ipace COURSE OFFERINGS
1. PEACE EDUCATION The new Peace Education course explores how peace may be achieved at the community level by building skills around mediation, dialogue, and conflict analysis. This course seeks to increase the capacity of participants to develop and effectively use conflict transformation models that are appropriate to their local situation. The course also assists participants to define their roles as peace-builders and understand how to approach peace in a sustainable way. Emphasis is placed on the need for inclusive peace-building initiatives that recognize the rights of women and children, persons with disabilities, and ethnic and religious minority groups. This course is ideal for the emerging peace-builders looking to gain a strong foundation of peace education and practical skills for conflict transformation. This course is designed for ipace by Dr. Paula Green, founder and director of the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding and Professor of Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation at the School for International Training (SIT). 2. TOT FOR LEADERSHIP IN PEACEBUILDING The Training of Trainers (ToT) for Leadership in Peacebuilding course is designed as an advanced track course for experienced peacebuilders. This course examines many lessons-learned in grassroots peacebuilding and (a) analyzes the conditions that may make one peacebuilding strategy more successful than others, and (b) explores how we keep our peace-work moving forward. Course participants are guided through phases of problem analysis, theory of change, project design, and planning for sustainable peace-work. Participants also work on campaigns that achieve the goal of durable peacebuilding projects and enhance their facilitation skills. This course is designed for ipace by Dr. Paula Green, founder and director of the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding and Professor of Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation at the School for International Training (SIT). 3. ELECTORAL OBSERVATION This course covers electoral observation principles, civil society consultation in electoral administration, and observation methodology of key processes in the electoral cycle, including campaigns, legal framework development, voter registration, polling and counting, and post-electoral processes. The course will also cover observation planning, reporting, dissemination, and electoral reform advocacy mechanisms. This course is designed by Jena Karim, World Learning s Technical Advisor for Civil Society and Governance. 4. PEACE ADVOCACY The Peace Advocacy course provides a conceptual overview of peace building and reconciliation, universal human rights, social pluralism, and good governance. The course focuses on community-driven activities and practices to promote tangible peace-building and coalition development around peace processes. This course also introduces advocacy techniques needed for sustainable peace-building, including how peace builders utilize media or public messaging campaigns to promote peace in their communities, as well as developing recommendations for good peace advocacy at a policy level, particularly with governmental entities. The Peace Advocacy course is designed for independent peace advocates or those closely involved with peace-building activities in their organizations. This course is designed by Simon Harris, a peace-building and humanitarian action specialist with over 20 years international experience. 5. VOTER EDUCATION The Voter Education course covers election terminology, electoral system and constituencies, electoral complaints and adjudication processes, voter registration, as well as select civic education components (i.e. good governance, governing actors and institutions, constitutional mandate of the election commission). The course focuses on Myanmar s electoral frameworks, drawing upon international standards and examples as needed. The course is ideal for participants looking to become involved in get out the vote activities or other voter education activities within their 2
own organizations. This course is developed by Jennifer Collins-Foley, international democracy specialist and Senior Practitioner Faculty at World Learning s School for International Training (SIT) graduate institute. 6. MEDIA AND ELECTIONS The Media and Elections course teaches participants to effectively utilize the media and social media platforms within the context of an election. The course focuses on building competencies around media engagement so that participants feel comfortable giving interviews to the press about elections-related work, including voter education and outreach. The course also provides an overview of media, media s role in an election, media ethics, and how civil society groups can engage the media professionally and effectively. This course is designed for ipace by Ms Rose Foran, journalist and former Senior Writer & Editor at World Learning. 7. PLURALISM AND CITIZENSHIP This course explores concepts of social and cultural pluralism (racial, ethnic, physical, and religious), how they are different from diversity, and how it is the critical foundation of the protection of human rights, citizenship, and democratic development. The course will also explore tools and pluralistic mechanisms for civil society engagement, and how pluralism can be used to mitigate social risks in democratic development. The Pluralism and Citizenship course is designed by Jena Karim, World Learning s Technical Advisor for Civil Society and Governance. 8. