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Capacity Building in Collaborative Decision Making and Conflict Resolution Procedures for International Organizations |
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the International Peace Academy United Nations Fellowship Programme on Peacekeeping and Preventive Diplomacy Stadtschlaining, Austria and Oslo, Norway. CDR Associates has developed and conducted over a period of ten years, three and four-day training modules on International and Cross-cultural Mediation for the UN Fellowship Programme in Peacekeeping and Preventive Diplomacy. The two-week seminar, of which CDR's module is a part, has been designed to prepare UN officials and representatives from African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Eastern European Foreign Ministries, in conflict management skills and procedures. A number of UNHCR officials have attended this programme. Conflicts that the seminar has focused on include those in Afghanistan, Armenia/Azerbaijan, Cyprus, and Papua New Guinea/Bougainville. United Nations Institute for Training and Research, Regional Training Programme to Enhance Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding in Africa Harare, Zimbabwe and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Cape Town, South Africa. CDR has presented four seminars on international mediation for senior Foreign Service officers from multiple African nations across the continent, UN and African Union officials and representatives of other African organizations. The program is designed to develop African capacities to intervene and mediate settlements of violent political conflicts within and between nations.
Government of East Timor, Ministry of Justice, Directorate of Land and Property and CIDA. CDR and its partners from the Indonesian Institute for Conflict Transformation conducted a series of consultations on dispute systems design to assist the Government to develop a new system to resolve land and property disputes that were the result of militia violence after the popular consultation on independence from Indonesia. Seventy percent of all properties and almost all titles were destroyed or damaged in the conflict. CDR and its partner also conducted 152 hours of capacity building training in multiparty negotiation and mediation to prepare government officials to resolve these disputes. The system is currently successfully operating and settling conflicts. Organization of American States, Guatemala. Guatemala is slowly recovering from a decades-long civil war. Following the signing of a series of peace accords, the Organization of American States has initiated a program to help bring about a "culture of peace" in Guatemala and ensure the long-term success of the accords. It has retained CDR to provide consultation and training to several projects as part of this effort. All these projects aim to build negotiation and conflict resolution capacity among Guatemalan governmental agencies and popular organizations. The primary focus of CDR's work has been the training of OAS staff and Guatemalan colleagues in basic conflict resolution, negotiation, and mediation procedures. CDR has also trained OAS and Guatemalan trainers who will continue this work.. South Africa - National Peace Secretariat of the National Peace Accord. In September of 1991, participants representing a wide spectrum of key organizations involved in the political process in South Africa signed a National Peace Accord. The Accord was designed to end the political violence that had afflicted the country for a number of years. To accomplish this end, the agreement identified a number of mechanisms to investigate the causes of violence and facilitate the resolution of these disputes. Key components of the Accord were Regional and Local Dispute Resolution Committees (RDRCs and LDRCs), that are now called Regional and Local Peace Committees (RPCs and LPCs). These committees were delegated major responsibility for implementing the national agreement on the ground throughout the country, as well as promoting new structures to facilitate socioeconomic reconstruction and development. CDR Associates and its South African partner, the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), conducted two four-day seminars on Designing and Implementing Conflict Management Systems, for Chairs, members and staff of National Peace Accord structures (Regional and Local Peace Committees) from across the country. The seminar was part of CDR's initiatives since 1989 to work with South African institutions to further democratic decision making and dispute resolution in the country. Design, Implementation and Capacity Building for Collaborative Problem Solving and Dispute Resolution Systems
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Branch (Kampala, Uganda) - Developing and Sustaining Conflict Management Systems as Instruments of Governance. CDR Associates, in collaboration with a team of African conflict management consultants, designed an executive seminar for high level governmental and civil society leaders on the development and use of conflict resolution systems in governance. New systems, or enhancement of traditional African procedures, will help governments better manage and resolve a wide range of political, economic, social, ethnic and religious conflicts through good governance in the executive, legislative and judicial branches and collaboration with civil society structures.
