How can international partners empower local leadership and ownership when working with local actors on conflict management, social cohesion, mediation, and dialogue in Ukraine? During the panel discussion “Partnering for Local Ownership in Ukraine,” organized by the Ukrainian Community of Dialogue Practitioners (UCoDP) on October 22, 2024, in Brussels as part of the annual peace mediation meeting convened by the EU EEAS, Dr. Tetiana Kyselova, Advisor to UCoDP, proposed actionable, practical steps for international actors:
Involve Local Experts Early
Engage local experts in conflict management, mediation, and dialogue during in programmatic planning in the initial stages, ideally before calls for proposals are released. Offering consultancy roles to these experts at this stage can lead to interventions that are more relevant, effective, and conflict-sensitive.
Hire Local Experts for Contextual Analysis
Employ local mediators and dialogue facilitators for conflict analysis, actor and issue mapping, conflict-sensitivity analysis, needs assessments, and similar tasks. Local experts bring institutional memory, deep contextual knowledge, and essential conflict management competencies. Ideally, these tasksshould be performed by mixed teams of local and international experts for maximum insight.
Acknowledge Local Contributions in Research and Publications
When conducting case studies, context analyses, conflict assessments, or similar tasks, acknowledge the contribution of and name all local colleagues who have spent days in workshops or hours over coffee to transfer their local knowledge. Coordinate with local partners on the wording of disclaimers and the way they are credited. While some may prefer anonymity, this is generally an exception in Ukraine.
Leverage Local Trainers for Contextualized Training
For trainings in conflict contexts, such as Ukraine, consider the availability and expertise of local mediation and dialogue trainers. Local trainers can deliver sessions without language barriers and using a curriculum adapted to the local context. Mixed teams of local and international trainers are often most effective.
Use Locally Developed Training Materials
When local trainers are unavailable, ensure that training materials are accessible in local languages. This includes not only translations but also materials originally developed by local actors, which are often more culturally and contextually relevant.
Prioritize Local Mediators and Dialogue Facilitators in Project Implementation
When implementing projects, hire local mediators and dialogue facilitators to facilitate dialogue and conduct mediation, preferably in mixed teams. This approach supports the sustainability and impact of the initiatives.
Seek Context-Specific Evaluation Methodologies
If there are methodologies for dialogue evaluation specific to the local context, involve local evaluators familiar with these approaches to gain accurate insights and draw meaningful lessons.
Utilize Local Networks for Expert Resources
To identify qualified local experts, consult local hubs of mediation and dialogue expertise, such as the Ukrainian Community of Dialogue Practitioners, the National Association of Mediators of Ukraine, the National Association of Family Mediators of Ukraine, and others.
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