Following violent conflict or serious political and social crisis, a successful post-conflict transition is key in the peacebuilding and reconciliation process. Within this post-conflict transition, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants (DDR) is instrumental, seeking to increase security levels locally and nationally, but also enabling those associated with armed groups to (re)join mainstream society following the end of conflict.
Contemporary challenges and developments within the field have challenged the traditional use of DDR as a post-conflict tool. Responding to these challenges, the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on DDR has initiated a revision of the Integrated DDR Standards (IDDRS) for the standards to better suit contemporary challenges of peacebuilding environments. In light of this revision, the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) revised its global course on DDR, which was re-launched in November 2019 in Stockholm. A second round of the course will be completed between the 9th and 20th of November 2020 in Barcelona, Spain, in collaboration with the Barcelona International Peace Center (BIPC).*
During this ten-day course, the participants will explore the concept of DDR and gain a deep understanding of its role within the international peacebuilding architecture. Furthermore, the course will cover a number of DDR-related tools and tangent thematic areas.
The course adopts an interactive, learner-centered pedagogical approach combining presentations, discussions, group work and scenario-based exercises. Individual and group-based reflections are incorporated to support knowledge sharing and promote the learning experience. With facilitators and participants of multiple professional and geographic backgrounds, this course offers a dynamic and synergetic learning environment with extensive networking and peer-learning opportunities.
The course aims at deepening participants’ understanding and knowledge of the role of integrated DDR processes and related interventions during post-conflict transitions and peacebuilding and stabilization initiatives during ongoing conflict. After completing the course, the participants are expected to be able to:
• Discuss the conceptual evolution of DDR
• Analyse the differences between national DDR initiatives and UN-led integrated DDR processes
• Explain key components and activities of an integrated DDR process
• Connect and distinguish integrated DDR processes to other peacebuilding, or stabilization, interventions
• Apply and combine different elements of integrated DDR processes to differing conflict- and post-conflict settings
• Plan and asses a context specific, differentiated and evidence based integrated DDR proces
The participants are expected to have an intermediate knowledge of peacebuilding mechanisms and/or structures, dynamics of internal armed conflicts, and a need or strong interest to learn about DDR. Invited participants are civil servants, diplomats, police, military personnel, academics and representatives from international and non-governmental organizations. FBA strives to have a gender balanced participation as well as participants with a mix of institutional and geographic backgrounds and experiences. Participants will be selected by means of professional background and personal motivation in order to create a dynamic and interactive group. Additionally, in order to fully assimilate the contents of the course, participants are expected to actively engage with trainers, the course material, and with other participants, devoting their full attention to the course for these ten days. As the course is taught fully in English, fluency is a requirement.
*Please note: Given the current and ongoing worldwide pandemic and the unpredictability of future developments concerning regulations, restrictions and protective measures on global and national levels, the course may at any given time before or during its implementation, be postponed, modified or moved elsewhere. In this case, enrolled participants are guaranteed seats in the consecutive course, and will be duly informed of future developments. Enrolled participants will also have the choice to ask for a full refund of the course fee, may that be needed. Please find more information on how FBA and BIPC are adapting to the ongoing pandemic on the official course site.
How to register:
Applicants are welcome to submit their application until 20 October 2020. Please do however note that participants will be enrolled on a rolling basis until the limited spaces on the course are all filled. Applicants are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible, especially applicants in need of visas. As we normally receive a high number of applications, we encourage applicants to carefully explain their professional experience and motivation for applying to the course. In addition, CVs are welcome. Applicants are kindly requested to use the online application form.
For further information please refer to https://fba.se/en/how-we-work/courses/upcoming-courses/ and https://bcnpeacecenter.org/ or contact FBA’s DDR Course Administration: ddr@fba.se.
