Plans are yet to be finalized – but register now for free:

For two days - May 20th to 21st 2026, we invite members of the Pockets of Peace Alumni to a world wide online gathering.

Registration and participation is free.

Welcome to two half days packed with conversations, sharing of experiences and reflections. The online gathering will bring together Pockets of Peace alumni focusing on (re)connecting and reviving the network. We have exciting news for you!

PROGRAMME

Day 1 | May 20th

12.00 – 12.10 Opening by Anita Rapp, director Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue

12.10 – 13.00 Getting known

13.00 – 13.45 Pockets of Peace: The NCPD Alumni Community

13.45 – 14.00 Break

14.00 – 15.30 Dialogue in praxis: Sharings from Afghanistan, Norway and Poland

15.30 – 16.00 Reflection round

Day 2 | May 21st

12.00 – 12.30 Reflection round

12.30 – 14.00 Sharings and themes in groups

14.00 – 14.15 Break

14.15 – 15.15 Dilemmas in Dialogue

15.15 – 16.00 Reflections and closing

Pockets of Peace | Dialogue Alumni

Pockets of Peace is the name of the alumni network/community of the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue (NCPD). 

The goal of the alumni network is to gather the small and large pockets of peace in the world into a larger community. The alumni network is part of the Nansen Center’s work to spread dialogical methods and perspectives. 

• Our vision is to make Pockets of Peace  meeting place where contact is created and maintained. 
• A community where experiences are exchanged and where participants can receive regular professional input, material and inspiration, as well as guidance and feedback from peers.
• A forum for finding collaboration partners for both long-term projects and concrete facilitation initiatives. 

The alumni network is titled Pockets of Peace because we believe dialogue exists in pockets of peace. These can be found among people, cultures and meeting places in the whole world. 

The goal of the alumni network is to gather the small and large pockets of peace in the world into a larger community. Together we will expand the pockets of peace.

Members

To become a member of the network, members must have attended at least a course or seminar equivalent to NCPD's basic course in dialogue.

PS! Sign up for Pockets og Peace at POCKETS OF PEACE – NCPD Alumni Network

Save the date: PoP Alumni Gathering Lillehammer June 2027

Members of the Pockets of Peace alumni are welcome to the Pockets of Peace Gathering in Lillehammer, Norway in June 2027: peace.no/pockets2027/

Practical information

DURATION: 2 days 12:00 - 16:00

VENUE: Online

LANGUAGE: English  

PARTICIPANTS: Max 100 persons  

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 1st 2026. 

«Dialogue in Conflict» is an introductory course, addressing topics and introducing tools that can contribute to transforming conflicts.You will improve your dialogue skills, learn conflict mapping and be introduced to dialogue facilitation in conflict situations. This is a five-day process-oriented course with a series of activities where the participants actively use their own life experiences.

MAIN COMPONENTS

Identity
Through exercises, you will learn more about yourself and how to build trust in a group. The focus is on the importance of one’s own identity in relation to others.

Introduction to Dialogue
We introduce the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue’s approach to dialogue and conflict transformation. Together, we explore the concept of dialogue through exercises where the participants are challenged to reflect on key elements of a dialogue process.

Active Listening and the Art of Asking Good Questions
We are introduced to basic dialogue skills: Active listening, sharing and asking dialogical questions. Through exercises, the participants will experience and develop these skills.

Tools for Conflict Analysis
Conflict analysis is important to understand the complexity of conflict Based on examples from the participants own experience, we apply four steps in analyzing a conflict:

• Mapping of the actors, their relationships and how they affect each other. This analysis also includes internal and external factors that can affect a conflict situation.
• The actor’s positions, interests and needs
• Analyzing the roots and effects of the conflict
• Identifying challenges, dilemmas and opportunities for change

Dialogue facilitation as a Tool for Transforming Conflict
We introduce and reflect on the role of dialogue facilitation in a process of conflict transformation.

