Applications are open for the fully funded third cohort of the Capacity Strengthening Training on the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP), set to take place in Naivasha, Kenya, from October 27 to 29, 2026. Jointly hosted by the Life & Peace Institute (LPI), the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), the program targets civil society actors across the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region ahead of the August 30 application deadline.
Empowering Civil Society Across the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes
To bridge the gap between high-level continental policy frameworks and grassroots action, the Life & Peace Institute (LPI), alongside the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), has launched the application cycle for the third cohort of its capacity-building program.
The upcoming training session in Naivasha, Kenya, scheduled for October 27 through October 29, 2026, aims to equip active civil society practitioners with deep technical fluency regarding the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP). Instead, participants will examine comparative lessons from across the continent, focusing on gender-inclusive reconciliation, human rights mechanisms, and institutional governance structures.
Core Objectives and Regional Eligibility Framework
The AUTJP cohort explicitly focuses on elevating historically marginalized groups—including women, youth, and persons with disabilities—into leadership roles within national transitional justice processes. Applicants must be nationals of targeted countries across the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.
Eligible candidates must operate within specific geopolitical jurisdictions. According to program documentation from the Life & Peace Institute, the eligible countries comprise Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. Successful applicants must already work substantively within peacebuilding, human rights, reconciliation, or governance, and they must demonstrate a clear institutional plan to cascade their acquired knowledge back to their home organizations.
| Operational Metric | Program Specification |
|---|---|
| Host Institutions | Life & Peace Institute (LPI), CSVR, IJR |
| Training Location | Naivasha, Kenya |
| Tentative Dates | 27–29 October 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 30 August 2026 |
| Target Geographies | Horn of Africa & Great Lakes Region (10 Countries) |
| Funding Coverage | Fully Funded (Travel, Accommodation, Meals, Materials) |
Logistical Support and the Application Pathway
LPI has committed to fully covering all participation costs for successful candidates. This financial backing includes travel, accommodation, meals, and all essential training documentation for the duration of the Naivasha workshop.
Prospective applicants must navigate a submission process before the August 30, 2026 deadline. The application package requires a completed online submission via Microsoft Forms, a maximum three-page curriculum vitae, and a targeted one-page cover letter. This letter must directly articulate the candidate’s motivations, institutional readiness, and strategic vision for utilizing the AUTJP framework within their local communities.
