Mediation Road Map:

Overview

Mediation Road Map

Mediators Opening Remarks
Post-Mediation
Peacebuilding Activities

Healing and
Reconciliation

Writing and Signing

of Agreement

Parties Sharing of
Perspectives on the
Problem
Mediators Summary of
Issues

Reaching Closure
(Summarizing and Packaging
Agreements)

Problem Solving on Each

Issue
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1. Mediators Opening Remarks

Purpose:
Establish a positive negotiation
atmosphere.
Ensure that the parties know the goals
and process of the mediation process,
their roles, and the roles of the mediator.
Elicit commitment to the groundrules and
process of mediation.
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Procedure
1. Introduce self/selves and parties.
2. Explain the goals of mediation
3. Explain mediation as a voluntary and
confidential process
4. Explain the role of the mediator (impartial
facilitator) and the of the parties (decisionmakers)
5. Give an overview of the mediation process
6. Explain the importance of caucus
7. Get their commitment to the groundrules
and the mediation process
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2. Parties Sharing of their Perspectives

Purpose:

Develop a common picture of the situation

Identify the issues to be addressed
Identify the parties interests
Help the parties feel heard.
Help the parties express their feelings productively
and have these feelings acknowledged.
Help parties begin to understand and respect each
others perceptions and needs
Reduce the parties adversarial mindset and let the
see themselves as joint problem solvers
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Procedure
1. Select a party to begin.
2. Actively listen, summarize at key points, ask
probing and clarifying questions to draw out
more information.
3. Reframe negative statements.
4. Summarize issues and interests of the party.
5. Ask the other party if they want to ask any
question to obtain clarification.
6. Repeat the process with the other party.
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3.

Mediators Summary of Issues

Purpose:
Make sure all the issues are on the
negotiating table.
Get the agreement of the parties as to
what the issues are.
Set an agenda for problem solving.

Procedure
1. Make a final summary of the collective
issues and interests expressed.
2. State issues in neutral form.
3. Ask parties if there is/are anything else
that they want to address.

4. Problem Solving
Purpose:
1. Facilitate the process of coming out with mutually
acceptable solutions to the problem.
* To have the parties do the work
* To consider multiple options
* To be creative.
2. Ensure that the negotiation/mediation outcome is
not a simple compromise settlement but a solution
that: a) meets both parties common interests; b)
parties can and will implement; and c) does not
circumvent the law.
3. Have the parties participate in a mutually
acceptable and gainful negotiation process.
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Procedure
1. Pick the first issue (easy one, logical
sequence, a bee in their bonnet)
2. Frame the issue
3. Review/explore interests of parties
4. Develop common principles and objective
criteria
5. Facilitate the generation of options
(brainstorming process); combine
compatible options
6. Evaluate the options (based on which one
satisfies interests and respects objective
criteria)
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Procedure
7. Help parties develop an elegant solution
to their problems
. Ask them to modify options to make
them better meet their needs.
. Make suggestions without taking control
(ask leading questions that give them
clues, make multiple contradictory
suggestions)
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5. Reaching Closure
Review agreements on first issue
Move to other issues and process in
similar fashion
Put all agreements into a package, review
them, and talk about their implementation
(who will do what, when, where, and how).

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6.

The Values of a Written Agreement

It clearly spells out what the parties have

agreed. The written documentation
prevents misunderstanding.
Having to write down the agreement
enables the mediator to insist that
disputants review the details of each issue
and commit themselves out loud.
It gives the parties a real sense of closure
and accomplishment. It is a tangible
product of their work at the mediation
table.
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Post-Mediation
Post-mediation monitoring and evaluation
mechanism and procedures have to be
established so as to ensure compliance of
parties with the agreement, identify factors
that hinder effective implementation of
agreement, and move the mediation
process and output towards healing and
reconciliation, and peace.
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THANK YOU!

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