Cooperation with the United Nations

CMI was founded by a former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), President Ahtisaari. Since our establishment, we have sought ways in which we can support the valuable efforts by the UN to resolve conflicts and ensure sustainable peace around the world.

Our cooperation with the UN has grown significantly over the years and now ranges from policy advice and exchange of information to concretely supporting peace initiatives on the ground. Our work with the UN includes:

• being one of the key partners of the UN Mediation Support Unit as a provider of training on mediation and dialogue skills and approaches. In this capacity, we provide among others various mediation and dialogue trainings for UN high-level officials in the field
• supporting increased capacities in gender-sensitive and inclusive mediation among UN high-level mediators together with UN DPA and the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Between 2013 – 2015, six seminars gathering a total of 120-150 UN mediators and mediation team members will be held in Finland and Norway.
• close cooperation with various UN entities, including regular dialogue with the UN Department of Political Affairs (UN DPA)
• concrete support to local UN mediation processes

CMI is also the only Finnish representative at the UN-led international Mediation Support Network. As such we have, among others, provided expert advice in the preparation of the UN Guidance for Effective Mediation and supported the UN in disseminating it in Europe, Middle East and elsewhere.