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW & LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR ADVOCACY This class focuses on the notion of constitutionalism by addressing how constitutional orders are used to regulate the relationship between government and the citizen, promote a culture of respect for just rule of law, and protect individual liberties. It will consider selected topics such as structural questions about judicial review, hierarchy of laws, methods of constitutional interpretation, and substantive rights including due process, equal protection, privileges and immunities, speech and religion clauses usually enshrined in constitutions. While this course employs a comparative approach by examining other constitutions, it draws on Myanmar s examples where possible. In particular, it will explore the powers and limitations of various governmental structures that have the mandate to protect Myanmar s Constitution. This course is designed by Farnoosh Hashemian, MPH, JD, constitutional and human rights consultant. 9. HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATIONS & MECHANISMS FOR PROTECTION This class provides an introduction to the law, theory, and practice of international human rights, and will tiein comparative analysis and international case examples which are relevant to Myanmar. The course will review the enforcement and implementation of human rights norms through key instruments and procedures, and address how major international, regional, and domestic human rights organizations and mechanisms can be used to protect basic rights. This course will also briefly cover systematic assessment and advocacy techniques that measure progress and setbacks in human rights compliance and promote evidence-based policy and practice change. This course is designed by Farnoosh Hashemian, MPH, JD, constitutional and human rights consultant. 10. CIVIC EDUCATION Informed citizens are necessary for a strong democracy. This class helps build an understanding of democratic principles, including: political and social stakeholders; political and governing processes; civil society rights and responsibilities; human rights and marginalized groups, including women, the disabled, youth and other underrepresented groups; pluralism and religious tolerance as critical features of democratic development. This course is designed by Jena Karim, Technical Advisor on Civil Society and Governance, World Learning. 3
11. POLITICAL TRANSITIONS This class examines aspects of political transitions using a comparative framework. It will include examples of successful and unsuccessful transitions with a focus on practical issues related to political transformation, such as constitutional change, electoral systems, and political party development. This course is designed by Lindsay Stein, former ipace project director. 12. POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT This class addresses advocacy, debating, campaigning, and strategic planning for political change and practical problem solving. It will also include sector-specific communications relating to public policy. It will be an active process-based political engagement class. This course is designed by Dr. Richard Nuccio, democracy expert and chief of party for the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Myanmar. 13. FEDERALISM This class focuses on federalism and decentralization, with Indonesia and the United States as case studies. Particular emphasis will be placed on looking at issues of federalism and decentralization in a transition and in the Burmese context. This course is designed by Eric Bjornland, founder and principal of Democracy International. 14. CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION This class examines issues of peace building and reconciliation, human rights with an emphasis on the rights of minority groups, women, and persons with disabilities, and religious tolerance. It will focus on legal frameworks as well as community-driven activities to promote tangible peace building. This course is designed by Lerio Caseria Latumbo, School of International Training. 15. TRANSPARENCY This class examines several aspects of transparency in a theoretical and practical approach. It will address conceptual understandings of transparency in the development and governance context, explore priority areas for reform in Myanmar, and examine possible tools to address issues of transparency in Myanmar. This course is designed by ipace trainer and subject matter expert, Lindsay Hobson. 16. TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE This class addresses judicial and non-judicial approaches to transitional justice. It will also examine external transitional justice mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court, and examples of different types of transitional justice, such as those used in the Balkans, Rwanda, and South Africa. This course is designed by Lerio Caseria Latumbo, School of International Training. 17. DEMOCRATIC FOUNDATIONS This class addresses constitutionalism, comparative political systems (including parliamentary systems), and advocacy. It will focus on aspects of governance central to democratic state building, particularly linkages between citizens and government in a democratic state. This course is designed by Dr. Richard Nuccio, democracy expert and chief of party for the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Myanmar. 18. ADVOCACY FOR ENDING GENDER- BASED VIOLENCE (GBV) This course focuses on developing a strong understanding and background in GBV among participants and building their capacity to more effectively lead impactful GBV advocacy campaigns and service provision interventions. It will include information on best practices in combatting GBV, proven strategies and approaches to coalition and network building, and designing and evaluating GBV projects. A centerpiece of the course will be a module on how to effectively advocate and collaborate with government officials to combat GBV. The course will be open to participants with little or basic formal training in GBV issues or advocacy skills, with preference given to those affiliated with organizations active in combatting GBV. This course is designed by Peter Pawlak, GVB Expert in consultation with Gender Equality Networ (GEN). 4