International Civilian Mission to Haiti (MICIVIH) United Nations and the Organization of American States. As part of the international community's efforts to bring stability and democracy to this nation, the joint International Civilian Mission to Haiti (MICIVIH) of the United Nations and Organization of American States has targeted improving the judicial system. MICIVIH secured the consulting and training services of CDR Associates to assist the Ministry of Justice and the École de la Magistrature (the Judicial College) to design and implement a national training program to introduce mediation into the justice system as a means of resolving civil and minor criminal disputes. Indonesian Ministry of the Environment, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), and the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) Jakarta, Indonesia. As part of a national initiative by the Indonesian Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and several other national governmental agencies to develop mediation systems to resolve disputes in a number of arenas, CDR conducted a forty-five hour Training-for-Trainers Seminar, to prepare Indonesian professionals to present training seminars on culturally and situationally-appropriate conflict resolution processes. Trainees will ultimately serve as mediator trainers who will prepare independent professionals and government employees to resolve environmental, civil, family, and labor disputes. CDR also consulted with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Steering Committee a government appointed national group of representatives from various governmental agencies, universities and non-governmental organizations charged with developing mediation in the country. CDR advised the Committee on procedures for mediator selection, quality control and supervision. The training and consultation were part of a five-year project of the Indonesian Government, GTZ, ICEL and CDR to develop national environmental and civil mediation systems. The Government of the Philippines, Katarangang Pambarangay Justice System; the Local Government Foundation of the Philippines; and The Asia Foundation. CDR Associates consulted with the leadership of this national dispute resolution system composed of 40,000 boards located across the nation. An assessment was conducted of its dispute resolution model and process, and a new model Mediation/Arbitration Seminar and a Training-For-Trainers Program for professionals from the Philippines Department of the Interior and Local Government was developed. Subsequently, CDR trained trainers from the Katarangang Pambarangay Justice System in new procedures. Participants went on to train nation-wide others who would be providing dispute resolution services. Ministry of Justice, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mediation Boards Commission and The Asia Foundation. CDR Associates conducted a multi-week consultation on dispute systems design for the Ministry of Justice, developed a prototype for a culturally appropriate training program to train mediators to work in the new system, and trained trainers so that the program could continue building on-going capacities. CDR later conducted a follow-up consultation and program evaluation. Following CDR's work, the Ministry and Mediation Boards Program have established over 240 local boards and trained over 6,000 people from diverse ethnic groups as mediators. To date, 90,000 cases have been settled. Amnesty International - Design of an International Policy and Procedure Issue Resolution System. CDR assisted this international non-governmental organization to successfully design a process and procedures for managing and resolving internal differences over policies and procedures for conducting human rights work. The Secretary General, members of the International Executive Committee, International Secretariat staff, and Section leadership participated in the consensus based process. The result was a multi-step procedure for the elevation and timely resolution of issues of concern to the movement and sections in diverse countries.
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Assistance to International Indigenous Peoples and Diverse Cultural Groups in the US |
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Negotiations and Conflict Management for Indigenous Peoples. CDR designed and delivered a five day seminar on negotiation and conflict management skills in Mexico City, for a group of indigenous leaders from North, Central and South America. The seminar focused on procedures leaders could use to be more effective advocates and conflict managers both within their societies and with external governments, companies and NGOs. United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Negotiations and Conflict Management for Indigenous Peoples. CDR designed and delivered a five day seminar on negotiation and conflict management skills in Thailand, for a group of indigenous leaders from multiple Asian countries. The seminar focused on procedures leaders could use to be more effective advocates and conflict managers both within their societies and with external governments, companies and NGOs. U.S. Department of the Interior. CDR served as a consultant to the Department in the development of its conflict resolution policies and its agency-wide Conflict Resolution Program (CORE). CDR designed and delivered a series of five-day alternative dispute resolution training programs for the nine bureaus that comprise DOI. The programs covered negotiation, coaching, facilitation, and mediation of employment disputes including those involving charges of discrimination. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. CDR has served as the consultant, training firm, coach and co-facilitator for the BOR's agency-wide Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisor (ADR) Program. Sixteen agency personnel from all levels in the organization in eight conflict management courses conducted by CDR, and are now providing ADR services within the organization to address personnel and public disputes. CDR also acts as co-mediators/facilitators in selected cases and ongoing training seminars. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. CDR assisted in the design and implementation of an agency-wide alternative dispute resolution (ADR) initiative. CDR's staff has trained over 400 Senior Executives and 500 mid-level managers in ADR principles and procedures in the United States and Japan. This training has been part of the Corps' marketing and education program for the new systems.
