EVENT

Insider mediators in a new era

How to navigate local dynamics in a politicised world

The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015. The coalition of four civil society organisations acted as insider mediators to resolve the 2013-2014 political crisis in Tunisia.

Our event explored the crucial role of locally embedded mediation and how insider mediators can be better supported in today’s evolving geopolitical context.

Rising political divisions and an increasingly multipolar world are reshaping the mediation landscape. Peacemaking efforts are becoming more top-down, focusing on political elites and prioritising short-term security concerns.

As formal mediation processes become more politicised, fragmented, and externally driven, insider mediators are gaining relevance as credible actors who can sustain dialogue beyond elite bargains and maintain communication where official processes lack access or legitimacy.

Yet, in this context, their role is under increasing pressure, heightening security and psychosocial risks, and constraining their space for engagement.

How does this “new era” affect the work of insider mediators – trusted mediators embedded in their communities – in different parts of the world? How does the growing politicisation of mediation processes affect their legitimacy, agency, and space for engagement across different contexts?

In this event, insider mediators from Belarus, Nigeria, Venezuela, and Yemen shared frontline experiences and insights on how to protect their legitimacy, expand their operational space, and strengthen their impact in the current evolving mediation landscape.