Peacetech 101

Peacetech 101 is a practical introduction to innovation and technology for peacebuilders. The first of its kind, this 5-day training course covers innovation processes and technology tools that can be successfully used to build peace and prevent conflict. This emerging body of practice is often referred to as ‘peacetech’. Participants will emerge with a strong understanding of best practices in peacetech that will allow them to design and manage programs that introduce technology tools and innovation processes to their peacebuilding work.

Learning Objective 1
Through a series of case studies, introduce participants to the functions that technology tools can play in peacebuilding initiatives, concretely:

• Data management (mobile data collection, digital maps, big data, drones, etc)

• Strategic communications (social media, virtual reality, radio-to-mobile, etc)

• Networking & mobilisation (videogames, gamified apps, sms networks, etc).

Key outcomes:

1. Participants gain awareness of the current practice and possibilities of peacetech globally

2. Participants are able to reference peacetech practice for their own innovative design purposes

3. Participants are able to identify the operational and ethical issues associated with a peacetech concept or idea
   

Learning Objective 2
Through practical exercises, explore approaches to successfully designing tech innovation in peacebuilding, concretely:

• User-centered, participatory design: from prototype to pilot to full roll-out

• Context analysis for peacetech: information ecosystems, technology assessments, stakeholder mapping, conflict sensitivity and ethics

• Monitoring and evaluation for peacetech

Key outcomes:

1. Participants understand what contextual data and analysis are needed to successfully design a peacetech intervention

2. Participants are able to undertake user-centered, participatory design process for a peacetech intervention

3. Participants have the tools to set up a successful M&E plan for peacetech

Learning Objective 3
Through practical exercises, explore approaches to successfully implementing tech innovation in peacebuilding, concretely:

• Your role as a product manager

• Working with developers: hackathons, innovation labs and partnerships

• Organisational learning and sustaining innovation

Key outcomes:

1. Participants gain awareness of the role of ‘product manager’ in a peacebuilding context, needed to drive tech innovation through their organisations

2. Participants understand different ways of working with the technology sector from briefings to partnerships

3. Participants gain awareness of some the processes they can implement at the organisational level to enable and sustain innovative peacebuilding practices

The course fees include lunches, coffee breaks and a final participants’ dinner. Course fees do not include other meals and participants are also responsible for their accommodation and travel arrangements.