The Talk4Peace project responds to increased interest in the “contribution that mediation can make at all levels of a conflicted society” and to normative commitments to make participation in peacemaking more equitable. While existing research on grassroots inclusion in mediation tends to focus on peace negotiations and efforts leading to a peace agreement, less guidance exists on how to ensure inclusive dialogue in post-agreement peacebuilding. Similarly, while an awareness of the term intersectionality exists amongst mediation practitioners and organisations, limited guidance is found on how to translate this into practice to ensure meaningful participation and inclusive dialogue.

In this Brown Bag Lunch, Dr Heidi Riley (University College Dublin) and Dr Maria Deiana (Queen’s University Belfast) will present a Toolkit for Transformative Mediation in Peacebuilding developed as part of their Talk4Peace research project. Based on insights shared by community mediators, peacebuilders and activists in Northern Ireland, the toolkit outlines innovative strategies for sustaining inclusive dialogue in the aftermath of a peace agreement and for embedding intersectionality in the process.