The NDC is hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland, The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, Finn Church Aid, Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission, and Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation.
In cooperation with Felm, CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, and Finn Church Aid (FCA), the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland organizes the Fifth Conference on National Dialogues and non-formal dialogue processes on 15–16 June 2022. The Conference takes place at the Paasitorni Congress Center in the Siltasaari district of Helsinki.
The Conference on National Dialogues and non-formal dialogue processes, or National Dialogues Conference as our guests and we have come to call it, is a unique event. It provides a safe and inclusive space for joint reflection and in-depth discussion between the invited practitioners, stakeholders, and experts working with peace mediation and dialogue processes. In the world we live in, peace processes are facing great uncertainty. Two years of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with other global challenges such as shifts in the geopolitical landscape, growing inequalities, shrinking space of the civil society, and climate change, have worsened the situation. These developments have also negatively affected the ability to discuss and transform conflicts through dialogues.
The Fifth National Dialogues Conference will thus focus on Revisiting National Dialogues, asking about how to (re)position national dialogues and non-formal dialogue processes in the changing world. In this context, the conference will reflect on the role of the regional structures and discuss both established and emerging practices of inclusivity and dialogue process design. The conference will also discuss how mass social movements and non-violent resistance movements relate to national dialogues and explore climate emergencies from the perspective of national dialogues and their ecosystems. Discussions are expected to include insights and experiences from various countries and regions, including for example Ethiopia, Mali, Sudan, Iraq, and Myanmar.
The Fourth Conference on National Dialogues and non-formal dialogue processes in June 2019 again brought together different stakeholders working on national dialogues to share knowledge and lessons and to promote peer learning to improve the practice of national dialogues. Click here to learn more.
The third conference of its kind, held in Helsinki in April 2017, provided a space for in-depth discussion between experts and practitioners. Discussions centered on what happens around national dialogue processes, both regionally and locally, and how this affects these processes.
The key findings of the event are detailed in the conference report and summarized here.
Modern conflicts inevitably include regional drivers and impact, thus consequently, also the solutions must be region-wide. Regional actors can assist in bringing the opposing sides of the conflict around the same table and push them to an agreement paving the way for a dialogue process. It is possible for a state to find itself in a situation where a purely national solution to the conflict is by no means viable, as is the case in Syria.
It is essential for regional actors to understand and appreciate local context and knowledge, which comes down to time, resources as well as political will. A significant challenge in linking regional actors to national dialogue processes is the regional actors’ own political and economic interest also being at stake. To avoid this, dependency on regional actors should be diminished to ensure national ownership. However, regional organizations hold a critical responsibility to respond to emerging crises, be it by facilitating national dialogue or other means; there is need for a policy-shift from ‘non-interference’ towards ‘non-indifference’.
Including local level actors in national dialogue processes creates hope and empowerment as well as maintains social cohesion. The inclusion of grassroots actors increases the sustainability of results; the solutions are owned by a broader set of relevant actors.
The support from external actors can be useful for local consultations but there are potential risks. As an example, even though the Central African Republic dialogue process provided new openings to local levels voicing their concerns, it can also serve as a cautionary example since many support actors in the process based their work on inadequate conflict analysis resulting in enforcement of a myth about a religious conflict. Without unity of purpose well-meaning support by several actors may result in harmful outcomes. It is important for a support actor to acknowledge that sometimes it is better to withdraw and practice self-critique. Support actors should continuously converse with the stakeholders about their trust and if it is lost, be humble enough to reevaluate their support.
There is a great need for genuine inclusion in national dialogues; not only in words, numbers, official objectives or principles. Meaningful inclusion of wider groups, for example minority groups and ensuring gender equality, broadens the agenda of discussion and reduces the need of these groups to constantly justify their participation.
Inclusion in a peace process imposed by the initiative of external actors is a start, however the results are unlikely to be sustainable. To avoid this, the thinking should be shifted from solely ‘whom to include’ towards ‘how to include’. To avoid losing the achievements after the formal process, follow-up of inclusion aspects should be included already in process design.
