In a time of increasing geopolitical divides, the role of CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation as an independent peacemaker has become ever more relevant and valuable. CMI’s work produces sustainable results in favour of peace. These are the key findings of an independent evaluation assessing CMI’s programme ‘The Missing Peace 2022-2025’.
The evaluation assesses CMI’s work at the midway point of its four-year programme, which is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The evaluation was done by Dr. Ian Wadley who works as an independent consultant. The evaluation assesses CMI’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and learning as an organization.
The assessment finds that CMI has managed to adapt to a new, volatile world. A key challenge in this world is geopolitical polarization. In the last decade, multilateral institutions such as the United Nations have been placed under increasing pressure by competition between states. This competition has narrowed the official diplomatic space available for the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
As a result, “actors such as CMI become ever more relevant and valuable as a means through which all parties can discreetly resolve disputes, avoid armed conflict, and find mutually acceptable ways to de-escalate hostilities.” The report defines CMI as one of the few actors able to mediate discreetly across geopolitical and regional divides. “CMI is well-placed to continue finding innovative ways to build bridges across conflict in favour of peace and stability.”
The current geopolitical polarisation is reflected in the fragmented and increasingly localised character of conflict. The evaluation observes that CMI remains relevant to the needs and priorities of local communities and populations by creating opportunities for dialogue for groups that are often excluded.
The evaluation also emphasizes how CMI has rapidly adapted to the diversification of mediation actors and experiment with innovative technologies. In recent years, states such as China, Saudi-Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Türkiye have played a more active role and strengthened their positions alongside the Western countries that traditionally engage in peace mediation.
As Western diplomatic actors have been obliged to carefully formulate a balanced approach to engage with these actors, CMI’s agility, discretion, and rapid adaptation has proven valuable, the evaluation finds. “CMI anticipated the rise of these new mediation actors and its significance, and moved early to engage with them, ensuring that CMI’s efforts to promote peace are well-adapted to the changing realities of the international system.”
CMI should focus on maintaining its independence and impartiality as it engages with different mediation actors, the evaluation recommends.
Sustainable results for peace
The evaluation also concludes that CMI’s collaboration with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland is working well. This is thanks to the flexible engagement and ongoing commitment of both. “With sufficient communication, it is reasonable to expect that this collaboration will continue to sustain and strengthen the Finnish peace mediation tradition, affirming Finland as an influential leader in peace diplomacy.”
The evaluation indicates that CMI is efficient and effective as a partner, reporting valid and valued results. During the past decade, increasing demand for CMI’s work has created rapid organizational growth. CMI’s growth is deemed a significant success, given that the overall funding for peace mediation work has declined. This shows that CMI is regarded by donors as both effective and efficient in the field of peacemaking.
The evaluation finds that CMI’s work continues to produce results in favour of peace. CMI’s contributions for peace have produced better processes, agency and practices in peacemaking. The results contribute to achieving Finland’s Development Policy objectives and UN Sustainable Development goals related to more peaceful and democratic societies and the empowerment and protection of women and girls in conflicts.
According to the evaluation, CMI’s independence, impartiality, long-term focus, trusted networks, and empowerment of local actors make its results more sustainable.
Read the full evaluation here.