Academy Trainer Ted Feifer led a program on conflict resolution skills for visiting African conflict managers and peace-builders on behalf of the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program in Washington, June 11, 2008.

Academy Trainer Ted Feifer led a program on conflict resolution skills for visiting African conflict managers and peace-builders on behalf of the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program in Washington, June 11, 2008.

The ten participants came from Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and Zimbabwe. They were a highly experienced and diverse professional group: office manager to a prime minister, advisor to a national mediator, head of a human rights commission, a provincial governor, a senior divisional officer, ministry officials, an academic, a youth leader, a judge, and a senior pastor.

The program consisted of an introduction to the understanding and use of styles in conflict resolution, negotiation in emotional situations, best practices in negotiation, and an exercise to apply the skills learned.

Participants found the workshop useful and interesting. They appreciated the approach of learning by application, which enabled them to maximize their involvement with the subject matter despite the brevity of the program. As one participant noted: "It was very useful in equipping us with skills to deal with individual, local, national, and global scenarios." Another found the workshop particularly useful for its introduction to various practical points applicable in daily professional life.

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