Mediation Support
The Mediation Support and Policy Directorate is the nerve centre of HD’s strategy, innovation and excellence.
HD’s mediation support team – MESU – is based in Geneva. It helps ensure HD programmes are aligned with HD’s global strategy and adapt to the changing nature of conflicts.
MESU supports HD country teams by helping to convene meetings and workshops, developing process design options, and providing technical expertise. It also works with teams to strengthen gender-responsive and inclusive approaches.
MESU leads a thematic hub that brings together expertise on key issues in mediation processes worldwide. This includes ceasefires, maritime security, environment and climate, as well as organised crime and illicit economies.
To support accountability and effectiveness, MESU helps HD teams with project design, monitoring and evaluation. It draws on a tailored M&E toolbox and a dedicated framework to track and validate results.
To promote learning and innovation, MESU hosts internal learning workshops and runs courses for HD staff to strengthen core mediation skills, deepen expertise, and grapple with emerging trends in mediation practice.
As a contribution to the wider peacemaking community, MESU represents HD in mediation events, maintains relationships with peer organisations and with experts in diplomacy, research and the humanitarian sector, and publishes the flagship Mediation Practice Series and other reports.
MESU also organises the annual Oslo Forum, co-hosted by HD and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Launched in 2003, the Forum brings together senior mediators and decision-makers for high-level retreats to reflect on mediation practice, develop new approaches, and advance negotiations in specific processes.
