The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in 2017 Annual Report

Credits

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a pri- vate diplomacy organisation founded on the principles of humanity, impartiality and independence. Its mission is to help prevent, mitigate, and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation.

Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) 114 rue de Lausanne, 1202 – Geneva, Switzerland

Tel: +41 (0)22 908 11 30 Email: [email protected] Website: www.hdcentre.org

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Cover photo: © HD

© 2018 – Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue Reproduction of all or part of this publication may be authorised only with written consent and acknowledgment of the source.

Board photo credits

Page 33: Photo of Mr Pierre Vimont – © Ministère français des Affaires étrangères Page 33: Photo of Mr Espen Barth Eide – © HD – Photo credit: Alban Kakulya Page 34: Photo of Mr Jermyn Brooks – © Transparency International Page 34: Photo of Mr Neil Janin – © HD – Photo credit: Alban Kakulya Page 34: Photo of Ms Grace Forrest – © Minderoo Foundation Page 35: Photo of Ms Ameerah Haq – © United Nations Page 35: Photo of Dr Jakob Kellenberger – © HD – Photo credit: Alban Kakulya Page 35: Photo of Ms Irene Khan – © IDLO Page 35: Photo of Ambassador Raymond Loretan – © Olivier Maire Page 36: Photo of Dr 'Funmi Olonisakin – © HD – Photo credit: Alban Kakulya Page 36: Photo of Mr Olivier Steimer – © HD – Photo credit: Clément Rousset/Studio Contraste Page 36: Photo of Dr Javier Solana – © Reuters/ Thierry Roge Contents Table of Contents

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue Mediation for Peace ...... 4

A Tribute to Dr Surin Pitsuwan ...... 6

2017 Operations in Perspective ...... 8 Middle East and North Africa 12 Africa 15 Eurasia 22 Asia 22

Finding their Place at the Table A detailed look at the work of HD’s ‘insider’ mediators ...... 26

Highlight on HD’s 2017 Publications ...... 31

HD Governance – The Board ...... 33

Funding and Finances ...... 37

Table of Contents 3 Te Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue Mediation for Peace

he Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue HD may also step back to discreetly facilitate (HD) is a private diplomacy organisa- the work of other mediators. The organisa- T tion which works to prevent, mitigate tion may work collaboratively with third parties and resolve armed conflicts and crises through to support their work as lead facilitators, or dialogue and mediation. Founded on the prin- provide technical support to processes led by ciples of humanity, impartiality and independ- other entities. ence, the organisation is driven by a simple HD will engage with any group or actor pro- vision: Mediation for peace. vided they can contribute to preventing or Wars, uprisings, political crises, contested elec- ending armed conflict and violence. The organ- toral processes, or potentially violent political isation is able to draw on experience in all areas transitions – every situation is unique. In each of dialogue and mediation. case, HD works with the stakeholders to find Across its operations, HD looks for creative the solutions which best fit the context. In some options for managing conflicts and crises, with instances, HD opens channels of communi- a clear focus on the impact of its initiatives. It cation with, and mediates directly between, invests in tailor-made interventions which are conflict parties at the highest level, providing a measurably effective and support the estab- confidential space for them to explore options lishment of inclusive and lasting peace. for a negotiated settlement or for humani- tarian access. At other times, HD supports Leading on mediation expertise or facilitates dialogue with a wider range of representatives, including civil society as well HD also plays a leadership role across the medi- as national and community leaders. ation sector in promoting discussion around

Photo: Representatives of the signatories of the Algiers Agreement attend a workshop co-organised by HD in Bamako to discuss the Agreement’s dissemination and difficulties around its appropriation, June 2017. © MINUSMA/Sylvain Liechti

4 HD in 2017 emerging challenges as well as sharing insights HD will engage with any group or drawn from its own operational experiences. The organisation’s peacemaking interventions actor provided it can contribute are supported and strengthened by HD’s Medi- ation Support and Policy Programme which to preventing or ending armed conflict combines the cross-cutting functions of pro- and violence. viding mediation expertise and support to the organisation’s projects and other peacemaking actors, as well as expertise and support for the A decentralized approach organisation’s strategy, monitoring, evaluation To remain efficient in a rapidly evolving inter- and learning. national context, HD has established a decen- tralized structure. It has five regional hubs A solid track record covering Africa, Francophone Africa, Asia, Over the past three years, HD has facilitated Eurasia, as well as the Middle East and North almost 40 agreements across the world, Africa. This agile structure gives HD the including peace and conflict management capacity to respond rapidly to emerging crises accords, violence reduction or local settle- or conflict situations, as well as to create unique ments, as well as deals to enable humanitar- regional networks and develop deep knowl- ian access. HD also continues to help conflict edge of local contexts. The regional hubs parties achieve interim declarations and joint are supported by a lean headquarters in commitments. These results, and the trust Switzerland, which provides executive over- which conflict parties and stakeholders place sight and corporate support. in the organisation, put HD at the forefront of international efforts to prevent, mitigate and Ensuring the inclusiveness of resolve armed conflict. They also reflect the peacemaking initiatives organisation’s broad reach and expanding role, For almost 15 years, HD has been working as well as its capacity to adapt to evolving pragmatically to support more inclusive peace sources of conflict and insecurity. processes. Building on its capacity to work with diverse actors and its niche as a private Discretion and responsiveness organisation with access to high-level dialogue As a private entity, HD can react quickly and processes, HD is working to ensure the mean- flexibly to emerging crises or outbreaks of vio- ingful contribution of women, young people lence, and can take more calculated risks than and civil society to peace processes. larger organisations or actors working through The participation of an inclusive range of rep- formal diplomatic channels. resentatives can bring significant benefits to a One of HD’s greatest values lies in its capac- peace process. It is often through the involve- ity to intervene quietly and discreetly. Its dis- ment of these groups that innovative ideas cretion and confidential approach allow it to and new perspectives emerge and inform the engage in situations where official actors and outcomes of peacemaking efforts. Fostering those in conventional diplomacy circles may inclusion can take many forms depending on not. These attributes also allow HD to engage the peace process and the political space avail- on issues that may seem insoluble to others able for civil society representatives, women and, most importantly, with actors – such and young people to participate. as rebel movements, armed groups and extremist organisations – which are the hard- est to reach and remain elusive to many in the peacemaking community.

HD – Mediation for Peace 5

A Tribute to Dr Surin Pitsuwan

Photo: ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan at the opening of the 44th ASEAN Foreign Minister Meeting in Nusa Dua, in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali, 19 July 2011. © Reuters/Murdani Usman

t was with great sadness that HD learned Secretary-General of the Association of South- of the death of the organisation’s Board east Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 2008-2013. Member and long-time supporter, Dr Surin I Southeast Asia is a hard region for anyone to Pitsuwan, on 30 November 2017. straddle. There is no common language, sov- ereignty is strongly asserted, and there are Surin Pitsuwan – multitudes of deeply-felt enmities. Surin pre- An advocate of peace sented a credible, assured face to the world in If there was one man in recent history who a region that often confuses and confounds managed to overcome some of Southeast its international partners. He was frequently Asia’s obstacles and project the region’s vital- consulted by major powers in search of ity and importance, it was Surin Pitsuwan of answers. His outward idealism and optimism Thailand, who passed away of a heart attack for the region, however, belied a deep sense on 30 November 2017 at the age of 68. of pragmatism; he had a keen sense of the obstacles, whether it was reforming govern- Surin was best known as a gregarious, always ment or effective regional action. obliging, and highly articulate statesman who first came to prominence as Foreign Minister Surin’s lasting legacy will be how he over- of Thailand in the 1990s, and later served as came these obstacles to do some good. As

