Sumit Bisarya
Mr. Bisarya has over twenty years’ experience supporting the rule of law and good governance, and over fifteen years focused on advising on constitutional processes. Mr. Bisarya has supported national actors engaged in constitutional reform in a range of countries and contexts including Bangladesh, Barbados, Chile, Haiti, Jamaica, Myanmar, Nepal, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka and Ukraine. Recently he has also been engaged in supporting the international community following unconstitutional changes of government in Burkina Faso and Mali. In 2020-2021, Mr.
Digital Technologies and Mediation in Armed Conflict
At the second meeting of his High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation on 18 June 2018 in Helsinki, United Nations Secretary-General
António Guterres tasked the Mediation Support Unit (MSU) in the United Nations Department for Political and Peacebuilding
Affairs (UN DPPA) and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) to develop a Toolkit on the role of digital technologies in armed
conflict mediation. Over the course of several months, MSU/UN DPPA and HD engaged with a range of mediation experts – through
Digital Technologies and Mediation in Armed Conflict
This Toolkit is intended for mediators. Together with its accompanying report, it assesses opportunities and risks related to the use of digital technologies in mediation contexts. It also provides concrete examples and advice from practitioners and experts.
Interactive Guidance on Mediation of Ceasefires
The Guidance helps mediators prepare for and implement ceasefire agreements, offering options to strengthen inclusion—particularly women’s participation. Drawing on global examples, it outlines common technical elements, credible monitoring mechanisms, and is now available in an interactive format optimized for all devices.
Andrea Dekrout
Andrea Dekrout (Austria – Climate Change, Environment & Natural Resources): Ms. Dekrout has over 15 years of experience working on issues of environment, climate, peace and security in humanitarian and development settings. Ms. Dekrout worked with NGOs in the Pacific supporting post-conflict communities through peace-positive climate change adaptation in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. In 2015 she joined UNHCR, developing climate adaptation and environmental interventions in Africa and Asia to promote peaceful co-existence in forced displacement settings.
Issaka Souaré
ISSAKA SOUARÉ (Guinea – Process Design) has, in the past four years, served as an independent senior governance and mediation advisor. He worked on the operationalisation of the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT), and advised, from mid-2022 to early 2023, the Trilateral Mechanism composed of the UN, AU and IGAD in their facilitation efforts of dialogue between Sudanese actors in Khartoum.
Christina Shaheen
CHRISTINA SHAHEEN (USA – Gender & Inclusion) has extensive experience in mediation and negotiation, with a focus on Women, Peace and Security and ensuring women’s meaningful participation in Track I processes. She has advised on mediation and dialogue processes related to Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, Sudan and Syria, and has broader experience in supporting multi-track engagement of youth and civil society in the MENA region.
Aleu Garang
Mr. Garang served as the Head of IGAD Political Affairs and Peacebuilding (PAP) in 2024, IGAD Ambassador and Head of Mission to the Republic of South Sudan from 2020 to 2023, as well as the Director of the IGAD Mediation Support Unit since 2013. Mr. Garang has extensive experience in preventive diplomacy and mediation. He supported IGAD-led mediation processes in South Sudan from 2014 to 2018 and provided technical assistance to the South Sudan-led mediation on the conflict in Sudan from 2018 to 2020. From 2002 to 2013, Mr.