Specialised (re)integration training course

Transition International (TI) and the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) are pleased to announce the Specialised Reintegration Course, focussed on the (re)integration of ex-combatants, returnees, refugees, children released from armed forces and groups and other youth at risk. The course, which has run in the UK, the Netherlands and Barcelona for the past 18 years, will now be held in Nairobi, in the framework of a new partnership between IPSTC and TI.

INTRODUCTION
This course aims to bring together practitioners, policy makers, researchers and donors from around the world to share experiences and develop a common understanding of innovative approaches to (re)integration. Best practices on fostering economic, political and social (re)integration are shared by a pool of experienced trainers and further explored and challenged by the participants.

Several targeted (re)integration, reinsertion, stabilization and community security interventions usually occur in parallel, tending to create further divisions in the communities, and often do not create lasting results in terms of sustainable reintegration. For example, returnee programming occurs in Silo with DDR programming, and separate programmes are provided for children which, in many cases, are not linked to the adults’ (re)integration programmes, reducing opportunities for the effective use of pooled resources, and having young people falling in the cracks. Further, programmes are often highly centralised and thereby do not adequately respond to local contexts, nor empower local actors to plan, execute, and own the processes.

This course explores these dynamics and proposes different means to build bridges between the different approaches, programmes and its target groups. It also explores needed interventions to foster reintegration by investing in the environment and absorption capacities, including through enhancing local security and stability, local economic and social development, increase in service delivery of the duty bearers, and targeted support to the (re)integration of the different groups in their receiving communities.

The course further explores responding to new realities, new frameworks, approaches and practices, including on community based and community driven (re)integration, reintegration in ongoing conflicts, disengagement and reintegration of people coming out of groups labelled as extremists or terrorists. The course explores applying the Humanitarian, Development and Peace triple nexus to reintegration programming, and the inclusion of conflict sensitivity, localisation, environmental security, conflict transformation, community violence reduction etc. in reintegration programming. In short, the course explores with the participants, innovative approaches for more comprehensive, context and community driven (re)integration programming.

FOR WHO IS THIS COURSE?
The course is designed to benefit government officials of locations where (re)integration programming is relevant, civil society and private sector actors of these countries, and staff from donor, UN, INGOs, and research institutes, supporting these processes.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
The course will allow participants to assess specificities of different programming contexts, to develop informed and coherent programmatic responses, and to design context-driven socio-economic (re)integration support programmes. The overall objectives of the course are to:

1. Create a common understanding of the existing frameworks and approaches to (re)integration of ex-combatants, children formally associated to armed forces and groups, returnees and resettled people, and other conflict affected people in need of reintegration assistance and build bridges between the participants coming from these different programmatic fields.
2. Share lessons learned and explore ways to provide more integrated (re)integration support, working with communities, authorities, the private sector, civil society, international organisations and donors.
3. Discuss the linkages of (re)integration to broader programming on the environment in which reintegration and prevention of further recruitment and forced displacement takes place, such as community security, local economic development, child protection systems strengthening, service delivery, political participation, dialogue and conflict transformation etc.
4. Obtain the tools to effectively assess local contexts and conflict dynamics, profiles of communities and people in need of reintegration assistance, and how to translate these into the design of conflict sensitive and locally led reintegration support, while working within national or regional frameworks.
5. Explore implementation modalities and practise with tools to design and implement context driven social, economic and political reintegration programmes, policies or strategies.
6. Learn how to address cross-cutting issues, including natural resource management, gender and social inclusion, disability and age responsiveness and capacity development.
7. Share experiences and explore reintegration opportunities and challenges of people coming from groups listed as extremists or terrorist organisations.
8. Explore and share lessons learned on Community Based (Re)integration and Security (CBRS): an integrated locally led reintegration model that includes community security and information, counselling, and referral systems.

TRAINING APPROACH
The course is explorative in nature. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences amongst themselves, in addition to learning from the pool of experienced trainers. Lessons from past and recent (re)integration experiences are constantly used to illustrate theory and standards. Practical hands-on adult learning techniques are combined with more traditional transfer of knowledge. A wide variety of teaching methods are used including lectures, background readings, PowerPoint presentations, discussions, role-plays, a 1.5-day simulation exercise, cooperative learning, teamwork, etc. The course is known to be intense.

FACILITATORS
TI and IPSTC put great emphasis on delivering the course with a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team. The course will be led by Irma Specht, who brings over 25 years of experience on socio-economic (re)integration programmes. Senior trainers with experience of different programmatic areas will be brought in for particular sessions, to ensure a variety of approaches and perspectives.

DATES & LOCATION
The course will be held from Sunday 13th to Sunday 20th September 2026 in Nairobi, at the premises of the IPSTC. During the course there will be little free time, so participants are advised to arrive a day earlier to get rested. An optional visit to the Game park is organised on Saturday 19th, followed by drinks in the evening of the 19th in the venue – to get to know each other.

LANGUAGE & COST
The course will be taught in English. The course duration is eight days, and the course fee is 3000 Euros. This fee includes daily refreshments, all course materials and a closing evening event. It does not include accommodation, meals or the cost of insurance and travelling to Nairobi. Participants are expected to stay at the venue, which provides nice full-board rooms for only around 100 USD per night. Staying together will stimulate teambuilding and avoids stress due to traffic. Some evening session are also included. Cost reduction can be negotiated when the same organisation supports more than 4 trainees. Staff members of national NGOs and self-funded participants are granted a partial reduction of the course fee to 2500 Euros.

APPLICATION PROCESS
The application deadline is June 2026, but acceptance onto the course will be granted on a rolling basis. To register for the course, please express your interest to operations@transitioninternational.com. You will consequently be contacted to fill the application form. If you are accepted we can provide logistical assistance and letters in support of participants’ visa applications upon request. Payment arrangement information will be included in acceptance letters.

More information can be found in the Course Announcement: