TOOLS FOR CONFLICT SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Even well-intentioned development initiatives can unintentionally fuel tension or exacerbate conflict, particularly in contexts with fragile governance, social divisions, or weak security structures.
This course equips participants with knowledge and practical tools needed to ensure their interventions contribute to peace rather than conflict intentioned development initiatives that can unintentionally fuel tension or exacerbate conflict, particularly in contexts with fragile governance, social divisions, or weak security structures.
The course introduces practical approaches to conflict analysis, peace and conflict stakeholder mapping, and impact assessment. Participants will learn how to identify risks, strengthen positive outcomes, and adapt programs in complex and evolving environments.
The course is grounded in two foundational frameworks - Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment (PCIA) and Do No Harm (DNH)- and emphasizes real world application. By the end of the course, participants will be able to design, implement, and adapt development initiatives that are conflict sensitive, ethically responsible, and contextually informed world application.
DATES October 19 to December 7, 2026
FACILITATOR
Digafie Debalke
DURATION
8 Weeks
Live sessions will take place Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am AST
COURSE TYPE Online
Taking a Coady course is highly recommended for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of community development, expand their professional network, and make a meaningful difference in the world.
Abdul Samad, Community worker
Who can register?
This course is for change-makers of any age or sector questioning the relevance of projects and programs driven by external organizations and focused on communities’ needs and deficits. This includes community builders, government agencies, NGOs, universities, and grant-making organizations. You are a good candidate if you want to explore the value and challenges of bottom-up peacebuilding initiatives in post-conflict communities.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
• identify key features and aspects of grassroots peacebuilding;
• examine the challenges to grassroots peacebuilding; evaluate the key links between grassroots peacebuilding; analyze the effectiveness of grassroots peacebuilding through community initiatives (scenario learning). Participants are required to share their findings and analysis during a 20-minute presentation; and
• evaluate grassroots peacebuilding – How do we know if our initiatives have peacebuilding or conflict generating impacts?
Time requirement
This is an 8-week course. Participants are expected to spend minimum of 8 hours a week reading, preparing, attending online classes, and completing assignments. A quiet environment with no background noise is suggested. While they are not mandatory, you are strongly encouraged to attend the live sessions. All instructional materials will be in English.
Fees
Coady Institute is committed to ensuring that practitioners and community members dedicated to community-led development worldwide have access to its courses. Thanks to the generous support of individual, institutional, and corporate donors, the tuition fee of $1,500 CAD has been reduced to $400 CAD plus HST.
Full bursaries are available for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit community members residing in Canada, as well as individuals residing in Nova Scotia from African Nova Scotian communities and Nova Scotians of African descent. To request a full bursary, please contact us at coadyadmit@stfx.ca
If paying by credit card is not an option, please contact coadyfinance@stfx.ca to arrange an alternative payment method.
To register, visit coady.stfx.ca
Established in 1959, Coady Institute is committed to accompanying generations of global leaders skilled in the application of citizen-led, asset-based, and community-driven leadership for economic and social change. Located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Coady Institute includes a network of leaders in 130 countries globally.