UNITAR, with support from the Government of Japan, is launching Peacemaking Training Programme for South Sudan
27 March, 2015, Hiroshima, Japan - On 9 July, 2011, South Sudan became the newest country in the world with a total population of nine million. Unfortunately, the country relapsed into armed conflict in 2014, just three years after achieving independence. It not only revealed the fragility of South Sudan’s institutions, but also the mounting political, security and socio-economic challenges the country faces - this includes the country’s poverty ratio of 50.6 percent, amongst the highest in the world. The continuation of this situation necessitates further assistance with capacity development in the country in order to promote indigenous, sustainable peace building, reconstruction, and future development.
This contribution from the Government of Japan comes at a critical time, when upskilling of human capacity of the country is crucial to actively develop peacemaking mechanisms to identify, analyze, and help prevent conflict from re-emerging. The training offered will examine these elements, as well as methodologies to design and develop a training focused on local need, with local ownership. It will increase reconciliation and understanding for the South Sudanese people, as well as promote their ability to maximize nascent peace opportunities.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is the key UN Agency specializing in adult learning and instructional design. In many years of institutional experience in training on peacemaking for African nations, UNITAR has developed unique methodological approaches focused upon the needs of adult learners.
In addition, the UNITAR Hiroshima Office has long experience in designing and delivering training for post-conflict countries, including Afghanistan and Iraq. Through this experience, the office has developed a unique understanding of the needs of beneficiaries as they work toward peace.
The programme will target eighteen mid-senior level representatives from agencies and institutions from South Sudan. The programme will incorporate two workshops, one in Africa and one in Japan, tailored for the realities in South Sudan. Each workshop will be linked by asynchronous training modules, utilizing UNITAR’s unique blended learning training methodologies.
For more information, please contact
Berin McKenzie
email: berin.mckenzie@unitar.org
Tel: +81-82-511-2424
Photo credit: UN Photo / Paul Banks