6 HD in 2017 Thai Foreign Minister in the late 1990s, Surin operating on the ground in Myanmar’s Rakhine was confronted by violence in East Timor. State, where it is delivering modest amounts While ASEAN, as a whole, was reluctant to of aid. get involved, with some of its member states Surin also backed the idea of establishing an resisting intervention, Surin resorted to what he ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, called “quiet diplomacy” to see what could which he originally hoped would provide a be done. platform for dispute resolution in the region. As he put it much later: “We mobilized those After leaving ASEAN in 2013, Surin embarked who were willing and able, and therefore on a ceaseless whirl of international engage- avoided the need for a full consensus, which ments which helped him to highlight South- would have been impossible to achieve”. As a east Asia’s vitality on the world stage. He result, Thailand became the first ASEAN nation advised the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and to join a coalition of foreign peacekeepers that Nippon Foundation in Japan, and served on went into East Timor in September 1999. the boards of International IDEA in Sweden Surin was also extremely vital in the Aceh and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Peace Process which HD steered from 1999 to In these roles, Surin continued to use quiet 2003 between the Government of the Repub- diplomacy to promote peace and reconcili- lic of Indonesia and the leadership of the ation. At the time of his death, he was help- Free Aceh Movement. HD became officially ing other senior ASEAN statesmen to devise responsible for facilitating the peace pro- a strategy for engaging with Myanmar to cess between representatives from both sides address the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine and Surin was one of the key ‘Wise Men’ State, and had been approached by the UN who were instrumental in bringing the peace to assume the role of Special Envoy. process to fruition. Having served as a Member of Parliament for When Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in May almost two decades, he was as comfortable 2008, Surin was only a few months into his on the stump in his home town of Nakhorn job as ASEAN Secretary-General. He had Si Thammarat (where his mother still runs an already started to raise hackles in the capitals Islamic college) as he was at the podium at of some member states by pointing out that international conferences. part of his mandate was to provide good offices to help resolve disputes. Most of his The need to help recover Thailand’s mantle as ASEAN ministerial colleagues were steeped in a democracy drove Surin, in the last year of the principle of non-interference, and regarded his life, to contemplate a run for the elected Surin as a risky operator. governorship of Bangkok, where he lived with his family. Many friends questioned this However, the devastating tropical storm which course of action, but Surin was characteris- swept across the densely-populated delta tically bullish about the future. He regarded region of southern Myanmar, killing tens of his final mission as helping Thailand return to thousands of people, presented a clear case democracy. And perhaps misguidedly, he con- for a need for outside help. Amid the Myanmar sidered that local elections, such as the one Government’s reservations about allowing in Bangkok, could pave the way. He cannot unprecedented external humanitarian interven- be faulted for trying. Many others have simply tions in its country, Surin’s swift diplomacy enjoyed the international circuit and turned (triangulated between regional capitals, the their backs on a difficult situation. major powers and the UN) resulted in a cre- ative tripartite relief effort led by ASEAN. This tribute is based on an obituary originally written by Surin managed to leave his mark on the HD’s Regional Director for Asia, Michael Vatikiotis, for the Nikkei Asian Review on 1st December 2017. The full obituary ASEAN, establishing the organisation’s can be read online at https://asia.nikkei.com/Viewpoints/ Humanitarian Assistance Center. Set up in the Michael-Vatikiotis/Statesman-who-raised-ASEAN-s- wake of Cyclone Nargis, today the Center is international-profile.

A Tribute to Dr Surin Pitsuwan 7

2017 Operations in Perspective

t the end of 2017, UN Secretary- s In Syria, HD’s efforts contributed to the General Antonio Guterres issued a inclusion of armed opposition groups “red alert” to the international com- in the Geneva and Astana talks, during A munity, urging states to: “Narrow which four big de-escalation zones were the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust agreed upon and established. They were by bringing people together around common preceded by a series of local ceasefires – goals”. Guterres’ appeal pointed to core some of which were facilitated by HD – attributes of mediation which have been pur- that contributed to lowering levels of vio- sued by HD in nearly two decades of prevent- lence around Damascus and in the south ing, mitigating and resolving armed conflict of the country. HD also managed, through through dialogue and mediation. discreet meetings, to highlight the impor- tance of finding solutions to the sensitive At a time when escalating tensions between issue of the Syrian Kurdish ‘autonomous powers, the global spread of sectarian extrem- administration’; ism, as well as proliferating wars between state and non-state armed groups are severely s In Iraq, HD’s reconciliation efforts contrib- straining international mechanisms for tackling uted to the resumption of relations between emerging security threats, private diplomacy representatives of Abu Ghraib and the Iraqi continues to have a pivotal role in bridging state which has allowed the Iraqi army to gaps in international peacemaking. Starting remove unexploded ordinance from Abu from a cast iron commitment to the principles Ghraib and permitted the return of up to of independence and impartiality, in 2017 HD 30,000 people so far; pursued 40 projects in more than 30 coun- s In a meeting of all Libyan mayors and heads tries. In doing this, the organisation engaged of local authorities, convened by HD and with parties to the world’s most dangerous recognised by the UN as “historic”, repre- and destabilising conflicts which account for sentatives agreed to a joint call for unity to both a high percentage of casualties and the end the seven-year conflict in order to pre- movement of 60 million people who have been vent further fragmentation; forced to flee violence across borders or within their own countries. s HD’s unique network of contacts opened up access for health workers to hard–to- Operating largely beyond the reach of formal reach and insecure areas of the Central diplomatic channels, HD made progress in African Republic and Afghanistan, nearly all its projects in 2017. The organisa- and for the delivery of medicines to civilians tion built confidence and engaged with the in Libya; hardest-to-reach groups whose participa- tion can end or prevent violent conflict. s A cessation of hostilities agreement medi- Throughout the year, the organisation kept a ated by HD between two armed groups hard-headed focus on delivering tangible results in the province of Nana-Mambéré in the and achieved progress as part of a wide spec- Central African Republic demonstrated trum of activities which saved lives, lowered ten- there are possibilities for breaking the cycle sions and improved living conditions for people of violence which has paralysed the coun- in conflict areas from Syria to the Sulu Sea: try since 2013;

8 HD in 2017 s To reduce insecurity in the border areas s With HD’s support, the Presidents of the between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) HD opened channels of communication and of Somaliland (SL) have committed between the three States, the armed groups to resuming their stalled political talks. active in the area, and the local communi- s In the South China Sea, dialogue facil- ties they are defending; itated by HD between claimant states s HD’s mediation between the Government including China, Malaysia, Vietnam and the of Mali and armed groups led to the set-up Philippines produced an informal agreement of interim authorities in Gao and Timbuktu. which is intended to govern interactions Initially planned in the framework of the 2015 between the region’s maritime law enforce- Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, ment agencies; the measure had been resisted by dissident s In the Philippines, clan leaders and local armed groups; officials, assisted by HD, resolved 11 clan s Inclusive networks of local and national conflicts in the violence-prone province leaders from pastoral and sedentary com- of Sulu. munities in the Sahel, which have been set up and supported by HD since 2015, This broad range of operations was undertaken have led to a dramatic decrease in con- by a total staff of about 150. They include a flict across pastoral areas. 108 conflicts small management team in Geneva which have been resolved by these networks since leads the strategic oversight of operations January 2017; as well as sector-wide critical reflections on

Photo: Children in Mosul’s Old City, which has been laid to rubble, February 2018. © IRIN/Tom Westcott

2017 Operations in Perspective 9 areas such as the monitoring and evaluation mediators through the Oslo Forum, which of mediation practice. HD’s network of regional HD co-hosts with the Norwegian Ministry of offices co-ordinates the work of its small, agile Foreign Affairs. Over 100 high-level decision- project teams. Regional operations are rein- makers, senior mediators and members of forced through the provision of surge capacity conflict parties came together to consider by HD’s Geneva-based Mediation Support the impact of great power rivalry on conflict team. This decentralised structure operated resolution. on a total budget of CHF34 million in 2017 The Forum’s sessions included discussions and enabled HD to respond quickly to emerg- between Colombian Foreign Minister María ing needs and opportunities. Ángela Holguín and FARC-EP Head Rodrigo During 2017, the organisation also continued Londoño, as well as exchanges with a variety to foster reflection and collaboration among of prominent leaders including former UN

Photo: Opening Plenary session of the Olso Forum 2017 with (from left to right) Norwegian Foreign Minister, Børge Brende, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi, former US Secretary of State John F. Kerry, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and

10 HD in 2017 Secretary-General Kofi Annan, UN Special Forum and three background papers and inter- Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, former views with former distinguished participants. US Secretary of State John Kerry, EU High In 2017, HD also continued to strengthen the Representative for Foreign Affairs and Secu- monitoring and evaluation of its operational rity Policy Federica Mogherini, former South effectiveness through a system of peer reviews African President Thabo Mbeki, and Iranian and learning workshops for its staff from differ- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. ent regions. A donor-practitioner roundtable The depth and frankness of these discussions involving representatives from key donors and consolidated the Forum’s reputation as the other mediation organisations served as an foremost gathering of peacemakers. additional forum for critical reflection on how to Reaching out to a global audience, HD also measure the impact of peacemaking efforts published a report on the outcomes of the in the most effective manner.

