ACCORD participated in the Mediation Support Network’s (MSN) Annual Meeting that took place from 03 – 05 June 2026 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The meeting which was jointly hosted by the MSN Secretariat, and Zimbabwe Institute, explored the evolving role of insider mediation and identified key priorities to strengthen mediation practice at the community level.
The MSN is a global Network of non-governmental organisations that support peace processes with a specific focus on mediation. The Network convenes annually to exchange experiences, share lessons learned, and explore collaborative approaches to improving mediation practices. In addressing this year’s theme, Advancing Insights on Insider Mediation,
the sessions focused on the current state of play in peace mediation and how it relates to insider mediation. Participants reflected on the contributions of traditional leaders in community-level mediation, drawing on practical insights and lived experiences.
The session on the roles and positionalities of traditional leaders enabled the MSN members to critically reflect on their own collaborative efforts and partnerships, while discussions on youth and insider mediation underscored opportunities and challenges facing young people and their role as peacebuilders and mediators.
The meeting concluded with participants identifying key institutional priorities to inform future programming of their mediation work, as well as recommendations to strengthen the Network’s collective effectiveness in supporting mediation practices globally.
ACCORD remains engaged with the Network to ensure that African experiences and lessons contribute to a global discourse on mediation practices.
