CIIAN

CIIAN's Special Programs focuses on the development of special resources such as research papers, manuals, and videos. It also sponsors speaker series and dialogues as well as the design of innovative training workshops.

Our Special Programs emerge from current issues and trends, as well as being responsive to client needs.

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Current Courses

Specialized One Day Mediation Clinics

CIIAN now offers specialized one day mediation clinics to practitioners who wish to sharpen and deepen their mediation and conflict resolution knowledge and skills. These clinics cover specific areas identified by the participants as important to their professional development and are especially attractive to:

1. Corporate program administrators seeking to enhance the general level of their practitioners, or to raise the level of newer practitioners to existing standards.
2 Practice groups that wish to realize efficient and focused education and training.
3 Individual practitioners, who wish to realize the benefits of sharp, focused interactive training without committing to extended absences from work.
4.Individuals with personalized learning plans that allow for creative and specialized professional development.
5.Individuals with specific curriculum requirements to obtain recognized professional ADR designations.

Since these clinics are responsive to client needs, the topics will vary widely from clinic to clinic but some specific topics which have been of interest to our clients have included:

Importance of assessment prior to intervention
Power
Dealing with lawyers and other representatives, including the question of whether and when lawyers or representatives should be present
Dealing with positional bargainers
Use of adversarial tactics in a collaborative process
Being an authentic mediator
Ethical questions faced by the mediator
Multi-party multi-issue mediation
The use of silence in mediation
Substantive vs. procedural knowledge: do mediators need both?
Use of the single text document
Use of electronic media in mediating agreements and facilitating consensus
Involvement in implementation of decisions reached in mediation

These clinics can be held in Ottawa, Toronto and London, Ontario for a fixed daily cost per participant (minimum of 4 participants needed per session) and at other locations as arranged.

The cost of these one day clinics is $600 per day per participant. Outside Ottawa, Toronto and London extra expenses may be negotiated.

Please contact us for further information.

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Course Descriptions

From Conflict to Collaboration

CIIAN is in the process of developing a one day "From Conflict to Collaboration" workshop which will focus on teaching organizational leaders how to channel the power of conflict toward making better decisions, to move from conflict resolution to organizational improvement.

The workshop will deal with the benefits and challenges of such an approach and seeks to stretch the comfort level of organizational leaders when dealing with parties' advisors in mediation.

The Power Clinic for Mediators

During this engaging workshop, Dr. Ben Hoffman, President of CIIAN, will present his views on how and why he now breaks all the rules of mediation to help his clients as they dispute on what he calls the "power axis".

Based on his findings as a mediator with experience in conflicts ranging from violence in the home to aggravated political conflict and war, Ben will argue that at the heart of conflict is power. Three principle forms of power will be outlined, and the challenges, tools and techniques for moving parties from destructive to constructive use of power will be explored. Participants will examine the implications for their own practice as "third party neutrals", challenged to address power imbalances at, and away from the table.

Use of the "power axis" in personal development and organizational transformation will be introduced.

This advanced level one-day course is for anyone who is interested in the role of power in mediation. Interested participants should have a thorough understanding of mediation theory and skills.

Violence Prevention: Theory-Informed Practice

This course gives participants a comprehensive framework and practical skills to link Early Warning to Early Response through holistic multi-sectoral, multi-level interventions. The course emphasizes practical ways to apply theory on the ground and at strategic levels. The assertion that you cannot prove success in prevention is challenged through a focus on power and violence. The role of the "Peace Guerrilla" is outlined including peace advocacy skills and action. Both operational and structural recent research and lessons from a demonstration case in West Africa are highlighted, especially the relationship between security and development and role of local actors.

This 3 day course is for anyone who is or will be working on violence prevention at the international level.

Negotiating Agreements In Conflict Settings

This five day, dynamic course gives participants a set of key skills to meet the challenges of working in high conflict, violent settings. These "toxic" environments can challenge our negotiation skills, can cause personal stress, decreased efficiency, and even team breakdown resulting in compromised or failed projects. Personal and organizational readiness are required. The course is interactive, experiential and on the leading edge of practice.

Mid- and Senior-level individuals involved in all aspects of international development (emergency relief to long-term reconstruction) and peacebuilding in conflict settings.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS