News
31 Jan 2023

From doing no harm to building and sustaining peace in Sudan

The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) is supporting the joint efforts of the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) Secretariat and UNDP in Sudan and their partners in developing a comprehensive learning initiative to boost the capacities of stakeholders to design, develop and implement conflict-sensitive and responsive peacebuilding programmes in the country.

Sudan has had a rich and varied history that has frequently been disrupted by dictatorship, inequality, and marginalization. These continue to fuel intercommunal tensions, manifesting in political, economic, and humanitarian crises, which practitioners across the country can only resolve with the active participation of the Sudanese people. The partnership between UNSSC, PBF and UNDP in Sudan builds capacities to help rebuild and renew those fractured relations.

Conflict sensitivity starts from the recognition that humanitarian, human rights, development and peacebuilding activities cannot be separated from the peace and conflict context in which they are implemented (cf. UNSDG). Therefore, partnering with stakeholders on the ground in the development and delivery of training is crucial.

Together with the PBF Secretariat and UNDP in Sudan, the “Conflict Sensitivity and Peacebuilding in Sudan” training was developed. To tailor the learning offer to the diverse Sudanese context, a mixed training approach was applied. The final deliverable is an innovative, interactive and tailored self-paced online course, available in English and soon also Arabic. Participants can familiarize themselves with each thematic area through case studies and interactive tools. The individual workbook allows for reflection, and the possibility to share resources encourages peer learning.

On 5 December 2022, the course was launched in the context of a high-level event including speakers and panelists from several UN organizations, NGOs and academia. Eira Fallen, Learning Portfolio Manager for the UNSSC Peace and Security Hub, presented the initiative. Thematic keynote speeches from Taija Kontinen-Sharp (Chief of the Integrated Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC), Brian Williams (Chief of Financing for Peacebuilding - PBSO /UNDPPA), Jos De La Haye (Deputy Resident Representative (Programmes), UNDP in Sudan), and Svenja Korth (Senior Manager Peace and Security Hub, UNSSC) were held. Furthermore, two panel discussions took place which focused on “Conflict Sensitivity and Peacebuilding practices at the UN in Sudan, global best practices and ways to improve interventions” and “Civil Society Panel: Think Globally, Act Locally: Conflict Sensitive Community Engagement”.  

Currently, more than 300 participants have registered for the English version of the course and about 30 people are already waitlisted for the Arabic version that is soon to be launched. Out of the registered participants for the English version, 188 identify as male, 121 as female, and six are undisclosed. About 16 per cent of the participants are UN Staff while the others range from civil society organizations, regional organizations, private sector, and academia.

Interested in taking the course? It is available for free to all Humanitarian-Development-Peace-Nexus colleagues working in/on Sudan. Sign up now!

For more information please contact peacesecurity@unssc.org.