The Institute for Security Studies, Reos Partners, Phaphama Initiatives and Leadership Pathways have partnered to offer a dynamic training course for South African facilitators and leaders who seek to, or who already, convene and facilitate dialogue and engagements across divides.
If you want the knowledge and skill to successfully design and facilitate engaging, interactive discussions and learn how to work constructively with conflict, then this course is for you.
Who is the course for?
We encourage applications from:
- NGOs (especially those working in the GBV sector)
- Government employees
- People working in the private sector
- Researchers
- Donors and development partners
- Past participants have found the course to be personally and professionally transformative, and highly recommended it to individuals seeking to increase the impact of their work.
Course details
The facilitation course draws on the tried-and-tested methods of the Violence Prevention Forum in South Africa. It is led by expert facilitators Judy Connors, Jabu Mashinini (Leadership Pathways), and Rebecca Freeth (Reos Partners), supported by Dr Chandré Gould (ISS).
The intensive nine-day course takes place over three months, beginning in September and ending in November 2025. It consists of three three-day modules. The course dates are:
- 17, 18, 19 September
- 22, 23, 24 October
- 26, 27, 28 November
Participants who cannot commit to the full nine days will not be considered. Participants are required to do some practical homework between the modules.
The course is free and sponsored by the government of Finland.
Participants will have to cover their own data costs.
It is delivered online using Zoom.
Topics covered in the course include:
- Power, rank, and identity and how they play out in a process
- Listening principles
- How to tackle difficult and sensitive conversations
- Practical ways to design interactive and participant-driven processes
How to apply
To apply, submit a letter of motivation of no more than two pages covering:
- Why you’re applying and how the course relates to your work
- What you hope to gain
- How will you utilise the skills and knowledge
- Include your full name, organisation/institution, contact details (email, cell and WhatsApp number), and role.
Email applications to aterblanche@issafrica.org, with the subject line ‘VPF Facilitation Course Application 2025’.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed in August. If you have not heard from us by the end of August, assume your application was unsuccessful.
Deadline: 31 July 2025