Security Policy Federica Mogherini, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Norway, 13 June 2017. Credit: Stine Merethe Eid; © HD

2017 Operations in Perspective 11 HD strengthened partnerships with interna- In May, HD brought together a wide range of tional organisations as well, including the Inter- influential political, security, tribal, social and national Committee of the Red Cross and the business leaders from all regions who achieved Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Nego- valuable convergence around a number of tiation, which comprises the ICRC, the UN’s strong principles. Among those, they agreed World Food Programme among other inter- on the need to stabilise the country before national organisations. HD also continued to trying to negotiate a long-term political settle- build collaboration with research and academic ment and they recognised that there are key bodies, including Geneva’s Graduate Institute national institutions which need to be ring- of International and Development Studies and fenced against the prevailing turmoil. They also the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. agreed that local authorities enjoy a degree of legitimacy and need to be allocated more Additionally, HD’s Mediation Support team resources to contribute further to stabilising provided surge capacity for regional opera- areas under their control. tions deploying staff to various operational locations in 2017, including Myanmar and Building on that recognition, HD brought Thailand, and began assisting colleagues in together nearly all Libyan mayors and heads its Somalia programme on issues of pro- of local authorities in December 2017. This cess design. Strategic advice and guidance was the first meeting with such a comprehen- on impartiality and road maps were likewise sive and inclusive group of serving authorities provided to various operations under the organ- since 2011. It also convened and facilitated isation’s Africa programme, while HD’s special- the first structured and constructive dialogues ists on inclusion supported activities in five with influential parties who have been excluded countries, including Syria, Libya, Mali, Senegal from the political process since 2011, including and Nigeria, to develop strategies for broaden- former Qaddafi regime officials and revolu- ing participation in peace processes to women, tionary armed groups. This engagement has civil society groups and young people. During elicited a pledge from Libyan stakeholders to the year, HD’s Executive Director, David pursue peaceful dialogue for a solution to the Harland, was also invited by UN Secretary- crisis, and produced a series of confidence- General Guterres to join an 18-person High building measures. Level Advisory Board on Mediation. This invi- HD regularly briefed international stakehold- tation recognises the value of HD’s practical ers concerned by the destabilising regional knowledge and strategic perspective as well impact of Libya’s internal conflicts, particu- as what it can offer the mediation sector. HD’s larly European governments, regional states, Senior Adviser for Africa, Alice Nderitu, was the United States and Russia. HD also con- also honoured when she won the inaugural tinued to support the United Nations mission Global Pluralism Award, recognising her in Libya, including after Dr Ghassan Salamé tireless efforts to promote pluralism in conflict was appointed as the new UN Special Rep- prevention and mediation as well as inclusion resentative and set out to reinvigorate its in peace processes. mediation efforts.

Middle East and North Africa Throughout 2017, HD also held regular meet- ings with a broad cross-section of political, 2017 saw deepening involvement by HD in military and tribal leaders in Libya (including some of the Middle East crises which fea- from militias) to foster a constructive approach tured at the forefront of international concerns. to ending the crisis and increasing access Libya experienced some of the deadliest for humanitarian agencies. As in 2016, HD’s clashes since the downfall of the Qaddafi contacts and network in the eastern part of regime in 2011, yet HD’s engagement with the country enabled the delivery of medical a broad spectrum of influential actors still aid to Benghazi by air to tackle an outbreak produced significant results. of tuberculosis in the city.

12 HD in 2017 The aid operation – which was orchestrated with them in 2017 on stabilisation measures from Tunisia – was made possible thanks to ahead of municipal elections which are due to the direct intervention of Tunisian President take place in 2018. Beji Caid Essebsi. This reflects the high-level In Syria, the seventh year of deadly conflict contacts HD continues to maintain in Tunisia. presented a particularly complex and challeng- The organisation also made use of these ing environment for mediators. HD contrib- networks in helping the country manage its uted to the downturn in fighting experienced contacts with neighbouring Libya, a sensitive in parts of the country but peace remained dimension of the government’s efforts to main- elusive. Ferocious military offensives contin- tain internal stability and insulate itself against the violent turmoil across the border. ued to inflict heavy civilian casualties; half a million people remained trapped in siege-like Demonstrations sweeping across Tunisia at conditions; and conflict parties came no closer the start of 2018 underscored the social and to agreement on a political settlement which economic stresses still confronting its politi- is needed to prepare the way for peace and cal leaders, who have all risen to office since reconstruction. the 2011 Arab Spring. HD helped identify and facilitate discreet contacts between represent- HD maintained intensive contacts with all atives on both sides of the Tunisian/Libyan stakeholders in the Syrian crisis to explore border, which led to the reopening of the Ras openings for de-escalating the conflict. HD’s Jdir crossing point, the main artery for the contacts with both the armed opposition movement of trade and people which is cru- and the Government of Syria, as well as cial to the economy of central and southern with relevant Western capitals, enabled the Tunisia. Having previously worked with political organisation to help broker deals that ended stakeholders to avert violence during Tunisia’s fighting in several areas of Syria, notably around 2014 elections, HD also maintained contact Damascus and in the south.

Photo: People walk with their belongings as they flee the rebel-held town of Hammouriyeh, in the village of Beit Sawa, eastern Ghouta, Syria, March 2018. © Reuters/Omar Sanadiki

2017 Operations in Perspective 13 Taking advantage of the defeat of for managing those tensions and discuss these governance issues which were not addressed ISIS in Iraq, HD steadily deepened adequately by international peacemaking pro- its engagement in the country, building cesses in 2017. Taking advantage of the defeat of ISIS in Iraq, connections between Sunni communities HD steadily deepened its engagement in the and tribes, the Shia-led government and country, building connections between Sunni communities and tribes, the Shia-led govern- Shia-dominated Popular Mobilisation ment and Shia-dominated Popular Mobilisation Forces, in order to avert the prospect of Iraq Forces, in order to avert the prospect plunging into another cycle of sectarian vio- of Iraq plunging into another cycle of lence. Amid deepening international concerns that the defeat of ISIS would give way to Shia sectarian violence. militias taking brutal revenge on Iraq’s Sunnis, HD convened government officials in a series of dialogues addressing the grievances of In some cases, these deals provided for the Sunnis in Anbar, Ninawa, the Baghdad Belts evacuation of opposition fighters to other areas and Salaheddin. These exchanges reestab- they controlled and allowed for a considerable lished the authority of Baghdad officials and reduction of violence in some specific loca- Sunni community leaders in these areas and tions. HD also contributed suggestions for the yielded tangible results as a follow-up com- drafting and monitoring of ceasefire agreements mittee set up with HD’s support took action which were taken up in talks on de-escalation on specific issues. convened by Russia, Turkey and Iran in Astana. A dialogue between government officials and HD worked with humanitarian agencies as representatives of Sunni tribes in Abu Ghraib well, facilitating contacts with conflict parties led to the first visit by a delegation of Zawba to open up access for aid deliveries to dis- tribal leaders to Baghdad’s Green Zone since placed people. Talks organised by HD between 2003. It also led to the deployment of army the Syrian Union of Medical Care and Relief engineers to clear unexploded ordnance from Organisation (UOSSM) and Jordanian author- Abu Ghraib, making it possible for thousands ities led to the delivery of medical supplies to of displaced people to return to the area. inhabitants of the Rukban camp located on A meeting HD organised between repre- Syria’s border with Jordan. sentatives from the Ninewa and Mosul gov- HD liaised closely with UN Special Envoy for ernorates as well as officials from the Prime Syria, Staffan de Mistura, and his team as well Minister’s Office provided an opportunity to as with European officials on developments in address grievances and critical needs for 2017, and held meetings in the United States recovery and stabilisation for people who and Russia on policy issues and the imple- previously had no channel to the Baghdad mentation of de-escalation agreements. As leadership. HD also arranged a first meeting military operations by multiple actors pro- between inhabitants of Sinjar and officials from gressively drove the Islamic State (ISIS) from the Prime Minister’s Office which led to the its strongholds in east and northeast Syria, latter opening a representative office in Sinjar. governance of the liberated areas became a In addition, HD conducted monthly visits to source of growing tensions between the Syrian Iraq to consult with the Government and local Kurdish administration and the Arab commu- leaders on mediation-related needs, and liaised nities, as well as between the Syrian Kurdish closely throughout the year with the UN and administration and Turkey. HD convened dis- international stakeholders including the Euro- creet bilateral meetings to identify mechanisms pean Union, the United States and Russia.

