Tool: Evaluating Peace Mediation
Following a call of the Mediation Cluster of the Initiative for Peacebuilding in 2008, swisspeace, the Center for Peace Mediation and the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) jointly developed a framework for the evaluation of peace mediation activities. The framework identifies key factors that need to be considered when it comes to evaluating peace mediation in the international arena. It examines a wide range of parameters, such as actors, mandates, symmetries of parties, aspects of organizing the process and determining adequate timeframes.
Background is the inflation of mediation actors and activities resulting from the fact that peace mediation has become a source of prestige in international affairs. This inflation has produced a very heterogeneous spectrum of styles, methods and means used in peace mediation, but no commonly accepted code of conduct or accountability mechanisms, and also no recognized framework for evaluating the contributions of mediation activities in conflict countries.
The framework provides a set of criteria and guiding questions for the ex-post assessment of mediation cases. It seeks to contribute to a learning process within the mediation community and to create awareness of typical dilemmas and unintended consequences of mediation. Ultimately, the aim is to contribute to a higher quality of mediation as well as to increase transparency in the field.