8:30–9:00 Registration
9:00–09:40 Opening and Welcoming remarks
• Special Representative of the Foreign Minister on Mediation, Mr. Pekka Haavisto
• Masters of Ceremonies: Ambassador Kai Sauer and Ambassador Sirpa Mäenpää
09:40–10:30 Leadership for change: experiences from Namibia
• President Martti Ahtisaari, Finland
• President Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, Namibia
Moderator: Juliette Foster, BBC
10:30–11:00 Coffee/Tea break
11:00–12:45 High-level panel: Regional dynamics, political
leadership and complexity
• Minister Vadym Chernysh, Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs, Ukraine
• Amb. Hesham Youssef, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
• Honorable Astrid Thors, Former High Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE
Moderator: Juliette Foster, International broadcaster
12:45–13:45 Lunch
13:45–15:30 Parallel thematic sessions 1
a) Regional dynamics of National Dialogues in the Middle East
Room: 15 (Plenary room)
• Dr. Yasar Qatarneh, Senior Adviser, Crisis Management Initiative (Moderator)
• Mr. Marwan Ali, Principal Adviser to the Special Envoy to the Secretary General on Yemen
• Dr. Karam Karam, Regional Adviser, Emerging and Conflict Related Issues Division (ECRI), UN-ESCWA
• Mr. Abdulnaser Al-Muwadea, Author and Researcher, Yemen
• Mr. Oliver McTernan, Director, Forward Thinking
• Ms. Minna Saarnivaara, Syria Initiative Project Manager, Felm
b) Youth in national dialogue processes: resolution 2250 an entry point
Room: 23 (Round table)
• Ms. Marie Makweri, Peace and Reconciliation Advisor, Finn Church Aid – South Sudan (Moderator)
• Mr. Mir Mubashir, Project Manager, Berghof Foundation
• Ms. Irena Grizelj, Independent Researcher and Consultant – Youth, Peace and Security
• Ms. Irene Limo, Coordinator, Peacemaking Unit, ACCORD
• Prof. Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Professor, School of International Service, American University & Senior Adviser, KAICIID (Concluding comments / Respondent)
c) Reconciliation and Transitional Justice
Room: 3 (First floor)
• Mr. Jeff Seul, Chairman of the Board, Peace Appeal (moderator)
• Ms. Mandira Sharma, Human Rights activist, Nepal
• Mr. Bishnu Sapkota, Board Member, Nepal Transitions to Peace Institute
• Ms. Valentina Erazo, Peacebuilding and Participation Coordinator, Presidential Counsellor’s Office for Human Rights, Colombia
15:30–16:00 Coffee/Tea break
16:00–17:45 Parallel thematic sessions 2
d) Local dialogue in the absence of National Dialogue in MENA
Room: 15
• Mr. Mahmoud Ramadan, Common Space Initiative/Syria Initiative (Moderator)
• Ms. Raeifa Samie, Member of the Women Advisory Board of UN special envoy for Syria Mr. Stefan de Mistura
• Ms. Eva Ziedan, COSV
• Mr. Maruan El Krekshi, Head of MENA, Crisis Management Initiative
• Mr. Martin Griffiths, Executive Director, European Institute for Peace (First Commentary)
e) Regional organisations’ support to national dialogue processes
Room: 23
• Mr. Itonde Kakoma, Head for Sub-Saharan Africa, Crisis Management Initiative (Moderator)
• Dr. Alhaji Sarhoj Bah, AU Peace and Security Department, Head of Division for Crisis Management, Post-Conflict and Reconstruction
• Amb. Hamuli Baudouin Kabarhuzato, Director for Political Affairs and Early Warning, ECCAS
• Dr. Aleu Garang Aleu, Coordinator, IGAD Mediation Support Unit
• Dr. Brown Odigie, Program Officer, Mediation Facilitation Directorate, ECOWAS
• Ms. Stella Sabiiti, International Consultant and Expert on APSA
• Ms. Yvette Ngandu, Coordinator, AU Peace and Security Department (Commentator)
• Amb. Corentin Ki-Doulaye, Crisis Management Initiative Senior Adviser (Commentator)
f) Land Reform and Local Governance
Room: 3
• Mr. Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj, Senior Coordinator, Syria Initiative, Common Space Initiative (Moderator)
• Ms. Shirley Moulder, Chair of the Board, Peace Appeal Foundation (Moderator)
• Mr. Anas Joudeh, President, National building Movement
• Ms. SiuSue Mark, Political economist for Land Governance, Erasmus University
• Mr. Tommi Tenno, Technical Director, Niras (Commentator)
17:45–18:00 Reflections of the day and comparative lessons from the field
• Dr. Thania Paffenholz, Director, Inclusive Peace and Transition Initiative at The Graduate Institute
Masters of Ceremonies
18:00-20:00 Cocktail event
Hosted by Under-Secretary of State Anne Sipiläinen, MFA Finland
Location: House of the Estates
9:00–9:10 Opening of day 2
9:10-9:30 Keynote: Peace from a different perspective – Dialogue of a million people
• Professor Timo Honkela, University of Helsinki
9:30-10:00 Coffee/Tea break
10:00-12:00 Parallel thematic sessions 3
g) Dialogue in CAR: Historical pathways, local dynamics and the role of regional influence
Room: 15
• Mr. Pekka Haavisto, Special representative of the Foreign Minister on Mediation (Moderator)
• President Catherine Samba-Panza, Former President of the Central African Republic
• Imam Modibo Bachir Walidou, Deputy Imam of the Central Mosque in Bangui
• Amb. Hamuli Baudouin Kabarhuzato, Director for Political Affairs and Early Warning, ECCAS
• Mr. Caesar Poblicks, Projects Manager for East and Central Africa Programme, Conciliation Resources
h) Building peace architecture in the Middle East
Room: 3
• Amb. Nureldin Satti, Crisis Management Initiative Senior Adviser, retired Sudanese diplomat and former senior official at the UN and UNESCO (Moderator)
