Executive Training Programmes

Understanding the UN Mechanisms

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

This course provides an in-depth understanding of the United Nations mechanisms, including how they operate, the main organs and their functions, as well as the interplay between the UN and other international organizations. Participants will gain an understanding of international law, human rights frameworks, and the key challenges facing the UN today.

Module 1 Understanding UN Mechanisms

The programme delves into the Human Rights Council (HRC) mechanisms, including the Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review, and HRC sessions. Attendees will become proficient in UN terminology, protocols, and communications, equipping them with the tools to navigate UN engagements effectively. They will utilise HRC mechanisms to foster human rights initiatives, culminating in the ability to craft and deliver compelling written and oral statements for UN sessions.

Module2 Practical Skills and Role-Play Exercises

Through theoretical knowledge and practical role-play exercises, participants will gain confidence in interacting within the UN system, advocating for human rights and diplomacy with appropriate skillset. They will also develop practical skills in research methodology, stakeholder engagement, and inclusive reporting, ensuring they can produce informed and impactful human rights advocacy.

Module 3 Advocacy and Partnership Skills

Participants will establish ongoing dialogue with UN bodies, building lasting partnerships for sustained human rights efforts. They will become effective advocates in the international community, capable of initiating meaningful changes and fostering dialogue on human rights issues globally.

Strategic Pathways to UN ECOSOC Accreditation

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

This programme is designed for NGOs, civil society organizations, and other international stakeholders seeking ECOSOC consultative status. The course provides practical guidance on the accreditation process, including how to meet the criteria, submit applications, and navigate the decision-making process.

Module1 United Nations ECOSOC Fundamentals

By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the tools and strategies to successfully navigate the UN ECOSOC accreditation process and strengthen their advocacy efforts within the UN system.

Module 2 Creating a UN Profile and Application Questionnaire's

Module 3 1-1 mentorship during application process

Human Rights, Conflict Intervention and Peacebuilding

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

This three-day professional certificate course enhances participants' skills in addressing challenges related to human rights protection, conflict intervention, and peacebuilding in transitional and developing regions. The course covers international human rights debates and conventions, exploring the link between human rights protection and societal conflict. Participants will study various intervention methods like preventive diplomacy, mediation, conflict resolution, peacekeeping, and post-conflict peacebuilding. Outcome-based approach: Upon completion of this programme participants will be able to gain understanding of key instruments of international human rights, understand various approaches to conflict intervention and peacebuilding, be equipped with intellectual and practical skills to engage mediation and peacebuilding as well as evaluate projects and offer relevant remedies.

Module 1 Diverse Teaching Methods

The course uses lectures, video documentaries, brainstorming sessions, experience sharing, assigned readings, and self-study. Participants will also complete a short supervised personal research project on a relevant topic. This programme is ideal for those working or aspiring to work in public policy, government, military-defense, UN agencies, international development, humanitarian aid, civil society organisations, and correctional services.

Module 2 Understanding Human Rights and Conflict

Participants will gain an understanding of the history, key instruments, application, and benefits of international human rights norms. They will also learn about various approaches to conflict intervention and peacebuilding, including practical challenges based on familiar case studies. The course emphasises the linkages between human rights, governance, and conflict intervention methods.

Module 3 Practical Skills and Evaluation

Participants will develop skills in conflict mediation, resolution, and peacebuilding. They will learn to evaluate human rights, conflict intervention, and peacebuilding projects, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and suggesting feasible policy-relevant remedies.

Inclusive Narratives

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

This programme equips content creators and journalists with an understanding of human rights issues, focusing on marginalized groups such as minority groups, refugees, and the LGBTQ+ community. Participants will learn to create inclusive, ethical content and counter hate speech by promoting narratives of respect. The programme also covers tech collective action projects, funding applications, and UK practices in re-humanising language and AI in social contexts. This course aims to foster a community of like-minded individuals who can collaborate and support each other in their efforts to drive social change. Through hands-on workshops and expert mentorship, participants will gain practical skills and insights that can be directly applied to their workplace.

Module 1 Ethical Content Creation

Participants will learn to produce content that represents marginalized groups and fosters diversity and inclusivity. They will develop skills to distinguish between hate speech and free speech and explore strategies to counteract hate speech. Case studies and discussions will broaden their perspectives on ethical journalism and re-humanizing language.

