Our approach to learning

Why learning

The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation supports women human rights defenders around the world. The organisations and activists we work with have bold plans to achieve equality, peace and democracy – but in regions affected by conflict and war, that can be a risky and difficult task. That is why we forge long-term, sustainable partnerships.

Learning is a key part of those partnerships. We offer training, build capacity, facilitate networking and knowledge sharing, and follow up on participants’ development – all to create lasting change.

Learning is a journey. It happens everywhere, all the time and in all directions.
–Stina Magnusson Buur, The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation

Who

Kvinna till Kvinna offers learning opportunities to civil society organisations and networks; our programmes’ target groups; and public actors such as law enforcement officers, prosecutors or social service providers. Together, these individuals are important agents for change who defend women’s human rights.

What

Broadly speaking, we offer two types of support. We encourage learners to develop their programmatic skills in areas like financial management, monitoring, anti-corruption, conflict sensitivity, project management and advocacy, and we offer in-depth thematic training on topics like gender-based violence, peacebuilding and digital & integrated security.

Why Kvinna till Kvinna?

Kvinna till Kvinna has a unique approach to learning, based on five key pillars:

  • 1. Expertise

    We have almost three decades of experience of advancing women’s rights, equal participation and peace in areas affected by conflict and war. As experts on the Women, Peace and Security agenda, one of our priorities is sharing our knowledge with other women human rights defenders.

     

  • 2. Learner-focused

    Learning should be about the learner, so we adopt an inclusive approach from the very beginning. Ahead of our time together, we analyse participants’ expectations, requests and existing skills. We then design bespoke learning opportunities with maximum relevance for the entire group.

     

  • 3. Personal and safe

    Our trainings often take place in contexts marked by conflict and inequality, where peace and equality are sensitive issues. That is why we create safe spaces, so learners feel free to open up and share personal experiences: trust is an essential aspect of any learning journey.

     

  • 4. Long-term

    Transforming societies and peace processes takes time, so we work with learners who are committed activists, just like we are. Through regular trainings and follow-up, we make sure the time and effort that are invested make a real difference.

     

  • 5. Global

    We work in 20+ countries around the world, so we have a wide-reaching global network that spans many different sectors. This lets us invite endlessly diverse perspectives into our trainings. Participants get to see how others deal with very similar issues in a completely different setting.

     

Learning in practice

We work in contexts marked by conflict and inequality—peace and equality are often sensitive to talk about. Read more about some of the lessons we have learnt by conducting trainings on these topics over the years.

 

Learn more »
Last updated or reviewed 14 December 2023
Published 8 October 2021