From Mu’awiya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Development Management Board (KTDMB), in collaboration with Mercy Corps, has organized a two-day training programme for senior government officials aimed at strengthening their capacity in conflict management, mediation, and peacebuilding to promote sustainable development and social cohesion.
The training, held at Comfort Hub in Kano, focused on Interest-Based Negotiation and Mediation (IBNM) under the Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience (CPCRR) programme.
Speaking during the opening session, the Executive Director of KTDMB, Dr. Mustapha Shehu, emphasized the strong relationship between peace, security, and development, noting that sustainable food production and improved nutrition can only thrive in a peaceful environment.
Dr. Shehu said discussions with stakeholders on nutrition had highlighted the inseparable link between peace and food security, stressing that farmers must have safe access to their farmlands before communities can achieve adequate nutrition and economic stability.
He noted that stakeholders across various sectors, including education, health, livelihoods, livestock, women affairs, and community development, have critical roles to play in maintaining peace and stability within their communities.
The KTDMB Executive Director also called for proactive measures to sustain the gains of the CPCRR programme beyond its current implementation phase. According to him, the possibility of changes in government leadership in the coming year makes it imperative to institutionalize peacebuilding initiatives and ensure their continuity.
Dr. Shehu further commended women leaders and policy advocates for their contributions to key government reforms, including policies that promote greater female representation in educational administration and initiatives supporting the distribution of sanitary materials to girls in secondary schools.
He added that such stakeholders would continue to serve as a bridge between government and non-governmental actors to ensure the effective implementation of important policies.
The KTDMB chief also acknowledged the role of the media in promoting peace, accountability, and public awareness.
He thanked participants for attending the training and expressed optimism that the programme would strengthen conflict management mechanisms across the state.
The first day of the workshop featured sessions on conflict management, the Interest-Based Negotiation approach, negotiation simulations, and an introduction to Interest-Based Mediation.
Participants were also introduced to the Interest-Based Negotiation and Mediation framework and its seven core elements.
The training was facilitated by conflict resolution experts Lynda Emmanuel and Tig Gang.
Speaking during one of the sessions, Gang traced the origins of the Interest-Based Negotiation approach to the Harvard Negotiation Project, established by legal scholars and conflict-resolution practitioners seeking alternatives to violence and adversarial methods of dispute settlement.
He explained that the methodology has been applied globally in resolving complex disputes and has influenced peace processes in several countries.
According to him, the approach played a role in efforts connected to the resolution of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, negotiations that contributed to ending apartheid in South Africa, and peace initiatives aimed at resolving the long-standing border dispute between Ecuador and Peru.
Gang noted that Mercy Corps adopted the approach following its merger with the Conflict Management Group in 2004 and has since utilized it in peacebuilding and conflict-resolution programmes across different regions of the world.
The CPCRR programme is designed to strengthen community resilience, promote peaceful coexistence, and enhance local capacities for conflict prevention and crisis response in areas affected by insecurity and social tensions.