Module 2 Practical Skills Development

Attendees will gain practical experience through exercises and discussions simulating real-world challenges. They will learn to launch and lead tech collective action projects, attracting funding and support. Participants will also explore AI's ethical implications and its potential in social innovation and peacebuilding.

Module 3 Global Engagement

Participants will be prepared for global engagement, connecting with peers and institutions worldwide. They will learn UK practices in re-humanising language and AI application, enhancing their ability to contribute to international human rights and social justice efforts.

Minority Rights

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

This course addresses the unique human rights issues faced by minority groups globally. Participants will gain an understanding of international frameworks for protecting minority rights, including key UN conventions and human rights laws. The course will explore case studies of minority rights challenges and solutions implemented in various contexts.

Module 1 Understanding minority rights: Political Participation, Social and Economic Rights and International Lawutcome-based approach

Explore our workshop series to gain insights into minority rights, their significance, and the legal frameworks supporting them, along with exploring prevention methods and their impact on local peace. Learn about the role of education, employment, housing, and healthcare in local stability, and build leadership capacities for advocating international law compliance and peacebuilding initiatives. Discover strategies for empowering minority participation in democratic processes and ensuring compliance with international law to foster social cohesion

Module 2 Combating Discrimination, Promoting Inclusivity, and Establishing Reporting Mechanisms

Join us for a dynamic course focused on "Mitigating Discrimination and Promoting Inclusive Local Societies." Throughout the day, we will delve into legal protections against hate speech and hate crimes, emphasising their role in fostering local peace, and explore strategies for fostering community engagement and enhancing media literacy. In the afternoon, discussions will be held on the establishment of effective reporting mechanisms to address minority rights violations at the local level and the importance of monitoring, evaluation, and cultural diversity metrics in ensuring progress towards local peace.

Module 3 Advocacy, Implementation Strategies, and Cultural Diversity Preservation

Embrace a a dynamic workshop where we will explore effective advocacy techniques and collaborative strategies for promoting local peacebuilding efforts, followed by action planning sessions to implementing minority rights initiatives for sustainable peace. Participants will be encouraged to use their critical thinking abilities to reflect on learning outcomes and evaluation processes at the local level, while also examining international efforts and collaboration opportunities to further enhance local peacebuilding endeavors.

Gender Mainstreaming and Women Participation

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

This course equips participants with the knowledge and skills to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in local governance. Participants will learn about gender mainstreaming, female representation strategies, and practical tools to integrate gender perspectives into policies and programmes. The course emphasises the importance of monitoring and evaluation to ensure effective promotion of gender equality.

Module 1 Introduction to Gender Mainstreaming

Join us for an enlightening workshop on "Gender Mainstreaming in Local Governance." In the morning session, participants will delve into the definition, significance, and benefits of gender mainstreaming, focusing on its importance in enhancing equity and inclusivity at local councils. The afternoon session will feature case studies highlighting successful implementation of gender mainstreaming initiatives, followed by a group discussion to identify opportunities and challenges in gender mainstreaming at the local level.

Module 2 Female Representation and Gender Mainstreaming

Explore essential topics in governance and gender equality with our workshop series. Delve into gender disparities in political participation and strategies for promoting women's leadership. Learn about improving female representation in governance through quotas, mentorship schemes, and capacity building. Discover how to mainstream a gender perspective in local governance, including inclusion in decision-making processes and techniques for effective communication and engagement with community stakeholders. Gain insights into empowering women leaders and incorporating community feedback for more inclusive and effective governance practices.

Module 3 Gender Equality and Monitoring and Evaluationh

This course will delve into policies and programmes, promoting gender equality, along with awareness-raising strategies. Learn to set SMART objectives and establish monitoring mechanisms for gender mainstreaming initiatives. Develop action plans for implementing these initiatives within local councils. In our spotlight case study, examine the Coordination Committee on Gender's framework and management strategies, including stakeholder identification, agenda setting, and sustainability planning for impactful gender mainstreaming

Organisational Development: Partnerships, Transparency and Ethics

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

This course focuses on the importance of partnerships, transparency, and ethics in organisational development. Participants will explore ethical decision-making, building partnerships for development, and fostering transparency in organisational structures. Case studies will highlight best practices and challenges in the field of organisational governance.

