Project Summary:

The overall goal of the project is to strengthen social cohesion in Moldova by empowering a network of insider mediators to address local challenges in social tension monitoring mechanism target localities and cross-river platforms through dialogue, mediation, and collaboration on both banks of the Nistru River.

This programme is designed to provide national, regional and global opportunities to both support and learn from insider mediators, while also providing them with opportunities to support and learn from one another. By taking this multi-level approach and infusing all aspects of the programme with a commitment to learning and reflection, insider mediation will become a more transformative part of the global peacebuilding architecture and a more effective component of EU and UN efforts to foster locally-led and people-centred initiatives to sustaining peace. 
 

Objective:

• Enable insider mediation to be a transformative part of the global peacebuilding architecture and an effective component of EU and UN efforts to foster locally-led and people-centred initiatives to sustaining peace. 

Expected results:

• The capacities of 22 insider mediators enhanced through specialized training, with particular focus on women and youth on both banks of the Nistru River;
• Relevant stakeholders’ knowledge and evidence-based practice of insider mediation to guide the implementation of effective dialogue and inclusive peacebuilding initiatives on both banks of the Nistru River increased;
• Local ownership and leadership in peacebuilding efforts through the integration of insider mediation approaches at the community level on both banks on the Nistru River strengthened;
• Insider mediators have increased access to knowledge, experience sharing and sustained (including peer to peer) networks and are better linked up to international peacebuilding infrastructures, where relevant.

Accomplishments:

• A national network of 22 insider mediators (17 women and 5 men), aged 23–70, has been established and is operational across five Social Tension Monitoring Mechanism communities (Ocnița, Orhei, Taraclia, Cahul, and Ștefan Vodă) and six cross-bank thematic platforms on both banks of the Nistru River, supported by a structured capacity development pathway that includes three core training modules and applied workshops on conflict analysis, negotiation, and intercultural communication, delivered through four thematic trainings;
• One comprehensive insider mediation training manual developed, integrating international mediation standards with Moldova-specific contexts, and adopted as a reference tool for continued practice;
• Ten community-led pilot initiatives by insider mediators, applying mediation and dialogue approaches implemented to address locally identified tensions on both banks of the Nistru river;
• An Insider Mediation Conference brought together over 80 representatives of public institutions, local and international NGOs, internal mediators and practicing mediators, as well as national and international experts.