From October 2016 to March 2017, the Danish Demining Group (DDG) implemented a conflict mediation training program in Afghanistan as part of a Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) project. This initiative aimed to equip community leaders, elders, and aid workers with conflict resolution skills tailored to Afghanistan’s unique social and cultural context.
The program was developed in collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (CICR).
Preparations began in December 2016, with CICR trainer Joyce Abarbanel coaching DDG’s Armed Violence Reduction (AVR) Advisor via Skype. Together, they adapted materials, refined role plays, and ensured the training was relevant for participants in Afghanistan. The sessions were later facilitated by Jérôme Grimaud, a certified CICR trainer and international consultant, alongside DDG’s global AVR Advisor.
Adapting Conflict Mediation to the Afghan Context
Delivering effective training in Afghanistan presented unique challenges, including literacy barriers, language translation, and cultural expectations around conflict resolution.
The five-day training was originally designed as a 40-hour program, but adjustments were made due to security concerns and transportation difficulties. Participants, many traveling from remote areas, requested shorter training hours, leading to a 35-hour format that was maintained across six training sessions.
Additionally, because many participants were illiterate, the training relied on verbal instruction, group exercises, and live demonstrations rather than written materials. Instead of using CICR’s standard role plays (such as Alligator River), participants shared their own real-life conflict stories, which were used as case studies for practical learning.
Training Content and Approach
The training introduced participants to key conflict resolution concepts, including:
Types of conflict in Afghanistan
The difference between arbitration and mediation
Essential qualities of a mediator
Active listening and communication skills
The Conflict Mountain model (Three layers of conflict)
The mediation process and how to prepare for it
A participatory, hands-on approach ensured that participants were actively involved in learning. Through role plays, group discussions, and practical exercises, they developed mediation skills in a way that was relevant to their daily lives.
To provide additional context, representatives from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Haj in Herat and Kabul were invited to share insights on formal justice systems and Islamic perspectives on peace-making.
Overcoming Language Barriers
Translation played a crucial role in the training’s success. Selected materials from CICR’s Third Party Neutral (TPN) 1 manual were translated into Dari, and a 20-page adapted version was distributed to participants. Flipcharts, handwritten notes, and real-time translations were used throughout the sessions, ensuring accessibility for both Dari and Pashto-speaking participants.
Despite the challenges of translation, this approach allowed the training to remain interactive and engaging, preventing loss of nuance in discussions and role plays.
Who Participated?
A total of 140 participants (116 men, 24 women) completed the training and 139 received certificates. The participants included:
Community leaders: Elders, members of Shuras, and tribal leaders
Religious leaders: Mullahs who also held leadership roles
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees
DRC-DDG staff from various departments (protection, emergency aid, and livelihoods)
Volunteers and staff from organizations such as the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), NRC, and national mine action organizations
Despite efforts to encourage women’s participation, cultural norms limited their representation to 17% of attendees. In many Afghan communities, women traditionally do not serve as mediators, making their involvement in this training particularly significant.
Impact and Feedback
Initial skepticism was common. Many participants questioned the need for formal mediation training, as conflict resolution had long been practiced in Afghanistan through traditional systems. They viewed mediators as community influencers, expected to advise, decide, and propose solutions, rather than facilitating neutral discussions.
However, as the training progressed, perspectives began to shift. Participants started recognizing the benefits of a neutral, impartial approach to mediation—one that empowers conflicting parties to find their own solutions, rather than relying on external judgments.
Measuring Learning Outcomes
To assess the effectiveness of the training, participants completed pre- and post-tests, with results showing a significant improvement in knowledge:
Training Session | Pre-Test Score (%) | Post-Test Score (%) |
Training 1 | 30% | 78% |
Training 2 | 34% | 66% |
Training 3 | 32% | 73% |
Training 4 | 28% | 74% |
Training 5 | 28% | 80% |
Training 6 | 33% | 79% |
Evaluations also revealed that nearly all participants found the training relevant to Afghan culture and over 50% rated it as highly useful for resolving conflicts in their communities.
Conclusion
The collaboration between CICR and DDG demonstrated how conflict mediation training can be adapted to complex environments like Afghanistan. By integrating local perspectives, overcoming language barriers, and addressing cultural expectations, the program provided valuable skills to 140 participants, helping them mediate conflicts more effectively in their communities.
As Afghanistan continues to navigate social and political challenges, building local capacity for conflict resolution remains crucial—and initiatives like this play a vital role in fostering peace and stability at the grassroots level.
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