Role of the Facilitator
Brief introduction to the role of a dialogue facilitator. Some participants will also have the opportunity to facilitate dialogue through role play.

Facilitating dialogue in role play

Based on conflicts mapped and analyzed by participants we make use of role play for practicing dialogue facilitation. This provides for learning through practice, including how to give and receive feedback.

Who is the training suitable for?

Participation is open for anyone interested in learning dialogue skills, and how to analyze and transform conflicts.

Dialogue is a way of communicating which aims to deepen and challenge our understanding of ourselves and our relation to “the other”, rather than trying to convince or win with arguments and facts. As dialogue creates space for people´s personal thoughts, emotions, experiences, and world views – it enables us to build and rebuild relationships, as well as becoming better communicators.

Read more about Nansen Dialogue Approach

Practical information

DURATION: 5 full days

DATE: March 16th - 20th 2026 (advised arrival on the 15th)

TIME: 09:00–18:00 (CET) 

VENUE: Scandic Victoria Hotel Lillehammer

LANGUAGE: English

PARTICIPANTS: Max 14 persons  

FEE:

• Full board: € 1500 (included all meals and accomodation)
• Training: € 750 (included lunch - but requires participants to book own accomodation).

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 2nd 2026. Apply sooner if you need visa.

Based on assessment of personal applications and group composition, Nansen Peace Center grants participation in the training. We advice you to apply as soon as you can.   

The course does not provide any formal certification, but you will receive a document showing proof of completion at the NCPD.  

Public dialogue is a facilitated dialogue for citizens about a topic of public interest. It provides a safe – and brave –  space to meet, share, listen and reflect, and the approach is particularly useful for addressing sensitive, conflicted, or controversial topics. It can contribute to strengthening communities and their sense of belonging and togetherness despite disagreement.  

Public dialogues can contribute to:  

• Important conversations connected to happenings, events,conflicts and incidents in a community  
• Build and strengthen relationships within communities  
• Counter polarization and tensions  
• Create inclusive processes and decision-making  
• Empower minority voices and people of any background 

Knowledge 

After the training you will:  

• Understand what dialogue and public dialogue are, according to the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue.   
• Understand how public dialogue can be meaningfully applied in your context or practice.   
• Know how to create conditions that enable public dialogue   
• Get ideas how dialogue can be used in change processes 
• Understand how constructive feedback contributes to learning in a dialogue-based process  

 Skills   

You will train your ability to:

• Ask reflective and dialogical questions  
• Support and maintain a space that encourages equitable participation and trust.   
• Recognize how your identity, background, and assumptions influence your communication and reactions.   
• Stay grounded and multi-partial in complex or emotionally charged situations.  

Tools:   
In the training you will practice how to: 

• Offer and receive constructive feedback as a tool for deepening awareness and learning.  
• Formulate open and reflective opening and following up questions 
• Listen actively    

COURSE COMPONENTS:

1. Dialogue   

• Dialogue as a method, perspective, and approach  
• Different forms of public dialogue  

2. Identity and values:   

• Reflect on your identity, values and assumptions, and how these reflect into your reactions in a dialogical space  

3. Active Listening and Asking Good Questions  

• Practice and insight into active listening  
• How listening affects us  
• The art of developing and asking opening questions   
• The art of asking follow-up questions  

4. Creating a Safe Space  

• Practical exercise in facilitating public dialogues  
• What is a safe, brave and dialogical space?  
• How to create a safe, brave and dialogical space  
• Introduction to the role of the facilitators and their responsibilities  

Who is the training suitable for?  

Anyone who wants to organize inclusive and dialogical public conversations – in a neighborhood, at the workplace, or to highlight important conversations in local communities. This course is structured so that each participant can use the given tools and exercises afterwards, both privately and professionally. 