Module 1 Partnerships

Join us for an in-depth workshop on "Establishing Effective Partnerships," designed to provide comprehensive insights into partnership types, structures, and principles. The morning session will cover the foundational elements of trust, reciprocity, and mutual advantage, enabling all partners to contribute meaningfully and exploring various levels of inclusion and communication structures in developing and maintaining partnerships. The afternoon session will focus on effective decision making, including the processes of reaching and finalising agreements, consensus building, and leveraging collective wisdom, while balancing inclusivity and effectiveness. Enhance your communication skills for conflict resolution and acquire practical strategies to fortify your collaborative efforts

Module 2 Transparency, Concepts and Principles

Join our essential workshop, aimed at deepening your understanding of organisational transparency and ethics. The morning session will cover transparency's significance, introduce open governance, and include a self-assessment exercise. In the afternoon, explore transparency as a pillar of an ethical organisational culture. You will be engaging in group discussions, and learn about tools for transparency and accountability.

Module 3 Ethics

This insightful programme explores organisational cultures, identifying symptoms charcteristics of weak ethical work cultures, whilst examining the root causes of misconduct. Learn about building and fostering robust ethical programmes. Gain insights through case studies, and acquire tools for assessing culture and enhancing transparency.

Public Policy Making and Governance

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

Module 1 Using Public Policy

Participants will be exposed to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) based on which the performance of their country and the various countries in their region will be assessed. A major issue to be considered in the SDG performance appraisal will be ways of using the instrumentality of public policy to redress policy failures and improve operational performance in key areas where there are evident gaps and deficits.

Module 2 Sustainable Development and Development Diplomacy

This module focuses on the role of sustainable development policies and development diplomacy in improving governance. Participants will learn about international frameworks, policy tools, and collaborative approaches to addressing global challenges, and how they can contribute to policy-making that promotes social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Module 3 Application in Political and Social Contexts

In this module, participants will apply the knowledge and strategies learned in real-world political and social contexts. Through case studies, discussions, and simulations, they will develop the skills needed to navigate complex governance environments and address challenges in policy implementation.

Conflict Mediation, Negotiation and Diplomacy

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

This course focuses on developing mediation, negotiation, and diplomatic skills essential for resolving conflicts and facilitating peace processes. Participants will engage with real-world case studies and practical tools to manage negotiations in high-pressure environments, build consensus among conflicting parties, and lead diplomatic initiatives.

Module 1 Contending Approaches to Conflict Prevention

Participants will become more adept at navigating complex negotiations and diplomatic interventions, improving their effectiveness in peacebuilding and conflict resolution settings.

Module 2 Context-relevant Models of Conflict Analysis

Participants will be exposed to diverse models of conflict analysis, their explanatory powers, contextual applications and limitations. The key models to be examined include Johan Galtung’s Four Stages of Conflict Analysis, the Intersecting Conflict Pyramids Model, the Onion Ring model, the ABC Model and the Conflict Tree Model.

Module 3 Practical Strategies

In this training course, specific case studies will be used to examine the evident and potential conflicts that often arise among different social identity groups in most heterogenous countries, and also between specific grassroots communities or social groups and the government.

Negotiation and Diplomacy

Duration: 5 days

Format: In-person or remote

This course is designed to help foreign policy practitioners, diplomats, and other key national and international actors expand their knowledge and ability to negotiate in different situational contexts and achieve satisfactory outcomes in the national interest. The course also explores how diplomacy can enhance negotiation processes for mutual benefits.

Module 1 Understanding the Principles

Participants will be exposed to the core principles of negotiation and the imperatives of applying them in varied scenarios. Some of the principles include: (i) Thorough preparation, (ii) Trust building, (iii) Prioritizing interest bargaining over position bargaining, (iv) The necessity of compromise and concessions, (v) Open-minded flexibility, (vi) Reciprocity, (vii) Active listening, and (viii) Effective management of emotions.

Module 2 Preparatory Guidelines

This course will strengthen the capacity of participants for context-specific application of the core principles of diplomacy, which include negotiation, communication, relationship building, and advancing strategic interests. Representing one’s government in international negotiation and diplomacy requires a mastery of the requisite intellectual and practical skills, as well as their creative applications.

Module 3 Skills and Strategies

Negotiation is often fraught with predictable and unpredictable obstacles and tensions of adversarial nature, which require specialist skills and strategies to crack and navigate. Using specific scenarios of negotiation with an arch enemy, participants will be oriented to best practices in transcending obstacles and deadlocks to broker favourable win-win deals in difficult adversarial negotiations