14 HD in 2017 Africa HD is also dealing with the impact of Boko Haram’s presence in neighbouring Niger, HD’s experience in the Middle East and Africa where insurgent attacks in the south eastern underscored the value of peacemaking work Diffa region have displaced a quarter of a at the local and community level to national million people, disrupted the economy, and level stabilisation efforts. Inter-communal dia- created tensions between communities facing logues and a Peace Management Network restricted access to local resources. established by HD in central Nigeria had already contributed to a significant reduction Following up on a mandate from the Niger in violence between Muslim and Christian Government’s High Authority on Peace Con- communities and between villagers and solidation, HD is helping to set up a transitional nomadic herdsmen in Plateau State in 2016. justice programme to address the situation of former Boko Haram members who surren- In 2017, HD pursued a wide range of activities dered voluntarily to authorities, and deal with in the area – including organising quarterly tensions over moves to reinsert them into dialogues between communities in Jos and in communities. HD carried out a study of local southern Plateau State – to build confidence perceptions in communes affected by the in dialogue as a mechanism for solving reinsertion programme, and helped arrange the disputes. It also helped set up a Peace first inter-ministerial conference which agreed Commission in Kaduna State and a Peace- on a roadmap for transitional justice. building Agency in Plateau State launched by The project was part of HD’s widening the respective State Governments. In Decem- engagement in the Sahel where the organi- ber 2017, HD supported the setting up of sation is addressing the destabilising effects a conflict early warning and early response of cross-border conflicts involving both jihadist system to help monitor developments in the and non-jihadist armed groups. When a lack region and enable local stakeholders to design of communication among the parties stalled appropriate responses. the implementation of the Algiers Agreement As state security forces battled Boko Haram’s and increased security risks in Mali, HD con- still active insurgency in Nigeria’s north east- tinued to maintain close contact with all key ern Borno State in 2017, HD continued to lay parties in order to uphold the conditions and the foundations for conflict management in implementation of the Agreement. HD pub- local communities. It strengthened a network lished detailed research on the dynamics of local Muslim leaders, bridging the differ- of conflict in the central area of the country ences between Sufi and Salafi leaders to forge which stimulated public debate and provided a common stand on religious issues as a basis a basis for initiating complementary mediation for dialogue around Boko Haram’s ideological processes there. underpinnings, and to promote tolerance and The organisation also brought together three reconciliation. networks of religious leaders to address con- The organisation arranged for a group of Borno flicts opposing the different branches of Islam, religious leaders to take part in a workshop and trained them in conflict resolution so they in Niger with experts from the Lake Chad can contribute to the national peace process. region and Kenya to give them comparative As part of HD’s initiative, groups of women experience in addressing the insurgents’ and young people have also met to identify ideology. HD also conducted a mission to ways to increase their engagement in order to promote an inclusive peace process. assess needs in Gwoza town, a former head- quarters of Boko Haram, which involved con- Most national and international initiatives in sulting local communities, displaced people Mali have focused on the signatories of the and the military. It then convened a series of Algiers Agreement, overlooking the predica- inter-faith dialogues to rebuild trust between ment of isolated and divided communities communities. in border areas of Mali, Niger and Burkina

2017 Operations in Perspective 15 Faso which are exposed to armed groups quent threat to social and political cohesion. moving at will across the three countries’ In a bid to ease the involvement of young highly porous frontiers. As part of its sup- people in the design of social and economic port for the Malian peace process, HD con- policies at the local, national and regional sequently launched a mediation process levels, HD set up five national and 25 local between national authorities, non-jihadist dialogue mechanisms in each region across and non-signatory armed groups as well as the five countries, bringing together 1,250 rep- representatives of frustrated communities in resentatives from youth organisations and the border areas of those countries. about 50 representatives from ministries and state institutions. The conclusions and rec- The organisation completed a baseline study ommendations which stemmed from these in 2017 which identified and mapped local dialogues have been used to fuel the devel- conflicts and armed groups in the concerned opment of an Integrated Strategy for Youth regions. Through discussion with ministers in each country, HD mobilised the support of national authorities at the highest level and set up complementary local, national and regional frameworks for dialogue to prepare the way for the cessation of violence and the delivery of public services. In a further initiative to stabilise the border areas, HD continued to support networks of community leaders among pastoralists and sedentary farmers from the three countries which had been established in 2015. Tensions rose following Niger’s declaration of a state of emergency in provinces bordering Mali in response to rising violence and criminality. Clashes between Nigerien forces and the Fulani community occurred as a result. The networks, which HD ensured were inclu- sive of women and young people, provided a framework for strengthening links between the communities and central authorities, and delivered tangible results in tackling disputes over access to natural resources. The number of conflicts in the area dropped by almost one third in 2017, far exceeding expectations. In Burkina Faso, communities also agreed on demarcating a 90-kilometre long corridor for the movement of livestock in order to prevent conflicts during transhumance. In 2017, HD also expanded its engagement in the Sahel region in support of a dialogue process between Sahelian youth organisa- tions and state institutions which seeks to address the growing generational gap within the G5 Sahel countries (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania) and the conse-

16 HD in 2017 from the Sahel countries, and will also be used pour la Casamance (MFDC). However, pro- in the dialogue process between the Sahelian gress towards a settlement has been slow as governments and international partners on the the three factions are currently undergoing a development of co-operation programmes process of reunification. HD conducted work- better suited to the needs of young people in shops for members of the MFDC’s political the region. wing and sessions for civil society represent- atives, including women and young people, Further west, HD has continued to support to encourage their active engagement in the the peace process aimed at ending Africa’s peace process. oldest insurgency in Senegal’s Casamance region. HD provided strategic advice on the In The Gambia, HD is facilitating dialogue structure of the peace process to the gov- between political parties as the country seeks ernment and to three of the four factions of to heal divisions following the end of President the Mouvement des Forces Démocratiques Yahya Jammeh’s 20-year regime. Building on

Photo: People returning from Barra are seen at Banjul Port, a day after President Yahya Jammeh departed Banjul, Gambia for exile, January 2017. © Reuters /Afolabi Sotunde

2017 Operations in Perspective 17 bilateral contacts with political parties and The organisation provided training for local working with The Gambia’s Inter-Party Com- peace committees and for both government mittee, HD brought political parties from across personnel and leaders of armed groups on the political spectrum together in meetings a UN-backed programme of disarmament, that led to an agreement on a dialogue pro- demobilisation, rehabilitation and reinsertion. cess and an action plan. The latter seeks to HD’s extensive contacts with armed groups follow up on a Memorandum of Understand- also enabled access by teams of health work- ing signed in March 2017 by the country’s ers in areas often too insecure for humanitar- political parties which includes commitments ian aid. to eschew political violence and intimida- Armed groups operating at will in 80% of the tion, accept the outcome of transparent and country, however, continued brutal attacks on credible elections, and collaborate with the communities while conflicts between farmers Gambian Independent Electoral Commission and pastoralists led to further bloody clashes. on the conduct of successful elections. Against this background, the agreement In the Central African Republic, a cessa- brokered by HD between armed groups in tion of hostilities agreement mediated by HD Nana-Mambéré following an eleven month between two armed groups in the western mediation process, showcased the potential province of Nana-Mambéré in late 2017 pro- of local peacemaking initiatives. Along with an vided a rare success in a year which saw unconditional ceasefire, the Agreement banned escalating casualties and displacement as a the use of weapons, attacks on villages and result of violent conflict in much of the country. the stealing of cattle as well as providing for HD is working closely with President Faustin free movement of people; free access to Touadéra’s administration to restore and build hospitals, schools and public buildings; and the central government’s capacity and develop support for the return of people driven out by a programme of transitional justice. past violence.

Photo: An armed fighter belonging to the 3R armed militia displays his weapon in the town of Koui, Central African Republic, April 2017. © Reuters/Baz Ratner

18 HD in 2017 In Burundi, HD is supporting the country’s In the CAR, a cessation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission in an initiative which seeks to prevent ethnic and hostilities agreement mediated by political violence through the creation of pro- tected spaces for dialogue. Addressing the HD between two armed groups provided a past is the only subject the Government has rare success in a year which saw escalating agreed to engage on with the opposition and the international community. Several work- casualties and displacement. shops were held in 2017 which brought together representatives of the security forces and political parties. Progress has been made on the conflict and to improve the impact of and a large number of testimonies have already humanitarian assistance. been gathered by the Commission. Further north, a roadmap for discussing approaches to end persistent conflicts in Amid escalating turmoil in the Democratic Darfur, as well as the Blue Nile and South Republic of Congo, HD maintained close Kordofan States in Sudan had previously been contact with political parties and key interna- agreed between the government and a loose tional stakeholders in 2017, exploring possi- alliance of opposition parties known as the ble initiatives which could help to defuse the Sudan Call. In 2017, HD continued to work explosive tensions building up over President with the opposition parties involved in the Joseph Kabila’s delay in holding elections. Sudan Call to build their capacity for partici- HD previously advised the opposition coali- pating in the process. An internal rift within the tion, the Rassemblement, on negotiations with SPLM-N (Sudan People’s Liberation Move- the Government leading to a December 2016 ment – North), the largest armed group in Agreement on holding elections in 2017. the opposition alliance, stalled progress on The death of the Rassemblement’s leader, peace talks in 2017. HD continued to hold Etienne Tshisekedi, in February 2017, how- regular discussions with the parties on ways ever, gave rise to internal divisions within the to engage constructively with the African Union opposition, and led the Government to post- High Level Implementation Panel which bro- pone elections to 2018. HD has offered to kered the roadmap and, as a result, helped to mediate between all political actors to avert maintain commitment to the dialogue process. potential conflicts in the run-up to the elec- Somalia experienced the worst terrorist tions while, at the same time, reassessing attack the world has witnessed in several options for further engagement in light of years when a single bomb blast in Mogadishu the changing political dynamics and security in November 2017 killed more than 500 environment. people. Yet Somalia’s Federal Government In the meantime, HD developed new activi- and Somaliland both managed peaceful elec- ties to support efforts to revive the peace tions of new Presidents in 2017. HD continued process, and mitigate the impacts of the con- to work with political actors at the highest flict, in South Sudan. The 2015 Agreement levels in the country, within the Federal Mem- to end the conflict quickly gave way to surg- ber States and Somaliland, to build struc- ing violence which has turned the world’s tured dialogue processes. These processes youngest nation into Africa’s biggest human- achieved some important successes in 2017 and prepared the way for more constructive itarian disaster. Against a background of pro- relationships between them in the future. liferating armed groups, forced displacement of millions, the threat of famine and lethal HD also expanded its work to include facilitat- attacks on aid workers, HD focused on ing dialogue to defuse the ongoing violence working with South Sudan’s neighbours and in the city of Galkayo resulting from tensions regional partners to build regional consensus between the Galmudug and Puntland States.

2017 Operations in Perspective 19 Somalia’s Federal Government and Somaliland both managed peaceful elections of new Presidents in 2017.

Photo: Somali women sing as they celebrate the election of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed in the streets of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, February 2017. © Reuters/Feisal Omar

20 HD in 2017 2017 Operations in Perspective 21 HD fostered good working relationships between governors and mayors in the two states and started a community dialogue process in Galkayo bringing together women, young people, elders, business owners and local administrators.

Eurasia

In Ukraine, fighting continues on an almost daily basis since the conflict first erupted in 2014. The largely stalled official Minsk peace process in 2017 increased the need for, and value of, the informal initiatives HD is pursu- ing. Among those, the organisation finalised a study on the ecological risks of the conflict in the Donbass region and helped identify measures to prevent an ecological catastro- phe. HD also continued to try and help the Minsk process succeed through the provision of creative ideas by international experts on issues such as security, transitional justice, trade and decentralization. HD has also worked for some years with experts and influential figures from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan as well as neighbouring coun- tries to explore and encourage approaches to tackling wider threats to regional security in Central Asia. In 2017, the experts continued to research and discuss problems which affect the region or might affect it in the future, includ- ing regional instability, and tried to identify collective solutions for resolving them.

Asia

The security outlook across Asia was greatly affected by concerns about the possibility of hostilities erupting in disputed areas of the South China Sea. To address this concern, HD was active in moving forward discussions between China and its neighbours in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) aimed at building maritime confidence and reducing the risk of clashes between rival claimants to the resource-rich area. HD’s initiative has focused on develop- ing a set of Common Operating Principles (COPs) to govern interactions between mari- time law enforcement agencies, among which

22 HD in 2017 Photo: A woman cleans up debris near her house damaged by recent shelling in the rebel-held town of Yasynuvata, Ukraine, December 2017. © Reuters/Alexander Ermochenko

2017 Operations in Perspective 23 the greatest number of encounters occur. The scholars and experts on peacemaking pro- COPs gained the informal approval of China, cesses in Africa. HD’s Regional Directors for Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines in the Africa also held meetings with the current course of 2017, and were featured at a num- and former Chinese Special Envoy to Africa, ber of official meetings involving the claimant along with a member of China’s Export Import states. HD’s constant shuttling between states Bank and a number of Chinese scholars, in the region influenced the policies they formu- helping to develop understanding of conflict lated on the issue. Malaysia, working closely trends across the continent. with HD, gained agreement for an ASEAN- In keeping with the organisation’s ability to China Coastguard Workshop. For its part, establish discreet contact with hard-to-reach Indonesia, after inviting HD to give a pres- groups, HD’s project teams made progress entation on the COPs, included them as part in two sensitive and confidential processes of its maritime strategy. HD’s work attracted in Asia. They established relations with a new further official interest and approval in presenta- and potentially deadly insurgency in the region, tions to an ASEAN Regional Forum workshop and succeeded in strengthening contacts and a meeting of heads of ASEAN coast- between one of the region’s most intransigent guard services. underground organisations and the govern- The appreciation that HD has garnered ment it is fighting. The resulting backchannel across the region for this initiative underscores communications between the belligerent the breadth of its networks and the diverse parties contributed to a substantial reduction range of its activities. HD’s engagement with of violence over the year in the affected terri- China is more broadly focused on averting tory. Meanwhile, in many parts of the region, or managing conflict in regions which are of HD engaged with a wide spectrum of mili- increasing economic and strategic importance tary authorities, political leaders and armed to Beijing. In 2017, as China opened its first groups, helping to address decades-old insur- overseas military base in Djibouti, highlight- gencies, obstacles to democratic governance ing its deepening commitments in Africa, HD and the aspirations of communities struggling convened a roundtable meeting with Chinese for autonomy.

Photo: Philippine soldiers, accompanied by journalists, patrol Marawi which was under siege by Islamist militants in May 2017. © IRIN/Dennis Jay Santos

24 HD in 2017 HD is supporting efforts by the civilian-led on the Bangsamoro. Failure to implement government in Myanmar to end decades the accord has created new opportunities of insurgency by concluding a Nationwide for Muslim extremists and another eruption Ceasefire Agreement with 21 ethnic armed of major violence. This was brutally demon- groups. By 2017, eight of the groups had strated when pro-Islamic State militants seized signed this Agreement. HD maintained close hold of the city of Marawi in May and fought bilateral contact with the government, the off government forces for five months. Tatmadaw (army) and armed groups, and Throughout the year, HD focused much of advised the teams monitoring the ceasefire. its effort on achieving convergence between As signatories moved forward with implement- leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front ing the Accord, HD shifted its attention to (MNLF) and the breakaway Moro Islamic the armed groups which have not signed the Liberation Front (MILF), organising 22 dialogue ceasefire agreement. The organisation made sessions between them. It also promoted the first contact with elusive members of the greater involvement of young people, religious ‘Northern Alliance’, a formation of seven of leaders and women’s groups in peacemaking the country’s most powerful non-signatory efforts, limiting the intrusion of extremism in armed groups. the region. By giving mediation training to clan By the end of 2017, the peace process was leaders and local officials, HD also strength- overshadowed by the crisis that erupted in ened local capacity to avert violence. The train- Rakhine State after attacks on border posts ing built on the proven success of HD-trained by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army local mediators in defusing clan conflicts in (ARSA) in August and the consequent security Sulu. In 2017 alone, these local mediators crackdown which drove more than 680,000 addressed 20 clan conflicts and resolved or Rohingya Muslims into Bangladesh. Before reached a ceasefire in 11 of them. the crisis, HD had built up effective working relations with federal and state authorities, as well as Rohingya community leaders and Rakhine civil society representatives. It also provided advice to the Kofi Annan-led Advisory Commission on Arakan State which was largely taken up in the Commission’s interim and final reports. After the crisis erupted, with international access to the area cut off, HD worked on multiple fronts, compiling reliable information on what was happening on the ground. The organisation was in active contact with the United Nations and interested governments, at multiple levels, and was also consulted by the Myanmar authorities before the Vice- President appeared at the General Assembly. After more than a decade of activity in the Philippines helping to bring about agree- ment between the government and major Moro groups on the island of Mindanao, HD received a formal government mandate in February 2017 to work with stakeholders on implementing the Comprehensive Agreement

2017 Operations in Perspective 25 Finding their Place at the Table A detailed look at the work of HD’s ‘insider’ mediators

For a start, there are rarely just two sides. Modern wars are often a miscellany of con- flicts involving a wide range of groups in areas which may or may not be contained within national boundaries. Even conflicts which are ostensibly between a state and its opposi- tion may not necessarily have clearly defina- ble sides since opposition forces, in particular, are often fragmented. This makes one-size-fits-all peacemaking a risky and ultimately futile business; applying models across conflicts rarely works. In addi- tion, short-term international interventions are proving insufficient for addressing today’s con- flicts. There is ultimately no substitute for local In “The Inside Story – The impact of insider knowledge and strong relationships on the mediators on modern peacemaking” released ground. To paraphrase the old saying, trust by HD in 2017, Paul Dziatkowiec raises aware- takes mere seconds to break, and forever to ness of the advantages of using ‘insider medi- repair – but it is built up over years. ators’ in peace processes and how their work relates to the traditional notion of the mediator This implies that any mediation process is as an ‘outsider’. By profiling several of HD’s likely to draw in a variety of actors, some of insider mediators through a series of inter- whom may be from different countries, and views, Dziatkowiec showcases their significant many of whom may be from the various com- contribution to preventing and resolving con- munities of the country in conflict. flicts, capturing their motivation, approaches Mediators were once viewed as neutral inter- and most significant successes. mediaries, whose legitimacy “. . . depends in The essay which follows provides a glimpse part on the fact that they are unbiased and into “The Inside Story” and the crucial role that their lives do not intersect with the lives 1 of insider mediators in today’s international of the disputants.” Neutral ‘outsiders’ were, peace making efforts. therefore, assumed to most effectively fit the mould of the mediator. In many parts of the world, however, commu- he word ‘mediator’ may conjure up nities in conflict prefer to deal with insiders who images of a renowned figurehead know the situation, have established relation- – possibly a world leader – flying ships of trust, and stay committed. In addition, T in to launch a peace process and outside intervention is not always possible, single-handedly orchestrating peace between let alone desired. For these reasons, sustain- two warring factions. The realities of media- able peace often depends on the involvement tion in the modern world, however, are very different. 1 Maiese (2005)

26 HD in 2017 Photo: Tunisian Republican Party Secretary-General, Maya Jribi, signs the Charter of Honour on the fair conduct of elections in Tunisia in the presence of Naoufel Omeyya Seddik, HD Special Adviser for the MENA region and one of the organisation’s ‘insider mediators’, July 2014. The Charter, signed by the main parties across the political spectrum, contributed to peaceful elections in the country in 2014. © HD

of people who are part of the conflicted soci- using their knowledge and experience to ety’s fabric. analyse the conflict; liaising with the parties and shuttling between them; providing tech- It may not be surprising, then, that the inter- nical advice; helping the parties define their national community is increasingly recognis- positions; and identifying the need to develop ing the value of so-called ‘insider mediators’ negotiation skills among the parties in order – nationals from the countries in conflict to facilitate productive talks. who know the communities and the culture surrounding these conflict situations. While part of being an insider mediator entails classic mediation activities such as brokering As a small, private diplomacy organisation, HD ceasefires, it is just as likely to involve helping has been fostering the peacemaking poten- to design peace processes which are more tial of these insider mediators for some time, sensitive to local cultures or engaging with relying greatly on their expertise to find creative stakeholders from across society to build sup- and appropriate solutions to resolving conflict. port for a national dialogue process or the implementation of an agreement. Insider mediators and their role in peacemaking: opportunities The insider mediators’ most valuable asset is and challenges their intimate understanding of their country, cultures and the conflict, as well as knowl- Insider mediators take on a wide variety of edge of local languages or dialects. As HD’s functions and roles in a peace process, often Indonesia Country Representative, Shienny behind the scenes. Such roles range from Angelita, explains in ‘The Inside Story’, this

Finding their Place at the Table 27 If you spend more time with one it: “Sometimes we put our own safety at risk – for example, by travelling without security side than the other, there are to show we trusted the conflict parties. We put ourselves in their hands, and as a result always questions raised. You must try to be we were perceived as genuine.” This, of professional, share your time equally, and course, also takes great courage and a will- ingness to take risks – both attributes which give the same quality of advice to all sides. are clear across the insider mediators’ profiles —Shienny Angelita, HD’s Indonesia Country Representative in the publication. Peace processes rely on momentum, and insider mediators – with a strong personal regional and cultural knowledge “. . . is the stake in peace in their societies – bring a backbone of an insider mediator’s profile, sense of energy, motivation and commitment which no amount of thematic experience or to seeing the process through to peace. Their inherent talent can replace”. willingness and ability to engage in a process Inside knowledge ensures that mediators are over the long term often distinguishes them aware of the type of approach which is likely from outsider peacemakers. As underlined to be acceptable to the parties involved. In by David Lambo, one of HD’s former Senior Thailand, for example, a confrontational style Advisers who passed away in 2017, ensuring would not be appropriate as people do not like to lose face. As such, “pointing fingers can be counterproductive”, Jan Suphaphong, HD’s Country Representative in Thailand, explains. Similarly, in Myanmar, “. . . outsid- ers often come with the wrong attitude and approach; above all, many lack the humility that is expected here,” says Nilar Oo, HD’s Myanmar Deputy Country Representative. This inside knowledge also contributes to the medi- ators’ credibility which can be reinforced by knowledge acquired during the process. In addition, insider mediators often have a broad network of local contacts and are able to develop this network as the peace pro- cess demands. In Mali, Abdelkader Sidibe, HD’s Head of Mission and a Malian national, had existing links to many of the relevant stakeholders in the process, thanks to his background as the grandson of a regional chief. Similarly, Jan Suphaphong’s previous experience of working with Thai civil society and political actors ensured that she was not perceived as a threat, enabling her to quickly establish new contacts which contributed to her effectiveness as an insider mediator. Building this extensive network also entails fostering trust and respect to gain the parties’ confidence in return. As Shienny Angelita put

28 HD in 2017 that there is no relapse in the conflict is “as When you show your commitment, important as the initial mediation and dialogue process itself”. Commitment can also inspire they tend to respond, to put their the conflict parties to engage in, or commit further to, the process. own best foot forward. —David Lambo, one of HD’s former Senior Advisers Insider mediators must also be willing to stay in the shadows so that the parties can take credit for their agreements. This relative experience – has an impact on their claims anonymity may mean stepping back when to impartiality as a mediator. However, insider necessary and accepting that their work takes mediators do not need to have a history of place in the background, preparing the way impartiality in order to be conscious of the for the main actors. It may also entail insiders need to avoid bias. As underlined by David having little to no recognition at all. In Thailand, Lambo, “As a peacemaker, your only ‘pre- for example, Jan Suphaphong sees her work ferred’ outcome is an end to violence. . . . If as “laying the groundwork’ for higher-level your instinct is that one approach is more talks to take place”. likely to achieve this than another, then you The way in which a person’s insider status are within your rights to say so – you can tell is gained or defined –either through their the parties: ‘if you go on like this, the situation background or their professional or political will get worse’.”

Photo: Theerada Suphaphong speaks during a workshop on conflict resolution, jointly organised by HD and the Joint Staff College of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, 28 March 2016. © Jasmin Lutzi

Finding their Place at the Table 29 Sometimes the stakeholders publication, insider mediators have very dif- ferent reasons for being considered insiders, need to hear the opinion of the but are often also considered outsiders in international community, or they seek other respects. As HD’s Head of Mission in Mali, Abdelkader international approval or respect. Sidibe, for example, may be considered an —Naoufel Omeyya Seddik, Special Adviser, MENA region insider mediator because he is working, as a Malian, to bring peace to his own country. While he is the grandson of a regional Chief Insider or outsider? Insider identity and so seems well-placed as an insider, he and the role of outside mediation is also a member of the Peul community which is not significantly involved in the conflict Coming from another country can sometimes in northern Mali. To the local communities he give outside mediators a different perspective is involved with, he could, therefore, be con- and a particular credibility which insiders may sidered an outsider. not always be able to replicate. With some exceptions, an international perspective may Determining whether someone is an insider also support an outsider’s claim to impartiality or an outsider is therefore not clear-cut and and support their ability to convey international inevitably depends on both the situation and perspectives. the perceptions of people in and around the conflict. This provides outsiders with a different power and one which can enable them to ask the ‘hard questions’. This power, however, is not The best of both worlds the preserve of outsider mediators; it can also The Inside Story offers a fascinating glimpse be accessed by bringing in outside experts as into the world of insider mediators and demon- part of a peace process. Nilar Oo considers strates how successful peacemaking efforts this access to outside expertise particularly today require a combination of internal and important in Myanmar: “Outsiders are a valu- external expertise and experience. able source of expertise. As our country con- tinues its transition, some people presume It also sheds a light on HD’s hybrid approach that we need outside expertise. This doesn’t to peacemaking, which seeks to make the necessarily mean they’re impressed by out- best use of the combined skills and qualities siders, just that they want to learn from them.” of the organisation’s ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ in its dialogue and mediation initiatives – a Jan Suphaphong also highlights the value of method which has helped the organisation international expertise in her experiences of adapt to the fast-changing nature of conflict conflict resolution in Thailand, reiterating the in a flexible and holistic manner. need for such expertise to be imparted in a culturally-sensitive way: “International experts ‘The Inside Story’ is available as a free down- often bring a certain gravitas, when they have load from HD’s Library through the following relevant experience to share – provided that link: https://www.hdcentre.org/wp-content/ they do it in a humble rather than a bullying uploads/2017/06/The-Inside-Story-The- way. Outsiders are not taken seriously if they impact-of-insider-mediators-on-modern- adopt a preaching tone.” peacemaking.pdf. The term ‘insider mediator’ in itself can be problematic as it cannot fully encapsulate the variety of backgrounds these mediators are drawn from or the range of roles they can play in a peace process. As highlighted in the

30 HD in 2017

Highlight on HD’s 2017 Publications

s part of its continuing efforts to sup- The promise and port and foster mediation and peace- perils of national A making, HD produces reports, papers dialogues and publications on the issues, debates and Dr Katia Papagianni innovations surrounding global mediation prac- tice. The organisation believes that continually Originally produced examining peacemaking issues is essential in as a background the evolution of this field of work. paper to guide and Below is a selection of the organisations’ 2017 inform discussions at publications. the Oslo Forum, The promise and perils Valuing peace: of national dialogues argues that peace- makers need to have realistic expectations MEDIATION November 2017 delivering and PRACTICE SERIES demonstrating about the extent to which national dialogues 7 Valuing peace: delivering and mediation results can contribute to ending conflicts and to demonstrating mediation results launching political transitions. Dilemmas & options for mediators Dr Ian Wadley Dr Katia Papagianni contends that national dialogues can strengthen and legitimise deals HD’s Mediation which have already been struck. However, a Dr Ian Wadley Prac tice Series was failure to clarify whether a national dialogue initiated in 2008 with is intended to resolve a dispute or promote the aim of drawing political transformation can lead to overly ambi- on experiences and tious agendas for such dialogues, as well as insights among the broader mediation com- inefficient decision-making mechanisms and munity to offer options for decision-making a lack of flexibility in the process. All of these around challenging aspects of peacemaking. factors can prevent national dialogues from In the seventh issue in the series, Dr Ian being successful. Wadley considers the tools which exist to effectively assess and assure the value and Centre du Mali : impact of peacemaking efforts. He compares Enjeux et dangers Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) practices and d’une crise négligée outlines a new adaptive model which uses Adam Thiam critical peer reviews to encourage reflection on, and adaptation of, a mediation approach. In the HD publica- It enables those closest to field operations to tion Centre du Mali: articulate progress in their initiatives, even Enjeux et dangers when the prospects for a final resolution seem d’une crise négligée, remote. Importantly, it allows mediation prac- author Adam Thiam titioners and donors to demonstrate the value sheds light on the of their work. root causes of the issues plaguing Mali’s central region. Based on surveys carried out

Highlight on HD’s 2017 Publications 31 with the region’s local population, the publica- tion identifies the socio-economic, political and cultural factors contributing to the increasing tensions within central Mali. In an attempt to draw the attention of Mali’s decision-makers and influential actors towards the fragility of the country’s centre, the author calls for more conflict prevention strategies in this oft-neglected region.

An urgently practical approach to the Korean Peninsula Dan Leaf

In January 2017, HD launched the Oslo Forum Peacewriter Prize, an essay com- petition which seeks to encourage bold and innovative responses to today’s peacemaking challenges. The first winning essay, An urgently practical approach to the Korean Peninsula, was included in the briefing material for the Oslo Forum in 2017. In his essay, author Dan Leaf argues in favour of a ‘federated’ approach to one of the most significant current challenges to international security: the crisis between South and North Korea. He suggests that the range of con- tentious issues linked to this crisis should be dealt with separately, removing the inter- dependencies – particularly with regard to denuclearisation – which currently preclude even small successes in the region.

For more HD publications, please visit: https://www.hdcentre.org/publications/

32 HD in 2017

HD Governance – Te Board

D is supervised by a Board which is and insight into, issues of modern slavery and the supreme authority of the Foun- mass movements of people, as well as exper- H dation. The Board meets twice a year tise in strategic communications. and has set up three committees: an Audit and Finance Committee, which reviews the Ambassador financial management of the organisation; Pierre Vimont an Operations Committee, which is respon- sible for reviewing HD’s programme of work; Chair of the Board and a Nominations Committee, in charge of Ambassador Pierre Vimont identifying suitable candidates for Board mem- is a Senior Associate at bership. Each member sits on the Board on Car negie Europe where his a voluntary and private basis. research focuses on the European Neighbour- The Board currently has 13 members. In 2017, hood Policy, transatlantic relations and French Mr Jean-Marie Guéhenno’s nine year term foreign policy. From 2010 to 2015, Ambassa- on HD’s Board, including several years as its dor Vimont served as Executive Secretary- Chair (2010-2016), came to an end. HD wishes General of the European External Action to express its deep gratitude to Mr Guéhenno Service of the European Union. Prior to this, for his commitment to the organisation and he worked for 38 years in the French diplo- his expertise in overseeing and guiding HD’s matic service. During this time, he served as mission over the last decade. His insight and Ambassador to the United States from 2007 experience have helped HD stay at the forefront to 2010; Ambassador to the European Union of evolving trends in the field of peacemaking. from 1999 to 2002; and Chief of Staff to three former French Foreign Ministers. Ambassador In late 2017, HD also learnt with great sadness Vimont holds the title of Ambassador of of the sudden death of Dr Surin Pitsuwan, a France, a dignity bestowed for life on only a prominent statesman from Thailand who had few French diplomats. He is also a Knight of been a member of its Board since 2013. Before joining the Board, Dr Pitsuwan had served the French National Order of Merit. as one of HD’s ‘Wise Men’ in the Aceh Peace Mr Espen Barth Eide Process which the organisation steered from 1999 to 2003. HD would like to pay tribute to Vice Chair of the Board Dr Pitsuwan for his dedication and the expert and Chair of the contribution he made to many of HD’s ongoing Operations Committee projects in Asia. Mr Espen Barth Eide is a In December 2017, HD welcomed a new Member of the Norwegian member to its Board, in the person of Grace Parliament where he represents the Labour Forrest. Ms Forrest is a Founder of the Walk Party. Prior to his election in September 2017, Free Foundation and a Director of the Minderoo he was United Nations Special Adviser on Foundation which invests in local and inter- Cyprus from 2014 to 2017, as well as Man- national ventures to protect and support under- aging Director and Member of the Managing privileged people and communities. Ms Forrest Board of the World Economic Forum (WEF) brings with her extensive field experience of, in Geneva from 2014 to 2016. He currently

HD Governance – The Board 33 co-chairs the WEF's Global Future Council performance enhancement, culture change on International Security. Mr Eide previously and transformation. Before joining the man- served as Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs agement consulting firm, Mr Janin worked for from 2012 to 2013. During his 10 years in Chase Manhattan in New York and Paris, as the Norwegian Government (2000-2001 and well as Procter & Gamble in Toronto. 2005-2013), he also held the positions of Minister of Defence, Deputy Minister of For- Ms Sarah F. Cliffe eign Affairs, and Deputy Minister of Defence. Board Member Before joining the government, Mr Eide was a senior researcher at the Norwegian Insti- Ms Sarah F. Cliffe is the tute of International Affairs (NUPI). He also Director of the Center on directed NUPI’s Department of International International Cooperation at Politics from 2003 to 2005. the University of New York. Prior to that, she was Special Representa- Mr Jermyn Brooks tive for the World Bank’s World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development, Chair of the Audit and as well as Special Adviser and Assistant Finance Committee Secretary-General of Civilian Capacities to the Mr Jermyn Brooks is the United Nations. Ms Cliffe has extensive expe- former Executive Director rience of working in countries emerging from and Chief Financial Officer conflict and political transition. She was the of the anti-corruption civil society organisa- Chief of mission for the World Bank’s pro- tion Transparency International. He served on gramme in Timor-Leste, led the Bank’s Fragile Transparency International’s Board of Direc- and Conflict-Affected Countries Group, and tors from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2011 was also its Director of Strategy and Opera- to 2014. Mr Brooks continues to support tions for the East Asia and Pacific Region. Transparency International’s work to improve Ms Cliffe has also worked for UNDP in Rwanda, corporate transparency and integrity. He was the South African Government, and the Con- the initial independent Chair of the Global Net- gress of South African Trade Unions. work Initiative from 2011 to 2014. Mr Brooks is also a former worldwide Chairman of Price Ms Grace Forrest Waterhouse and took a key role in the merger Board Member negotiations which resulted in the company becoming PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1998. Ms Grace Forrest is a Founder of the Walk Free Mr Neil Janin Foundation, a Director of the Minderoo Foundation, and Chair of the currently works as a communications strate- Nominations Committee gist on the Global Slavery Index. She previ- Mr Neil Janin is a Director ously worked as a researcher at the Legatum Emeritus of McKinsey & Institute, specialising in modern slavery and Com pany and currently mass movements of people. Ms Forrest has counsels senior executives on matters of spent extensive time on the ground document- strategy and leadership. He is the Chairman ing the reality of modern slavery throughout of the Board of the Bank of Georgia, and a Southeast Asia and the Middle East. She is member of the Board of Ipsos SA. He also a member of the Council of Advocates of sits on the Boards of a number of non-profit the Freedom Fund, an Ambassador for the organisations. Mr Janin has spent 27 years Humanitarian Group and The Freedom Hub, with McKinsey & Company, conducting and member of the Board of Advisors of engagements in every area of organisational Freedom United. Ms Forrest has represented practice – design, leadership, governance, the Walk Free Foundation around the world,

34 HD in 2017 including in meetings at the United Nations the Advisory Panel for Swiss Re and the and at the Vatican. Council for the Future of Europe.

