NEGOTIATING
PEACE
Learning from the Experts:
What Works, What Didn’t and Why
As conflicts continue to
be propagated across the continent, one
can ask if the multiple peace keeping
missions and the millions of dollars that
have been spent in peace efforts have
truly been effective. Why, in some cases,
does peace negotiations lead to firm democratisation
processes, and why do other conflicts
appear to have no end in sight?
The Negotiating Peace Project
aims to strengthen the capacity of the
negotiators and the mediators, and thus
contribute effectively to the resolution
of conflicts and, where possible, to limit
the proliferation of violence. For this
to happen, we believe it is necessary
to collate and disseminate available knowledge
about formal and informal negotiation
processes in usable form, and thereby
effectively enhance the current and future
mediation of conflicts and efforts at
building peace.
As a component in the Goree
Institute’s African Peace Activities
Programme the Institute proposes that
we listen to the very people at the front
of these peace efforts; that we explore
what worked during negotiations and what
didn’t and why.
The Goree Institute proposes
that we bring together professionals who
have actually been involved in peace negotiations
across the African continent, for a meeting
of engaged minds and the sharing of experiences
of the best (and worst) practices used
in previous or ongoing peace negotiations.
Was the success or failure of peace efforts
due to the negotiators' professional capability
to build trust and confidence between
the conflicting parties? Or was it a question
of means, sanctions and pressure?
Let us find out through
concrete examples what peace practitioners
feel is the most effective means and procedures
to use during negotiations and what they
may identify as the prevalent conditions
that need to exist before entering into
negotiations.
Ultimately, we’d like
to see coherent strategies about approaching
conflict resolution emerge, based on the
experiences and insights of peace practitioners
in the field; for these strategies and
tactics to be translated in transmittable
form; so that they may constitute a teachable,
consensual body of practical knowledge.
Expected Project Results:
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- An appropriate form of codification
is produced indicating a ‘Best
Practices in Peace Negotiation’
or the lessons learned during past
negotiation experience.
- Existing needs and concerns of
Negotiators are identified, addressed
and disseminated.
- Peace negotiations in Africa
become more effective and sustainable.
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Programme Manager :
Tashina M. Giraud
Gorée Institute
B.P 05, Gorée, Sénégal
Tel: +221 849 48 49
Cell: +221 461 80 99
tashina.giraud@goreeinstitute.org
