"The second day of the workshops of the project ‘Community Initiatives Based on Mediation Approaches’ focuses on designing initiatives and analyzing community needs

ACT Foundation for Dispute Resolution continues implementing training workshops under the project “Community Initiatives Based on Mediation Approaches to Promote Dialogue and Social Cohesion in Palestinian Society”, funded by the European Union. The second day of the training program marked the transition of participants from exploring community challenges to designing and developing initiatives through a practical methodology based on analysis and planning.

The sessions on the second day focused on enabling participants to accurately define community problems, as the foundation for effective initiatives, helping design interventions that respond to the real needs of society. Participants were introduced to context‑analysis tools, applying internal and external environment analysis (SWOT Analysis), which allowed them to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges related to the proposed initiatives. They also carried out stakeholder analysis to determine relevant actors, their roles, and the extent of their influence and interest in the initiatives.

The workshop further included practical application of the problem tree method, where participants identified the main problem and the affected groups, analyzed its causes and impacts, and then moved on to preparing an objectives tree. This involved formulating the main initiative goal and sub‑goals, linking each goal to a set of interventions and practical activities that could be implemented to achieve the desired results.

This training is part of a series of intensive workshops aimed at developing six community initiatives led by youth, grounded in mediation approaches to address social issues. The initiatives seek to strengthen dialogue and social cohesion through practical and sustainable solutions that respond to local community priorities.