ACPST course: Emerging threats to human security in Africa 2014

This course focuses on climate change, electoral violence, terrorism, trafficking in persons and drugs and sexual and gender-based violence.

Date: 2014-08-18 to 2014-08-22

Venue: ISS Addis Ababa

The African Centre for Peace and Security Training (ACPST) aims to enhance the ability of practitioners to improve human security in Africa primarily through short courses and workshops. The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) created the Centre in 2011 with support from the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. The ISS is an African organisation which aims to enhance human security on the continent. It does independent and authoritative research, provides expert policy analysis and advice, and delivers practical training and technical assistance. The ISS was established in 1991 and has its head office in Pretoria. Regional offices are located in Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Dakar.

Course description: African countries have made significant gains in response to some of the biggest human security threats on the continent, including warfare and authoritarianism. New threats are now emerging that make it difficult for many countries to reap the dividends from these earlier gains. Climate change, piracy, electoral violence, terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence and cybercrime are some of these new challenges.

This course focuses on climate change, electoral violence, terrorism, trafficking in persons and drugs and sexual and gender-based violence and addresses the following questions: What is the nature of these threats? How do they threaten human security? What are their causes? How do they relate to each other and to traditional threats? What are some of the cutting edge practical ways to tackle them that are effective, respectful of human rights and sustainable over the long run?

Goals: The course will equip participants with knowledge and skills to bring about policy and behavioural changes that will help reduce these threats to human security. It will also facilitate networking among participants.

Course participants: State and non-state actors working on human security issues in Africa will be considered for participation. People working in agencies that directly combat these threats and those working on issues that are indirectly affected by these threats are all encouraged to apply.

Language of instruction: English. Participants should be highly proficient in English.

Participants' obligations: The receipt of a certificate is dependent on full attendance, active participation in all class and group activities, and submission of all assignments. Trainees who miss sessions without the course director’s permission will not be granted certificates.

Costs and funding: The ACPST charges no tuition fees and offers in-county transportation and full meals to all participants. No per diems are offered to course participants. To ensure the attendance of need-based applicants, the ACPST will partially support the participation of some candidates (with travel and accommodation costs). Awards are based on need and require a clear motivation in the cover letter.

How to apply: Participants

Send an email to [email protected] by 15 July 2014, using the subject line Participant: Emerging Threats, with these two attachments (MS Word or PDF formats only):

A cover letter explaining how/why this course is relevant to your current professional activities
A complete CV with your contact information and contacts of two referees

How to apply: Resource persons

The ACPST invites applications from practitioners, researchers and academics interested in acting as facilitators on specific themes/aspects of the course. Facilitators are leading professionals and experts on human security issues in Africa that have a postgraduate degree and significant experience in the chosen field. Under the supervision of the course director, facilitators will prepare written presentations, recommend study materials and make presentations on the chosen theme to the class.

The ACPST will cover the air travel and accommodation of facilitators and offer a competitive flat fee covering teaching and preparation days. Interested candidates should send a detailed CV, including a reliable contact telephone number and details of two referees to [email protected] by 15 July 2014. The subject line of the email and cover letter should include the letters 'RP' and the specific thematic area for which the person would like to be considered as a resource person. For example, 'RP: Emerging Threats to Human Security in Africa'.

The thematic areas for which resource persons are sort are: