ANNUAL REPORT INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND COMMON GROUND
2018
Content Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 About IPCG.......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Our fields of expertise ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Network of practitioners .................................................................................................................................. 1 IPCG in faces ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 Accomplishments .............................................................................................................................................. 1 2018 Financial overview.................................................................................................................................... 1 Future Goals ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction 2018 was a turning point for IPCG. We faced challenges on professional and organizational levels. Current situation in Ukraine showed us that we need to modify our approaches in work and organizational structure according to current demand to organization working with conflicts. To answer challenges, we started our transformation from revision of our mission and strategic plan. It helped us to priorities our spheres of interests. We turned our focus more toward peace making processes and soft security issues. This year we worked on
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Involvement of communities’ members into work with safety & security issues. We helped to develop safety strategies for communities and see security challenges and risks from different lances and prepares number of tools which communities can use to increase their capacities to resist polarization factors and security threats;
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Prevention of the proliferation of violent conflict by helping communities to establish their own conflict resolution mechanisms, which enable inclusion of different stakeholder groups, and foster dialogue and collaboration between them;
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Preparation of the ground for the piloting of new “Restorative school” concept; Extending our partners and experts network, involving newer for us local experts into our work and bringing new international partners and experts.
The report reflects all transformations IPCG went through this year, presents our achievements and future goals. 1
About IPCG The Institute for Peace and Common Ground (IPCG) is a leading Ukrainian nongovernmental, non-profit organization that specialises in facilitation and dialogue with a view to helping groups and communities achieve positive and sustainable change. Originally formed as the Ukrainian Centre of Common Ground, IPCG has 20 years of experience of introducing and promoting participatory and restorative practices, including community-based juvenile crime prevention, mediation, family group conferences and decision-making circles. IPCG works in communities and schools in 17 regions of Ukraine.
“We help to find common ground in situations of conflict and decision-making processes” We are a group of professionals who work professionally on understanding through learning and rebuilding / rebuilding interaction at the level of individuals, communities and the country at large, trying to change the work approach from a missionary “ready answers” to a joint search for future & shared vision of people and communities. We exist for individuals and groups who have a request for assistance in transformation of conflicts in decision-making and social crises at the local, regional and national levels in education, restorative justice, decentralization and overcoming the manifestations of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine We are working on conflict transformation and negative individual or group experience through facilitation, "restorative mediation", training and dialogue.
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Our fields of expertise Restorative practices in communities We strive for positive changes in the environment of every person, their development and creation of a socially conscious society of the country. The development of people through the learning of the art of dialogue is the key area of the "Institute for Peace and Common Ground." The process comprises a combination of a variety of techniques and procedures ranging from training to mediation - that helps people understand and, therefore, develop a safe community and create a climate of peace and support. In the framework of this direction, IPCG is engaged in activities aimed at strengthening the peacekeeping capacity of communities. Implementation of restorative justice Restorative justice – is a process, managed by a mediator, due to which a delinquent and a victim discuss together the situation that has occurred and decide about further resolution of a conflict and restoration of harm. This approach allows participants to make their own decisions to resolve conflict and to take responsibility for consequences of this situation. A court usually takes this decision into account during sentencing. Practices that are used in restorative justice are the following: • • • •
mediation between a victim and delinquent, circle of social justice, family conference, forum of civic justice.
Restorative practices in schools This direction of the IPCG activity – implementation of restorative practices at schools – is a holistic and comprehensive approach that combines the efforts of school administration, staff, parents and pupils for building an atmosphere of respect, care and responsibility. The key element – is formation of school services for common ground (SSCG) – platforms, where trained studet-mediators help their peers to resolve conflicts through co-operation. This allows children to take responsibility for solving conflicts, to find a common ground with peers and build relationships in the co-operative manner. Practices that are used in the school services for common ground are: • • •
peer mediation, circles, conferencing (with the assistance from an SSCG Coordinator – usually School psychologist).
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Network of practitioners IPCG works through an extensive network of experts, dialogue facilitators and regional members whose work includes mediating community-based multi-party negotiations in cross-cultural contexts, facilitating organizational development processes, and providing education and training on conflict resolution, mediation, and negotiation. In total, the network encompasses 17 regional organizations and some 30 civil society activists committed to working for peace and common ground in their communities. IPCG maintains this network by providing regular training on mediation or dialogue facilitation, mentorship, methodological assistance to its members and communication via joint web-platforms. IPCG is looking to institutionalise this network by establishing a resource centre or a network hub that would better be able to meet the capacity needs of its members.
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IPCG in faces Organisation structure
Team In 2018 IPCG team extended. We are 10 persons in core team. Roman Koval – Head of the Board, leading expert on restorative practices, mediator, trainer Alyona Horova – Board Member, leading expert on restorative practices and leading methodologist for IPCG training programs, mediator, trainer Lisa Koval –Expert on restorative practices in schools, mediator Iryna Gorova – Executive Director of IPCG Daria Bielinska – Projects Coordinator Olga Kotyuk (Korablyova) - Projects Coordinator Viktoria Sheret – Projects Coordinator Oleksand Ostapa – PR Manager Myroslava Statkevych/Anna Silvertyuk– Administrative Assistant Inna Vyshnyak - Accountant
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Accomplishments Restorative Practices in communities
✓ 11 communities built capacity to resist polarization factors and security threats; ✓ There are 11 communities from all over Ukraine (represented by such stakeholders as NGOs, local authorities, heads of local self-governance, local police departments etc.) have individual development plans tailored for each community based on the results of assessment on security threats;
✓ 11 communities have developed the potential to implement security initiatives with help of IPCG;
✓ 8 security strategies were designed. Five of them lay the foundation for local government programs on security, benefiting over 300 000 citizens in total;
✓ A network of more than 200 stakeholders from across Ukraine established to exchange experience and support each other. This network includes specialists in a sphere of local community security (representatives of CSOs, activists, police and local self-government);
✓ Developed recommendations to local Authorities how apply dialogue instrument to the conflicts and decision making processes. As well as recommendations how to organise sustainable financing to dialogue initiatives within the community;
✓ Successfully tested new model of dialogue initiatives groups aiming to reduce pressure caused by conflict in communities in Donetsk and Kherson regions;
✓ Helped to institutionalize dialogue approach to conflict resolution and decision making in 4 communities in Donetsk and Kherson region (Chaplynka Local Council adopted relevant amendments to the Statute of community for the first time in Ukraine;
✓ Designed self-assessment tool for dialogue practitioners; ✓ Translated and prepared learning materials for dialogue facilitators (1.Translated into UA and RUS “Little book of dialogue for difficult subjects”, Lisa Schirch (Author), David Campt (Author) 2. Materials on Basics of dialogue facilitation (compilation of materials for dialogue facilitators and practitioners)3. Translated into UA “Building Cohesive Community”,Nicola Sungden);
✓ IPCG designed methodology for the assessment of conflict potential, needs of conflict affected communities base on participatory approach;
✓ IPCG mapped conflict potential and communities needs of 20 communities in Donetsk and Lugansk region IPCG has prepared the list of people recommended for the future engagements in dialogue & development initiatives upon UNDP request;
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Implementation of restorative justice
✓ IPCG as part of the Coordination Council established by the Ministry of Justice to develop a system of juvenile offenders diversion from the Criminal Justice System of Ukraine participated in corresponding legislation development;
✓ In June 2018 IPCG helped to develop and implement a pilot project on juvenile justice together with DEJURE and Free Legal Aid Services of Ukraine;
✓ IPCG experts trained 100 lawyers to become mediators in criminal cases for juveniles in 4 pilot regions (Mykolaiv, Odesa, Lviv and Kharkiv);
✓ Within project with GIZ was trained 100 employees of CSSFChY employees in dealing with family disputes from 5 regions (Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipro, Zaporiziia, Luhansk);
✓ More than 100 families already benefited from trained employees of CSSFChY. Restorative practices in schools
✓ Signed Memorandum of cooperation with Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ukrainian scientific and methodological Center of practical psychology and social work of the NAPS of Ukraine and SSA “Institute for the Modernization of Educational Content”, forumZFD Program Office in Ukraine, CPS Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. In this Memorandum parties agreed on general conditions of cooperation, rights and obligations within implementation of the future project “Restorative school”(non official name “Peaceful school”). Ministry agreed that within the educational system of Ukraine project it will will receive official status of national-wide experiment;
✓ IPCG developed new concept of Restorative School, which will be piloted during 2019/2020 in 10 ukrainian schools;
✓ Opened 10 new School Centres for Common Ground with the help of IPCG
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2018 Financial overview
IPCG was successful in attracting findings in 2018. Mainly we received funds from foreign national aid agencies from several governments and UNDP. Total income of IPCG in 2018 is 13 059 889, 84 UAH
Expenditure in 2018 in total 12 607 414,18 UAH 90% in 2018 Restorative practices in communities
10 %
Restorative justice& Restorative practices in schools
Expenditure in 2017 in total 4 105 305 UAH 2% RP in schools in 2017
98% in 2017 Restorative practices in communities
We received funding last year from:
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British Embassy in Kyiv (The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office) Renaissance Foundation
United Nations Development Programe GIZ Forum ZFD
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Future Goals Extend IPCG community of professionals and network of partners IPCG recognises that people are the best of its value. Next year we will continue to extend our team and network with the best experts and professionals. We are aiming to build long lasting productive partnerships with local institutions, civil society organisations, international organisations, foreign aid agencies and international donors working with restorative practices and peacebuilding. It is important for IPCG to contribute to effort and do not replicate the work done already by other parties. We will also continue to improve the unique educational environment of IPCG with a greater number of internal and external training to improve team members skills and dynamic project experiences. Our strategic goal is to provide team and experts from our network with capabilities for the growth and adventures that they need to help IPCG succeed with its mission. Build safe communities Safety is one of the basic needs of a person. We see huge importance in building capacities of communities to resist polarization factors and security threats. We believe that safe community – resilient community
Contribute to the development of public discus about transitional justice Despite the fact that active military actions are still happening on the East of Ukraine, Ukrainians should start to think what to do with persons who participated in military actions and committed crimes against Ukraine, or supported separation of Donbass and Crime. IPCG want to contribute towards discussion on transitional justice processes and development of unique contextual approach to them. Contribute to the ground work for reconciliation processes in Ukraine The demand for reconciliation grew during 2018 despite continues military actions. Restorative practices are good response to challenges Ukraine faces today – reintegration of IDPs and ex-combatants, polarization within communities. We already started to prepare the ground for the future reconciliation process in Ukraine such as dialogue initialisation and work with your generation, and we want to double our efforts and contribution next year. 9