In cooperation with the Peace and Security Division of IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development), MSP conducted a training workshop on mediation in peace processes for IGAD member states between June 22 and 28, 2010 in Kampala, Uganda. IGAD has a long-term goal of developing the skills of a group of experts from the IGAD member states, who are trained in mediation and who can be mobilized to deal with a given situation whenever incidents are reported by the Early Warning System, or requested by the Peace and Security Division of IGAD. The Peace and Security Division within IGAD’s Secretariat initiated the workshop to contribute to this goal by asking the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in early 2010 for an interactive, skills-oriented and tailor-made training on basic concepts of mediation, negotiation, reconciliation and conflict prevention. The Swiss FDFA accepted to organize such a workshop jointly with the Mediation Support Project (MSP).
The aim of the training was to increase the knowledge, skills and strategizing capacity of the participants regarding the use of mediation.
Accordingly, the aim of the training was to increase the knowledge, skills and strategizing capacity of the participants regarding the use of mediation in peace processes. The 30 participants from Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Djibouti were mostly government officials with some academics and civil society representatives, chosen by their respective governments. About one third of the participants were women.
The five day workshop covered process dimensions (negotiation and mediation skills, process design, multi-track mediation) as well as specific topics of a peace process (security, power-sharing, justice, economy, and environment) through a highly interactive methodology which included exercises and role plays. The trainers were Julian T. Hottinger (Swiss FDFA), Dekha Ibrahim Abdi (independent consultant, mediator), Michael Cottier (Swiss FDFA), Sara Helllmueller (MSP/swisspeace) and Simon Mason (MSP/Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich).
The 30 participants from Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Djibouti were mostly government officials with some academics and civil society representatives
The echo to the workshop was very positive. In the words of one of the participants: "Mediation is a process, not an event. It requires patience and dedication. It is important to understand the position and interests from the onset." The participants appreciated the sharing of experiences, knowledge and skills as well as the networking platform that the workshop provided.
Contact:
Simon J A Mason(Center for Security Studies)
