Clingendael and UNDP sign renewed MoU on mediation training and collaboration

Clingendael and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking the continuation of their collaboration in the field of mediation and peacebuilding.

The partnership, which has been in place for 11 years so far, has focused on strengthening mediation capacities through a combination of different types of trainings. Activities have brought together insider mediators, mediation support professionals and peacebuilding actors, and have included training-of-trainers trajectories and various thematic courses.

The signing was marked during an evening event at Clingendael, held alongside the current mediation support training. Participants of the training joined a conversation between an insider mediator, a mediation supporter and a Clingendael trainer. The conversation reflected on the practical linkages between these different roles and the positive results we have seen coming from this partnership.

This integrated approach has allowed for learning across different roles in the mediation field, while contributing to longer-term capacity development and practitioner networks in a variety of contexts. An example shared during the MoU celebration event illustrated how these different elements come together in practice: participants currently engaged in peacebuilding initiatives in Guatemala, including an insider mediator, a mediation support officer and members of a mediation support team, are directly applying the methods and approaches from the trainings in their work at both local and national levels. This highlights how the combined focus on insider mediation, mediation support and training translates into improved collaboration in the peace ecosystem.

With this formalisation of the partnership, Clingendael and UNDP reaffirm their commitment to continuing collaboration on mediation training and capacity strengthening. 

Laura Wenz collaborated as a trainer from UNDP.