Training Workshop on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building

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UNDP/Centre for Peace and Development Studies
Training Workshop on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
Held on 23rd May 2005 at the University of Zalingei – West Darfur


Introduction.

UNDP’s Rule of Law Programme in Darfur is intended to raise awareness on basic human rights amongst law enforcement, judiciary and security officials, reorient them towards their obligations to protect affected populations, enhance compliance through monitoring and mentoring change of attitude towards observance of human rights standards and respect for rule of law and finally to build confidence between IDP communities and the local authorities.

The training workshop on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building was organised and facilitated by UNDP in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Development Studies of the University of Zalingei and its objectives are as follows:

(i) To raise awareness on conflict resolution and peace building methodologies.
(ii) To sensitise the targeted groups on the importance of peace and peace building in Darfur.
(iii) To build capacity of the targeted groups as well as local institutions in Darfur.
(iv) To support local institutions involved in peace building activities in Darfur. The Centre is inter alia mandated to promote a culture of peace and create a suitable environment for prevention and resolution of conflicts in the region.

This is the first training workshop held by UNDP and the Centre and plans are underway to hold similar training workshops in different localities within West Darfur.

Implementation.

UNDP made preparatory contacts with Dr. Abuelgasim, Messrs Musa and Yassir of the Centre and discussed the theme, objectives, target groups, budget, venue, date and time of the training workshop. UNDP and the Centre prepared workshop materials, made invitations and obtained requisite approvals among other activities after the initial preparatory meetings.

Curriculum of the training workshop.

The workshop covered the following:

(a) The concept of conflicts i.e. definition of conflicts, definition of violence, functions of conflicts, objectives and behaviour of conflicts.

(b) Conflict analysis tools: definition of conflict analysis, rationale for analysing conflicts, time lines, stages of conflicts, conflict mapping, conflict tree, the onion, force field analysis, the pillars and the pyramid

(c) Theories of conflict i.e. community relations, identity, human needs, principled negotiations, intercultural miscommunication, and conflict transformation theories.

(e) Approaches in dealing with conflicts i.e. prevention, settlement, resolution and transformation.

(f) Peace Building: concepts of peace, peace as a process, types of peace interventions, humanitarian aid and emergency assistance, peace-making, peacekeeping, peace-building and peace culture.

(g) Negotiation/mediation skills, phases of negotiation.

Venue.

The workshop was held in Dr. Yusuf Hall in the University of Zalingei in West Darfur.

Facilitation.

The training workshop was organised and facilitated by UNDP in collaboration with Mr. Musa, Director of the Centre, Mr. Yassir Sati and Dr. Abuelgasim from the centre.

Participants.

The participants are categorised as follows:

(i) 20 postgraduate students from the Centre.

(ii) 20 people from the police, military, security, civil servants, women union, civil society etc. based in Zalingei.

(iii) 20 people drawn from the native administration i.e. Sheikhs, Omdas, and Shartai from the host community and IDPs in Zalingei.

Approach and Methodology.

Two approaches were used i.e. open lecture method and working group discussions as well as role- plays. Participants were engaged throughout the workshop through listening, raising and answering questions etc. The participants’ role-play was based on the recent GoS-SPLM/A peace negotiations and agreement. The participants split into groups and assumed different roles i.e. the mediator, GoS, SPLM/A, IGAD, IGAD Partners, EU, AU, etc. The participants applied the mediation/negotiation skills learnt during the workshop.

Evaluation.

• The turnout was quite good with 85% attendance. Out of the 65 invitees, 54 turned up.

• The session was highly interactive and participatory.

• Participants were of the view that the workshop was well organised and facilitated.

• The participants found the workshop quite timely, relevant and felt challenged to apply the skills in managing conflicts in their respective areas.

• Two IDP sheikhs opined that the peace building skills learnt during the workshop would be handy in resolving the ongoing conflict in Darfur.

• The IDP community’s confidence in the government in the locality is still low as exemplified by four IDP sheikhs who declined to attend the workshop claiming that it was meant to promote some undisclosed government agenda. They later realised they were mistaken after one of the workshop facilitators explained to them the objectives of the workshop. They promised to attend future sessions.

• Participation of women was quite low (6%). Women’s Union was invited but the event coincided with the Union’s workshop in Khartoum.

Recommendations.

• Need to hold training workshops for different levels of participants.

• Allocate more days (2-3) days for the training workshop.

• Need to involve more women in future training sessions. Role of women in peace building to be emphasised.

• Increase participation of IDPs as they are most affected by the conflict.

• Conduct prior information/awareness campaigns so as to correct misconceptions about the objectives of future workshops and also some deep-seated misconceptions arising out of lack of confidence on the part of the IDP community towards the local authorities.

• Harmonise the timing of future workshops with local as well as regional/national activities affecting the localities to optimise attendance.

• Involve more youth in future workshops.

• The participants were quite enthusiastic and motivated throughout the workshop and expressed need for more training sessions.

• Need to hold regular training workshops with a view of reaching as many segments of the society as possible and also building on the skills already learnt.







Annex I

Opening speeches.

(i) Mr. Musa, Director of the Centre gave an overview of the objectives of the workshop. He highlighted the mandate of the Centre towards the people of Darfur and hailed the role played by UNDP in the initiative.

(ii) UNDP highlighted the objectives of the Rule of Law programme in Darfur as well as support for local institutions involved in peace building activities and also building of capacities of CSOs in the region. UNDP called upon the participants to apply conflict resolution and peace building skills to prevent and resolve conflicts in their respective areas.

(iii) Dr. Is Haq Hassan, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zalingei hailed the initiative and emphasised its importance to the people of Darfur i.e. through raising awareness, building capacity of local people and institutions, promoting a culture of peace and creating a suitable environment for prevention and resolution of conflicts in the region. He also noted that the forum presented an opportunity to share experiences amongst participants.