The Corps has also implemented an Early Resolution Program to address EEO Disputes. CDR provided dispute systems design assistance and conducted multiple five-day training programs for key decision makers legal staff, and EEO managers in the U.S. CDR conducted a similar program for the US Army in and Europe. United Airlines The People Solutions Program. CDR worked with UAL and colleagues (Whittenberg, Shaw and Ross) on a groundbreaking program designed to reach all nonunion employees of the company. As part of a new dispute management system called the "People Solutions Program," CDR co-designed training for internal conflict resolvers (or "facilitators") and coaches (or "guides"). This pilot program, conducted both in San Francisco and in the Chicago World Headquarters, was followed by CDR briefings for Management, to assure a smooth, effective implementation of the new process. As a follow up to the training, senior CDR staff are working with UAL Labor Relations staff and internal facilitators to mediate key workplace disputes in various parts of the organization, as this new program gets underway. United Airlines-Team Leader Training. Worked with United Airlines (UAL) to design a conflict management training seminar for Team Leaders, as part of an overall three-to five-week training program. The longer program is for managers who are new Team Leaders, the shorter for incumbents. In each case, the CDR section on conflict management provides a foundation for this ongoing management training program that has been conducted repeatedly in the U.S., Asia and Latin America. U.S District Court, Oregon-Situation Assessment and Mediation of Klamath Basin Water Conflicts. The Klamath River Basin in Oregon and California was the site of intense, widely reported conflict in the Spring of 2001 over a decision by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to limit deliveries of water to irrigators in order to satisfy tribal trust obligations and address endangered species concerns. While the sources of the conflict reach back to the 19th century, a severe drought has brought them to a head. Klamath Project irrigators unsuccessfully sought relief in U.S. District Court in Oregon, and the Court agreed to oversee efforts to resolve the dispute through mediation. CDR Associates was appointed by the Court to prepare a situation assessment of prospects for mediating all or part of the dispute. Following delivery of the report CDR's team was asked to assist the Court and stakeholders in designing and conducting a mediated dialog on key issues for the future of the Klamath Basin arising from the underlying litigation. Parties involved multiple federal agencies, two states, three tribes, agriculturists, and environmental advocacy groups. State of Alaska, Department of Social Services. CDR designed and delivered a 40-hour Advanced Divorce and Custody Mediation Training Program that focused on the complex issues and dynamics between the service delivery system and Native Alaskan Families. Crow Tribe Reservation Land Settlement. U.S. Government, the Crow Tribe, and private landowners secured the services of CDR to assist them in seeking a negotiated solution to issues associated with ownership of land interests within the Crow Reservation in Montana. These discussions related to broader efforts to finally resolve a range of issues associated with natural resources, including water and mineral extraction. The mediation process was postponed following a change in Crow tribal leadership. Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools Minnesota. CDR designed, convened, and facilitated a two-day retreat for over 60 key multi-ethnic members of the Twin Cities metropolitan area to assess the prospects for using a mediated process to resolve pending litigation over the adequacy of public education in Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools. The named parties to the lawsuits included children, parents, school board members, and elected and appointed government officials. The retreat was initiated by the parties to explore different community perspectives around the use of mediation as a means to resolve the lawsuits. The primary parties agreed to mediate in early 1999. CDR was responsible for conducting the negotiations between and among school districts, parent representatives, teachers' unions, community groups, and other interested parties pertaining to the development of a proposal which was submitted to the Defendant in February of 1999. This proposal was accepted, and a CDR Partner worked extensively with teams of Plaintiffs to develop offers for the State to review. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VIII Vasquez Boulevard/I-70 Site. A CDR Partner facilitated meetings of a Working Group of stakeholders to provide timely input to the EPA on the environmental investigations, risk assessment, and site management options for the Vasquez Boulevard/I-70 site. The Working Group was the main forum for discussing the scope of investigations, exchanging information, discussing comments, and identifying information gaps. It included members of five neighborhoods, the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the City of Denver Department of Environmental Health, and industry, as well as the EPA. The site, which has been recommended for Superfund listing, had arsenic, lead, and cadmium contamination; the community is predominantly Hispanic and Black, and largely low-income. Levi Strauss & Co. CDR assisted the company to design and implement a new personnel dispute resolution system that includes conflict management training for employees, unassisted negotiation procedures, conflict resolution coaching, internal or external mediation and arbitration. CDR assisted Levi Strauss to design and implement a pro-active dispute resolution process to be used by front-line supervisors and employees to handle conflicts at the lowest appropriate level and prevent them from escalating within the corporation. The system empowers employees to resolve their conflicts directly without intervention. It also provides for informal coaching by fellow employees. CDR provided employees skills training in conflict management, mediation, and arbitration, and delivered additional training for employees who will be training others in the company to implement the new system.
