Conflict-sensitive approaches to development and humanitarian interventions were the focus of a recent training course conducted by International Alert for senior programme staff from UNDP, UNICEF and UNRCO in Nepal.
Aiming to introduce a practical set of tools for programme staff to integrate into operations at a field level, the course imparted knowledge on how to identify conflict risks and impacts, mitigating steps and recognising potential opportunities.
Following the two days of training, participants were unanimous in their opinion that the workshop had increased their understanding of how conflict-sensitivity can deepen the impact of their programmes.
“The workshop gave me more understanding on the context, actors, issues, connectors and dividers. I will use it in my section’s programming to ‘do no harm’ and minimise negative impact,” said one participant.
Echoing this opinion, another trainee commented: “The tools were very useful for the understanding of the whole process through the conflict lens.”
Drawing on the realities and challenges of working in Nepal, the workshop provided a practical forum for applying conflict analysis to a project cycle with contextual significance. This training makes a key contribution to Alert’s work on aid effectiveness, which aims to inform and influence how international actors decide on aid policy and delivery.
Over the next two years, the focus of this work in Nepal will be on:
- Generating research findings to show and explain how interventions of the UN, the World Bank and others succeed and/or fail to make progress in recovery and peacebuilding;
- Advocacy targeted at improving the peacebuilding and recovery performance of the UN and other institutions; and
- Producing training materials, strategic plans and opportunities that begin the process of enhancing peacebuilding capacity in key international institutions.
UN staff were not the only ones undertaking training recently, with International Alert staff in Nepal and representatives from the organisation’s local partners embarking on a workshop by senior Alert trainers on how to run effective training sessions, from inception through to implementation.
The opportunity for capacity-building was welcomed by Brabim KC from Equal Access. “I got the opportunity to learn about presentation skills, and skills to run any kind of training, especially designing and delivering training using various training tools,” he said.
International Alert is continuing to strengthen the skills of its local partners and staff with the aim of building local capacity for providing high-quality training and learning experiences in support of sustainable peace and development in Nepal.