(iv) Mr. Hassan Suleiman Mohammed, Commissioner for Zalingei locality challenged the Centre to address local problems of IDPs and host communities through confidence and peace building activities in the locality. He called upon the participants to apply the skills to improve their communities and in particular to alleviate the problems faced by people of Darfur during the conflict.

He fully supported the initiative and called upon the humanitarian community and the centre to engage in similar initiatives in other areas/localities and expressed commitment and full support from his office. The opening ceremony was also graced by representatives of the Chief of the army, Police and Security in Zalingei.


Annex II

Time Schedule

Time Event
1000-1100 hrs Arrival and registration
1100-1200 hrs Opening Session speeches by Director of the Centre– Mr. Musa
UNDP Rule of Law Officer, West Darfur.
Vice Chancellor - Dr. Is Haq Hassan
Commissioner for Zalingei – Hassan Suleiman Mohammed
1200-1300 hrs Presentation by Mr. Yassir, lecturer, University of Zalingei Understanding of conflicts – types, causes and conflict analysis
1300-1400 hrs Presentation by Mr. Musa Adam, Director of the Centre Theories of Conflicts
1400-1500hrs Presentation by Dr. Abuelgasim Abdella Adam, Lecturer, University of Zalingei Approaches in dealing with conflicts
1500-1530hrs Prayers break
1530-1630 hrs Presentation by Mr. Yassir Satti, Lecturer, University of Zalingei Peace and peace building, Skills of negotiation and mediation.
1630-1730hrs Working Groups/Role Play
1730-1800 hrs Closing remarks and awarding of certificates of participation.
1800- 1900 hrs Dinner at the University of Zalingei Rest House.

Annex III

UNDP/Centre training workshop on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in the University of Zalingei

Names of Participants Position

1 Osman Hussein Sharef El Deen Masters Student
2 Saef El Dawala Yousif Masters Student
3 Mohammed Abas Kanjum Masters Student
4 Ahmed Abdrahman El Rasheed Masters Student
5 El Yas Abaker Idriss Masters Student
6 Mohammed Hammid Ahmed Regeeb Shoorta
7 Abaker Adam Suleiman Masters Student
8 Suleiman Ali Ahmed Masters Student
9 Mohammed Hassan Awaad Masters Student
10 Galia Yousif Juma Masters Student
11 Amira Abaker Kanjum Masters Student
12 El Nur Musa Bar El Deen Masters Student
13 Ahmed Abdel Raheen Mohamed Masters Student
14 Abdel Salam Juma Abdel Aziz NCA/Caritas
15 El Tahir Bashir Khalil Police
16 Yassir Abdel Majeed HAC
17 Abul Gasim Es Haq Security
18 Omda Adam Adam Abdella Omda Areebo
19 Sheikh Mukhtar Ali Sheikh
20 Hammid Adam Belil Military
21 Mahmoud Mohammed Salih Military
22 Yagoub Rahama El Sanoosi Police
23 Mohammed Osman Musa Omda
24 Osman Ahmed Abdella Sheikh
25 Adel Azeem El Awad Ahmed HAC
26 Entisar Abaker Kanjum HAC
27 Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed Omda Kargi
28 Ahmed El Hassan Hammid University of Zalingei
29 Hamadan Adam Musa Danish Refugee Council
30 Patrick Moses Musibi NCA/Caritas
31 Lone Clausen Danish Refugee Council
32 Abul Gasim Mohammed Sowar Deputy of Shartai
33 Zakaria Yahya Juma Omda Kili
34 Hussein Abdel Rahmna Ahmed Omda Dawri
35 Ismael Hamid Juma Omda Kargila
36 Haroon Dembo Abdella Omda Dodo
37 Yassir Adam Osman National Security
38 Mohammed Abdel Rahman Sharif Masters Student
39 El Zibir Khamis Ibrahim Omda Zalingei
40 Arabab Mohammed Juma Omda
41 Mustafa El Shakoor Osman University of Zalingei
42 Abdel Rahman Sadiq Abaker Masters Student
43 Osman Hasabella Osman Police
44 Seif El Deen Ahmed Bakheet Intelligence
45 Khalid Hassan El Tahir Major Police
46 Hammid Mazhoub Hassan Major Police
47 Mustafa Osman Adam Omda Abata
48 Mahay El Deen Mohammed Ahmed Police
49 Omar Abdella Mohammed Omda
50 Adam Musa Mohammed Masters Student
51 Abubaker Yahya Adam Masters Student
52 Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan Masters Student
53 Adam Mohammed Is Haq Omda
54 Osman El Bedel Raheen Masters Student
55 Dr. Is Haq Hassan Vice Chancellor
56 Mr. Musa Adam Director, Centre
57 Mr. Yassir Sati Lecturer, Centre
58. Dr. Abuelgasim Abdella Adam Lecturer, Centre.

Annex IV

UNDP/Centre training workshop on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in the University of Zalingei
Statement of accounts
Date Item Quantity Unit cost Cost SDD
14/5/05 Stationery & Misc 65 1,230.76 20,000
18/5/05 Participation certificates 65 276.92 18,000
18/5/05 Taxi Khartoum 1 2,000.00 2,000
20/5/05 Transport (Gen-Zal- Gen) 1 36,000.00 36,000
22/5/05 Catering & Misc 65 1,077.00 70,000
23/5/05 Token payments 3 20,000.00 60,000
22/5/05 Telephone scratch card- Zalingei 1 5,000.00 5,000
23/5/05 Labour – Zalingei 3 1,667.00 5,000
Total 216,000
UNDP Contribution 186,000
Commissioner’s contribution 30,000
Total 216,000