Ms Ameerah Haq Ms Irene Khan Board Member Board Member Ms Ameerah Haq was Vice Ms Irene Khan is Director- Chair of the High-Level Inde- General of the International pendent Panel on Peace Development Law Organiza- Operations for the United tion (IDLO). An international Nations (UN) as well as UN Under-Secretary- thought leader on human rights, gender and General for Field Support from 2012 to social justice issues, Ms Khan was Secre- 2014. She has nearly 40 years of experience tary General of Amnesty International from with the UN, including 19 years in the field. 2001 to 2009. Prior to that, she worked for Ms Haq was the Special Representative the United Nations High Commissioner for of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) in Refugees for 21 years at its headquarters Timor-Leste, and served as Deputy SRSG and in the field. She was Visiting Professor at and UN Resident Coordinator in Sudan, the State University of New York Law School Deputy SRSG and UN Resident Coordina- (Buffalo) in 2011. Ms Khan sits on the Boards tor in Afghanistan, as well as UN Resident of several international human rights and Coordinator in Malaysia and Laos. She has development organisations. She received the also held senior positions within the UNDP. Sydney Peace Prize in 2006 for her work Ms Haq currently gives guest lectures at to end violence against women and girls. many universities in the United States and Her book, The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Europe, and has been speaking at numerous Human Rights, has been translated into seven events involving think tanks and research languages. institutions. Ambassador Dr Jakob Kellenberger Raymond Loretan Board Member Board Member Dr Jakob Kellenberger Ambassador Raymond was President of the Inter- Loretan is a founding part- national Committee of the ner of the consulting firm Red Cross from 2000 to Fasel Balet Loretan Associés and Chairman of 2012. A former State Secretary for Foreign the Diplomatic Club of Geneva. He also served Affairs and Head of the Directorate of Politi- as Chairman of the Board of the Swiss broad- cal Affairs in the Swiss Foreign Ministry from casting corporation (SRG SSR) from 2012 to 1992 to 1999, he has also served in Swiss 2015. A former Swiss Ambassador and Dip- embassies in Madrid, Brussels and London. lomatic Secretary to the Swiss Secretary of From 1984 to 1992, he headed the Office State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Loretan for European Integration with responsibility also worked as personal adviser to the Min- for relations with the European Union and ister of Defence and of Justice and Police. He the European Free Trade Association. was Ambassador of Switzerland in Singapore Dr Kellenberger teaches at the Graduate and Consul General in New York, and also Institute of International and Development served as Secretary-General of the Swiss Studies in Geneva and in the Law Faculty at Christian Democratic Party from 1993 to the University of Salamanca in Spain. He 1997. Ambassador Loretan is the Chairman is the President of the Board of swisspeace, of the Swiss Medical Network Group, as well an Honorary Member of the American Soci- as a member of the Boards of several other ety of International Law, and a member of companies and foundations.

HD Governance – The Board 35 Professor Mr Olivier Steimer 'Funmi Olonisakin Board Member Board Member Mr Olivier Steimer is the Professor ‘Funmi Olonisakin Vice-President of the Bank is Vice-President and Vice- Council of the Swiss National Principal International of Bank. In addition to HD’s King’s College London, where she also Board, Mr Steimer also sits on the Boards teaches on security, leadership and develop- of Directors of the Bank Lombard Odier & ment. She also served as the founding Direc- Co Ltd, Chubb Ltd and Allreal Holding AG. tor of the African Leadership Centre. Professor He was also the Chairman of the Board for Olonisakin was Director of the Conflict, the Banque Cantonale Vaudoise from 2002 Security and Development Group at King’s to 2017. From 1983 to 2002, Mr Steimer College from 2003 to 2013. Prior to this, she held various positions with the Credit Suisse worked in the Office of the United Nations Group in domestic and international banking Special Representative of the Secretary- including roles as Head, Geneva Region; General on Children and Armed Conflict. Member of the Executive Board, Private Bank- She is a member of the Advisory Group ing and Financial Services; and Chief Execu- of Experts on the UN Secretary-General’s tive Officer, Private Banking International. Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architec- ture, and of the Advisory Group of Experts for the UN Progress Study on Youth, Peace Dr Javier Solana and Security. Professor Olonisakin also chairs Honorary President the International Advisory Council of the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute. Dr Javier Solana was the Secretary General of the Ambassador Council of the European Herman Schaper Union (EU) and High Repre- Board Member sentative for the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy from 1999 to 2009, as well Ambassador Herman as Secretary General of NATO from 1995 to Schaper holds the Peter 1999. Prior to that, Dr Solana was Spain’s Kooijmans Chair for Peace, Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1995. Law and Security at Leiden University in The Dr Solana currently serves as President of Hague and is a Member of the First Cham- the ESADEgeo-Center for Global Economy ber of the Dutch Parliament. Prior to this, and Geopolitics, Distinguished Fellow in Ambassador Schaper had a distinguished Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, career with the Dutch Foreign Ministry, serv- Chairman of the Aspen Institute in Spain, ing as Permanent Representative of the Senior fellow at the Hertie School of Govern- Netherlands to the United Nations in New York ance, and visiting Professor at the London (from 2009 to 2013) and Permanent Repre- School of Economics. sentative of the Netherlands to NATO (from 2005 to 2009). He has also held several other positions at the Ministry including Deputy Director General for Political Affairs, Director of the Security Department, and Director of the European Department. From 1981 to 1982, Ambassador Schaper was a Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament for the political party D66.

36 HD in 2017

Funding and Finances

n 2017, HD’s income reached just over Mali, Senegal, Iraq, Libya, and Syria as well CHF 34 million. This funding continues as extensive activities in the Sahel region. to support the organisation’s strong and I A small number of strategic partners including diverse portfolio of operations. Grants came Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden from 25 government, private foundation, and Switzerland (HD’s host country) as well as organisation and individual donors including the Hoffmann, Minderoo and Bosch Foun- Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the dations, provided unearmarked or development European Union, France, Ireland, Italy, Liech- funding. The flexibility offered by this type of tenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, support is vital to safeguard HD’s independ- Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United ence, improve its effectiveness, and guarantee States, the Peace Support Fund, the Bosch the functioning of the organisation. It allows Foundation, the Hoffmann Foundation, the the organisation to provide lean and efficient Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the corporate services from its headquarters and Global Pluralism Award, Humanity United, the regional offices. It also allows it to direct such Minderoo Foundation, the Third Millennium funding as needed to areas which are essen- Foundation, the United Nations, and the City tial to its operational effectiveness, including of Geneva. field analysis and project evaluation. The flex- HD’s income is made up of targeted project ibility offered by institutional funding also con- funding and flexible core support which are tributes to HD’s effectiveness by ensuring it fundamental to the organisation’s operations. has the resources to respond quickly, and in an agile way, to any given crisis or conflict. HD A majority of HD’s funding is tied to its initia- is particularly grateful for this critical support. tives in the five regions where it is active. In 2017, HD’s regional activities in Francophone HD is also honoured that Andrew Forrest has Africa and in the Middle East and North Africa become a Global Patron of the organisation represented 46% of HD’s spending. This and wishes to thank him for his support. reflects the organisation’s expanding engage- Mr Forrest is Co-founder and Chairman of the ment in these regions with ongoing opera- Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic entity tions in Burundi, the Central African Republic, through which he protects and supports

HD expenses in 2017 s Africa (Anglophone and Lusophone) 13% s Africa (Francophone) 26% s Middle East and North Africa 20% s Asia 18% s Humanitarian mediation 9% s Eurasia 8% s Global programmes 6%

Funding and Finances 37 Photo: Villa Plantamour, HD’s headquarters. © HD

38 HD in 2017 underprivileged people and communities. As an Adjunct Professor at China Southern Uni- versity, Co-Chair of the China Australia Senior Business Leaders’ Forum, and a Councillor on the Global Citizen Commission, Mr Forrest brings with him an extended network in Asia and the Pacific which complements HD’s own network in the region. Finally, HD is grateful to the City of Geneva for having provided the organisation with the use of the Villa Plantamour for its headquarters, as an in-kind contribution to its activities, for the last 19 years. The Villa is located at the heart of the international community in Geneva, close to the United Nations’ European head- quarters, diplomatic Missions and many inter- national organisations. It provides HD with an exceptional working environment and a discreet setting from where it can lead its peacemaking work.

Funding and Finances 39 www.hd centre.org