Practical information

DURATION: 5 full days

DATE: September 21st - 25th 2026 (advised arrival on the 5th)

VENUE: Scandic Victoria Hotel, Lillehammer, Norway

TIME: 09:00–18:00 (CET) 

LANGUAGE: English  

PARTICIPANTS: Max 14 persons  

FEE:

• Full board: EUR 1500 (included all meals and accomodation)
• Training: EUR 800 (included lunch - but requires participants to book own accomodation).

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 10th 2026. Apply sooner if you need visa. 

Based on assessment of personal applications and group composition, Nansen Peace Center grants participation in the training. We advice you to apply as soon as you can.  

Seats are allocated continuously, so we advice you to apply as soon as you can.   

PARTICIPATING in this course will make you eligible to the advanced trainings in dialogue facilitation. 

Dialogue facilitation is an approach in conflict transformation and community building which enable people to talk together in an honest, open, and humanizing manner. Participants are invited to a process-based way of talking, where empathic listening and good questions form the foundation, and inclusiveness, respect, joint ownership, and humanity are the key ingredients. The facilitator of this process is crucial for creating and maintaining a safe space where participants feel respected, heard, and valued.

COURSE CONTENT:

This is a five-day interactive course that addresses various aspects of the facilitator’s role. The goal of this training is that you afterwards feel competent to facilitate a dialogue session either dialogue in conflict or public dialogue.

You will practice and reflect on the role of the facilitator and talk about challenges and dilemmas you might encounter when you practice the role in your context.

The conclusion of the training program implies the planning and implementation of a dialogue session on your working place or in connection with your volunteer work and an online final closing session.

MAIN COMPONENTS IN TRAINING:

Review: What Is a Dialogue?

You review various ways of understanding dialogue, as well as the most important elements in our approach. You will also recap your knowledge of asking dialogical questions and active listening.

Reflection: Activity
You will reflect on what dialogue facilitation is, and how does it differ from mediation, moderation and negotiation.

Understanding: Role of the Facilitator
What is the role of the facilitator in a conflict based or public dialogue? Which personal qualities and abilities must you have as a facilitator? Go through the essential tools in a facilitator’s dialogic toolbox.

Exercise: Dialogue Facilitation
You will practice dialogue facilitation in situations with different challenges using role play based on different themes and conflict situations. Then, you will receive feedback from both the course leaders and the other participants. These practices will help you and others to get more comfortable in the role, learn to give and receive feedback and understand your own strengths and weaknesses in that role.

Dilemmas: Related to Facilitation
You will reflect on dilemmas related to the facilitator’s role, including the power balance, emotional outbursts, and elements that can hinder a good dialogue. What do you do when there is no right or wrong answer.  The course will  also focus on how you can stay multi-partial, so that all participants can trust the process and feel safe and brave enough to participate. You will also reflect on how to be an authority without being authoritarian.

Preparing: A Dialogue Process
Facilitation of dialogues needs to be prepared. You will learn about various steps in this planning  process, among others recruitment. We also take a closer look at conflict as a transformative process and how to plan it and where and when to use public dialogues in your communities.

DIALOGUE is a facilitated conversation based on active listening and explorative questions.

Who is the facilitator training suitable for?

Anyone who has participated on basic level dialogue courses offered through Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue - or similar qualifications.

Read more about Nansen Dialogue Approach

Practical information

DURATION: 5 full days

DATE: November 30th – December 4th 2026 (advised arrival on November 29th)

VENUE: Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue, Lillehammer, Norway

TIME: 09:00–18:00 (CET) 

LANGUAGE: English  

PARTICIPANTS: Max 14 persons  

FEE: 

• Full board: € 1500 (included all meals and accomodation)
• Training: € 750 (included lunch - but requires participants to book own accomodation).

APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 19th 2026. Apply sooner if you need visa. 

Based on assessment of personal applications and group composition, Nansen Peace Center grants participation in the training. We advice you to apply as soon as you can.   

The course does not provide any formal certification, but you will receive a document showing proof of completion at the NCPD.