19. LEADERSHIP FOR CHANGE This Leadership for Change course focuses on leadership theories and practices as well as the creation a roadmap for participants to strengthen their own leadership goals and capacities. The course will ask participants to be self-reflective and aware of their own leadership goals and ways in which they want emerge as role models and strong leaders. The course will explore leading others through participatory management, inspiring ownership and commitment, collaborative relationships, and models of management. In addition, participants will build organizational leadership skills related to change management, risk management, strategic planning, and understand how to build a learning organization. By the end of the course, participants will be able to articulate a compelling vision for organizational and individual leadership growth. 20. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CIVIL SOCIETY The Organizational Development for Civil Society course supports advocates and civil society representatives from small-to-medium-sized organizations by providing basic, introductory concepts of organizations and organizational behaviors, and exploring a range of tools and strategies for improving organizations. After the course, participants will better understand how organizations can be structured, led, planned, and governed using participatory principles. Participants will further be able to critically analyze the organizations in which they work, identify key areas for improvement, and identify strategies for improvement. The Organizational Development for Civil Society course includes work on developing an organization-wide capacity development plan, based on an organizational assessment, and introduces various tools, resources, and skills to improve organizational functioning. This course is designed and introduced at ipace by organizational development specialist, Louise Coventry. 21. RESEARCH METHODS & ANALYSIS FOR ADVOCATES The Research Methods and Analysis for Advocates course introduces advocates/activists to qualitative research methods and analysis tools, and teaches participants how to use these tools effectively in their advocacy work. During the course, participants learn how to formulate relevant research objectives and poignant questions, write research proposals and prepare research plans. Participants receive training and guidance on research methodology tools (interviewing techniques, participants observation) and analysis, which they can immediately apply in their work through stronger evidence-based advocacy. Participants will also understand the importance of research ethics. This course was designed by and will be led by qualitative research specialist, Polina Polianskaja. 22. STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR CHANGE This course helps students understand why strategic planning is important for change. It will help students practice and use different tools and approaches in a strategic planning process. It will help participants apply this process to change in their organizations, parties, communities, or political processes. It will invite guest speakers from different civil society groups to share their experience with different aspects of planning. Students will be given a strategic planning project to complete during the course. This course is designed by Jena Karim, Technical Advisor on Civil Society and Governance, World Learning. 23. ADVOCACY IN DEMOCRACY This course focuses on various aspects of advocacy in a democratic system, including understanding advocacy, messaging for change, coalition building, and public opinion research. This course is designed by Eric Bjornland, founder and principal of Democracy International. 5
24. COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY FOR CHANGE This course addresses various methods of communications to promote change. It will look at multiples ways to promote communication for conflict negotiation, communication across sectors including between civil society groups and between civil society groups and local, regional, and national government, and communication using media. This course is designed by Liza Pendagrast, civil society and governance expert with Democracy International. 25. COMMUNICATIONS FOR CIVIL SOCIETY This course provides the fundamentals of communications for civil society organizations to achieve their goals. Foundational concepts of effective messaging and positioning will be reinforced throughout the course, with sessions on specific topics including communications with different stakeholders (constituents, policy makers, donors etc.), utilizing social media, public speaking, communicating impact, and interview techniques, amongst others. 26. ENGLISH FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES This course will assist students to communicate about civic education in English, including topics related to political systems, constitutionalism, and advocacy. The course will help develop students English vocabulary and communication abilities around these issues to communicate with donors, and the wider international audience. This course is designed by ipace trainer and subject matter expert, Lindsay Hobson. 27. ENGLISH FOR ADVOCATES This course assists students to communicate about civic education in English, including topics related to political systems, policy issues, community engagement, and advocacy. The course will help develop students English vocabulary and communication abilities around these issues to communicate with donors and the wider international audience about their advocacy and civic engagement efforts. This course is designed by ipace Senior Program Trainer, Kirt Mausert. The English for Advocates is led in English, so please be confident in your basic English speaking skills if you select this course. 28. TRAINING OF TRAINERS (TOT) FOR CIVIC EDUCATORS This course is designed to allow students to learn effective pedagogy to aid in the implementation of their own civic education courses when using ipace materials. The ToT for civic educators will borrow from World Learning s extensive Master ToT and QuiLT programs implemented at the American Center, Yangon. The ToT content will be adapted to address the unique needs of civic educators. This course is designed by ipace s Associate Director, Sai Aung Thein. 6
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