PCHA Workshops: Training the trainers through bottom-up approach

Peace and stability cannot be achieved in the Sudan or the Horn of Africa region unless organizations of civil society (including political parties, trade unions and professional associations) are strengthened and are capable of playing a lead-role in the struggles for democratic transformation, social change, and social justice. More often than not, protracted conflict reduces the effectiveness of those organizations.  Based in Asmara, Eritrea, PCHA aims to fill the void created by the lack of effective capacity building for political and civil society organizations, by training trainers from local communities, grass-root organizations, indigenous NGOs and armed groups that have signed peace agreements.  This objective is carried through by providing trainers and support for, including but not limited to, conflict resolution techniques, negotiations skills, development of organizational management, internal structures and by-laws, networking and alliance building, media and spokespersons techniques, gender issues and leadership training, preparations for, participation in and monitoring of elections.

The training and skills development offered by PCHA aims at empowering indigenous community organizations in order to enable them to articulate their rights/grievances, to respond to shared needs and to advocate for social, cultural and economic justice through upgrading their organizational skills and the effective utilization of provisions included in CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement) and ESPA (Eastern Sudan Peace agreement). In conceiving and implementing these programs PCHA draws upon its extensive network and experience as a resource centre for the peace processes of Eastern Sudan, Darfur and Somalia.

PCHA organizes multiple 10 days to 2 weeks “training of trainers” workshops in local languages for 20-35 participants each time, in the following areas:

• Management and Organization of Internal Structures of civil society institutions and the formulation of laws (constitutions & by-laws) governing them.

• Alliance building and networking between organizations of civil society, its dynamics, purposes and impediments. With national and regional examples such as: Sudan National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Kenya’s National Rainbow Alliance (NARC) and South Africa’s ANC.

• Effective Media/Communications Skills for the preparation of press releases/ media briefs, public statements, background information, spokesperson training, press conferences and establishing contact with local, national and international media.

• Preparation, participation and monitoring of elections at various levels of activities, internal to civil society organizations; or, public general elections at local, provincial or national levels. Canvassing skills, mobilization and polling stations organization.

 Workshops organized by PCHA

1. Workshop (1): Organization and Institution Building (21^st – 27^th of February 2008):   The workshop was attended by 17 participants from Eastern Sudan Civil societies and political parties included:

-          Environmentalist Society – Kassala branch.

-          Al-Manar women society - Kassala.

-          Beja Students association in Higher education institutions.

-            Gash Affected Association.

Topics discussed:

-          Crisis of nation-building in Sudan.

-          Introduction to organization.

-          Organizational structures.

-          The concept of civil societies and its relation with the State.

-          Office organization.

-          Networking of civil societies and coalition building.

-          Media related communications.

2. Workshop (2): Networking & coalition building (4^th – 10^th of May 2008):  

The workshop was attended by 31 participants from Eastern Sudan representing 5 organizations from the region( Beja Relief Organization, Al-Manar Women Society, Eastern Sudan Front (ESF), Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), and Demobilized fighters society. Topics discussed in this workshop are:

-           Organization and institution Building.

-          Introduction to coalition building.

-          Networking & Coalition building.

-          Mass media communication.

-          Experience of Kenya in coalition building (Rainbow coalition).

-          South Africa experience in coalition building (NCA).

-          Sudan experience of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

-          Simulation.

3. Workshop (3): Preparation and Participation in Elections (21^st- 27^th of June 2008):  

This workshop was attended by 40 participants from Eastern Sudan, representing 4 organizations from the region. The organizations are:

-          Eastern Sudan Front (ESF).

-          Al-Manar Women Society.

-          Sudan People’s Liberation Movement  (SPLM).

-          Democratic Unionist Party.

Topics discussed:

-          Organization and institution building.

-          Elections as means for power transition. 

-          Electoral Systems.

-          Means and ways of preparation for elections.

-          Elections Campaigns.

-          Elections alliances.

-          Simulation on how to make an alliance during elections.

-          Discussion for Sudan election laws.

4.   Workshop (4): Voting & monitoring in elections (22^nd – 28^th August 2008):   

37 young men and women from Eastern Sudan representing 9 organizations participated in this workshop. The organizations are:

-          Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

-          Umma National Party.

-          SPLM.

-          Communist Party.

-          Environmentalist Society.

-          Al-Saraf Youth Centre – Gedarif.

-          Western Al-Ggash Youth Centre.

-          Dr. John Garang School – Kassala

-          Activists. 

Topics discussed:

-          Organization and institution building.

-          The history of parliamentary elections in Sudan.

-          Electoral systems.

-          Stages of elections.

-          Discussion of election laws in Sudan.

-          Elections monitoring.

-          Elections in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

-          Voting.

-          Simulation on Voting and monitoring.

5.Workshop (5): TOT (11^th  – 19^th  of April 2009):  The workshop in the Capacity Building Program for Eastern Sudan (CBPES), where 29 young men and women selected from the list of participants of the last 4 workshops, they representing 7 organizations from the region. Organizations are:

-          Al-Manar Women Society.

-          Umma National Party.

-          SPLM.

-          Communist Party.

-          Activists in Gender awareness.

-          Activists in Legal assistance.

-          ESF.

Method followed in this workshop:  

Groups selected from the previous workshop are train others in topics they took before. A training manual including materials for the 4 workshops is given to each participant.  For more details on workshops materials download the Training Manual