Research Activities > Research Projects > Evaluating Peace Mediation
This project (April 2008 until November 2008) in cooperation with swisspeace aims to identify factors which need to be considered in evaluating peace mediation in the contemporary international arena. The research examines a wide range of parameters relevant for a systematic approach to and assessment of peace mediation, such as actors, mandates, symmetries of parties, aspects of organizing the process and determining adequate timeframes.
The past few years have brought an inflation of mediation actors and activities, as peace mediation has become a source of prestige in international affairs. Manifestly, mediators have an impact in conflict situations; however, there are few accountability mechanisms; there is no commonly accepted code of conduct, and no recognized framework
to evaluate the contributions of mediation activities in conflict countries.
The conducted project provides a general framework for evaluating peace mediation engagements with the aim of facilitating the assessment of cases ex-post-factum by international organizations, donors or mediators themselves. The final report seeks to contribute to a learning process within the mediation community and to create awareness of possible dilemmas and unintended consequences of mediation. Ultimately, the aim is to contribute to a higher quality of mediation as well as to more transparency.
The research project follows a call by the mediation cluster of the Initiative for Peacebuilding. The research team is led by swisspeace in Bern, with contributions from the Center for Peace Mediation in Berlin, and the Centre for Security Studies (CSS) in Zurich.
> Download the final study here.
For further information about this project please contact: Martin Waehlisch
