2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. And yet globally, communities continue to suffer the consequences of conflict. This is particularly true for in the Arab States region. In 2023, the ICRC reported  that an estimated 28 percent of non-state armed groups are operating in the Near and Middle East, while according to ACLED, 9 of the top 50 countries experiencing extreme, high, and turbulent levels of conflict are also in the region. As one example, the war in Sudan has displaced nearly 10 million people internally. The impacts of these conflicts reach far beyond borders. Conflicts in the Arab region have caused the world's largest waves of migration and displacement since World War II. Migration and displacement also trigger tensions with host communities who feel forced to adapt to new populations, and often feel in competition for resources.  

Despite the global spotlight on conflict in the Arab States, community members, known as Insider Mediators, are quietly driving peaceful practices in their communities. Insider Mediators are trusted community members who derive their legitimacy and influence from a personal closeness to the parties of the conflict, endowing them with bonds of trust that foster attitudinal changes amongst these key actors. Insider Mediators exist globally and play a vital role in monitoring tensions, analyzing patterns, and intervening swiftly. In fact, when an Insider Mediator is present, the probability of a negotiated agreement increases from 5 percent to 19 percent.  

While mediation and dialogue have historically been used to resolve conflict in the Arab region, traditionally, these mediators are elders, religious or wealthier figures, often male. Insider Mediators offer a new type of mediation accessible to communities. In the Arab States, Insider Mediators include women, men, youth, elders, people with disabilities, religious leaders, academics, activists. They work at a local level and play an important role in conflict mitigation, resolving community disputes before they escalate. In the face of the numerous conflicts in the region, Insider Mediators are now playing a key role in alleviating and mitigating tensions between refugees, migrants and host communities – working tirelessly to strengthen social cohesion on a local level, even in the direst of circumstances.  

On a global level, UNDP has played a leading role in strengthening the practice of insider mediation for over two decades. Today, with support from the EU, UNDP is advancing the practice of insider mediation to address diverse and complex conflicts. This includes providing in-country support across seven contexts, including resolving land-based conflicts in Mali, facilitating civic debates ahead of elections in Peru, and empowering women mediators in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. To complement these efforts, UNDP is building a community of practice for insider mediators, hosting regional knowledge exchanges, developing guidance to support inclusive mediation and even launching a podcast, The Insider: Stories of Building Peace, to raise awareness about the practice of insider mediation (Insider Mediation • A podcast on Spotify for Podcasters)1. Together, these initiatives position insider mediation as a key tool for peacebuilding. 

Within the Arab States, Insider Mediators from Lebanon, Jordan, and Sudan, have now launched the Regional Network of Insider Mediators, with support from UNDP and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Through this network, Insider Mediators can access capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing and small grants for community-led mediation projects. In May, 2024, UNDP hosted a regional dialogue for Insider Mediators to connect, reflect on critical topics, share challenges and explore opportunities, while developing a shared vision for the network. 

Insider mediation is aligned with the New Agenda for Peace which highlights the criticality of peacebuilding from community-level actors. On today’s International Day of Peace, it is essential to acknowledge and honor these and other community efforts for dialogue and peace in the Arab States. Discover their voices below. 

Remi Makhlouf, Insider Mediator, Lebanon