Democracy

Facilitation is a specific skill that requires training, know-how and experience. Its independence from the organisation hosting the process ensures its legitimacy and success.

Vulnerabilities with examples:

  • Perceived facilitation biases due to polarisation
  • Ethnic Polarization: Facilitator biases or insensitivity towards ethnic issues.
  • Post-Conflict: Difficulty in maintaining neutrality in charged post-conflict settings.

Mitigating Techniques/Strategies, with Examples:

  • Train facilitators in cultural sensitivity and conflict resolution.
    • ​​In the case of the BiH National Citizens’ Assembly, facilitator training was organised specifically around the polarising issues, and also to allow for teambuilding among co-facilitators.
  • Employ co-facilitation with facilitators from different ethnic or conflict-affected backgrounds.