CNDR Hosts International Training Program

CNDR International Trainees Visit the Ninth Circuit

A prestigious group of judges, lawyers, and mediators took part in Promoting Mediation through Private and Court-Connected Mediation Centers: Lessons from the U.S. and other Leading Mediation Jurisdictions, a three-day training at UC Law San Francisco, September 13-15, 2023. The training was hosted by the Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR), in collaboration with The JAMS Foundation.

Continuing a long tradition of hosting and educating international visitors at CNDR, the training focused on how to cultivate a robust mediation ecosystem in participants’ home countries through the establishment of effective mediation centers. Top-level U.S. and international experts drawn from the court system, private ADR institutions, the World Bank, and universities shared best practices and lessons learned from decades of mediation reform experience.

Participants hailed from Argentina, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Hungary, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon/United Arab Emirates Mali, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Sierra Leone, Vietnam, and Zambia. Several participants were selected from the prestigious Weinstein JAMS International Fellowship Program. Among other things, participants learned about:

• How to design and set goals for a successful private or court-annexed mediation center,
• the pros and cons of mandatory versus voluntary mediation referral systems,
• how to select, manage, and support a panel of mediators,
• considerations for data collection and ongoing evaluation, and
• how to grow a market for mediation services.

What participants are saying:

“The training was beyond my expectations, excellent organization, with thoughtful and thought-provoking sessions.” – Zainab Jawara Alami, Weinstein JAMS Fellow (The Gambia, 2023)

 “The of presentations and the diversity of the participants were of great value.”  – Constantin-Adi Gavrilӑ, Romania, Weinstein JAMS Fellow (Romania, 2017); Senior Fellow, Weinstein International Foundation

 “Excellent opportunity to meet and exchange with highest level professionals!” – Giorgi Tsertsvadze, Weinstein JAMS Fellow (Georgia, Class 2016); Senior Fellow, Weinstein International Foundation

Learn more about the 2023 program sessions, presenters, and participants