximately 25 to 30 participants from different ministries and governmental institutions, personnel serving in different international and regional organisations and international crisis response missions/operations as well as personnel from NGOs and Think Tanks.

The first part of the training will include components of the DCAF-ISSAT’s introductory training on SSR. Topics to be addressed by DCAF-ISSAT will include concept, policy framework and contexts of SSR, governance, SSR in post-conflict contexts, the role of civil society and non-state security actors in SSR, the coordination for SSR as well as cross-cutting issues such as the human rights and gender equality standards. Special attention will be paid to the introduction of practical examples through case studies. Interactive co-learning methodologies and simulation exercises that encourage participants to share their own experiences will be used throughout the course.

Target audience:

Civilian, police and military experts from governments, civil society, the private sector, international institutions and agencies as well as international non-governmental organizations who are engaged in security (sub-) sector reform, post-conflict reconstruction and development cooperation are invited to participate in this course.

How to apply:

To apply to the course, please visit ASPR's website and follow instructions.

Application deadline: 26 January 2020