• Amb. Hesham Youssef, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
• Dr. Seyed Hamzeh Safavi, Director, Institute for Islamic World Futures Studies
• Mr. Cengiz Çandar, Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Stockholm University Institute for Turkish Studies
i) Grassroots participation in the Myanmar peace process
Room: 23
• Ms.Thuzar Thant, EBO Programme Manager (Moderator)
• Mr. Sai Sai Ngin, Director, White Benevolence – Environmental Research and Education, Shan State Common Space
• Mr. Min Htay Aung, Mon State Civilian Ceasefire Monitoring Committee Member, Mon State Common Space
• Ms. Nan Mya Thida, Director, Research Institute for Society and Ecology, Karen State Common Space
• Ms. Nang Phyu Phyu Lin, Gender Advisor to the CSO Forum + Gender Equality Network
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:00-14:45 Parallel thematic sessions 4
j) Lessons in process design and potential for self-mediation (UN advisory and policy)
Room: 23
• Mr. Hannes Siebert, Senior Technical Advisor, Common Space Initiative (Moderator)
• Mr. Andries Odendaal, Senior Associate, Centre for Mediation in Africa, University of Pretoria
• Ms. Roxaneh Bazergan, Senior political affairs officer, UNDPA
• Ms. Luxshi Vimalarajah, Programme Director, Berghof Foundation
• Mr. Jonathan Harlander, HD centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
k) Women shaping the agenda in National Dialogue processes
Room: 15
• Dr. Thania Paffenholz, Director, Inclusive Peace and Transition Initiative at The Graduate Institute (Moderator)
• President Catherine Samba-Panza, Former President of the Central African Republic
• Ms. Nang Lao Liang Won (Tay Tay), Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) & Women’s league of Burma (WLB)
• Ms. Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, Yemeni Writer and Researcher
• Mr. Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj, Senior Coordinator, Syria Initiative, Common Space Initiative
• Amb. Ann-Sofie Stude, UNSCR 1325 National Focal Point, MFA Finland (First commentary)
l) History and narratives in conflict
Room: 3
• Dr. Timo R. Stewart, Researcher (Moderator)
•Dr. Erkki Tuomioja, Former minister, Member of Parliament, Finland
• Dr. Marko Lehti, Academic Director of Master’s Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research, University of Tampere
Ms. Paula Gaviria, Presidential Counsellor on Human Rights of Colombia (Video Greeting)
14:45-15:15 Coffee/Tea break
15:15-16:40 High-level panel: Activating the local level potential for national processes
• H.E. Mme Catherine Samba Panza, former President of Central African Republic
• Ms. Anne Sipiläinen, Under-Secretary of State, MFA Finland
• Mr. Antti Pentikäinen, Executive Director and Convenor, Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers
• Ms. Rina Amiri, Senior Mediation Expert, UN
• Moderator: Ms. Tuija Talvitie, Executive Director, Crisis Management Initiative
16:40-17:00 Reflections and Learning for Future
• Consortium closing remarks: Tuija Talvitie, Executive Director, Crisis Management Initiative
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Closing remarks: Under-Secretary of State Ms. Elina Kalkku
• Masters of Ceremonies
The second National Dialogue Conference, held in November 2015, in particular engaged the latter aspects: what elements come together in designing a national dialogue?
National dialogues are not always termed so; likewise, regardless of the mandate received, the underlying processes are not invalidated. In embracing this diversity of design within national dialogues, the second conference sought to advance and hone the ideas developed in the first conference. As noted, national dialogues were also seen as crucial for establishing inclusion for women, youth and minority groups in wider peace processes. Particularly women’s role in peacemaking and conflict prevention has now been widely recognised by the UN, but ensuring their active inclusion on all stages of national dialogue processes remains an issue.
Once again, providing a space for learning and reflection was a key objective for the conference, coupled with a close examination of emerging cases in Somalia, Myanmar, Yemen and Tunisia. Furthermore, in addition to the reflection achieved substantively, another outcome of the second conference was to solidify the role of the event as a gathering for a wide range of actors to exchange ideas around national dialogues.
The first National Dialogue Conference, held in April 2014, approached the concept with a strong focus on learning: what makes a national dialogue?
There are diverse experiences with national dialogues, and it is impractical to focus on any one model as the way to conduct or support dialogue. By situating the discussion within the field of internal mediation and dialogue processes more widely, the first conference aimed to deepen understanding of best practices and encourage sharing, comparative learning and innovation in the conduct and support to these critical processes.
By delving into the examples of South Africa, Yemen, Myanmar, Syria, the final report of the first conference captures much of the contextual richness of national dialogues in general, and potential for identifying design and analytical elements.