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HomeWho it’s forCommunities & civil society

TN/AUD/09
Edition 2027 · effective 1 January 2027

For communities & civil society

Peace is built street by street, before it is signed treaty by treaty.

Neighbourhoods, faith communities, associations and NGOs hold societies together. When they divide, over a development, a leadership change or a public issue, independent facilitation helps people stay in the same place, with each other.

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§ 01What you really need

Five needs, in your words.

Drawn from how people in your position actually describe the problem, not from procedure.

(Needs)

Being heard

Especially voices that are usually left out.

Safety

Processes that do not expose people to harm.

Legitimacy

A process no faction owns.

Practical outcomes

Agreements people can live with.

Local skills

Community members trained to keep the peace.

What usually goes wrong: leaders taking sides in public; online escalation; consultation after the decision is made.

(Avoid)

Frame your question Commissioning guides

§ 02The cost of waiting

What the evidence says.

Sourced and dated. Use the calculator to estimate your own.

61%

People worldwide with a moderate or high sense of grievance against business, government and the rich.

Edelman Trust Barometer 2025, via Cooley PubCo · 2025 ↗
4 in 10

People who approve of at least one form of hostile activism to drive change (53% of 18–34 year olds).

Edelman Trust Barometer 2025, via Cooley PubCo · 2025 ↗
1 in 6

People worldwide affected by loneliness, linked to an estimated 871,000 deaths a year.

World Health Organization, Commission on Social Connection · 2025 ↗

Estimate what a conflict is costing you →

§ 03Evaluation for you

4 questions people in your position bring to an evaluator.

Choosing between policy options01Public bodies & institutionsEvaluation PanelWhich policy option best meets the stated objectives, on the evidence, and at what cost?Fairness of funding decisions02Public bodies & institutionsClarity Snapshot™Were these grants or funding decisions made fairly and consistently?Independent review of an institution03Public bodies & institutionsEvaluation PanelDid this institution act fairly and within its own rules in this matter?Community impact of a project04Public bodies & institutionsEvaluation PanelWhat will this project mean for the community, and are the claimed benefits and mitigations credible?

§ 04Situations you may face

6 situations where a Neutral helps.

Neighbour disagreement01Personal & familyMediation · Neutral EvaluationA boundary, a noise, a tree, a wall. Small things become large when you share a fence for years.Nonprofit and association governance02Boards & governanceFacilitation · Neutral Chairing · OmbudsA mission-driven organisation is divided over how to pursue its mission.A development the community disputes03Community & public lifeFacilitation · Neutral Evaluation · MediationA new road, plant or building is planned. The people who live there were not part of the plan.Multi-stakeholder policy dialogue04Community & public lifeFacilitation · Neutral Chairing · Neutral EvaluationMany interests must shape one policy. None of them trusts the others’ process.Tension within a community05Community & public lifeFacilitation · MediationA neighbourhood, faith group or community organisation is dividing.School and campus conflict06Community & public lifeMediation · Ombuds · FacilitationStudents, parents, teachers and leaders disagree, and learning suffers.

§ 05Roles that fit

The Neutral roles people like you use most.

  1. FacilitationHow does a group move forward together?01
  2. MediationCan we reach an agreement we both choose?02
  3. OmbudsWhere can someone raise a concern safely and informally?03

§ 06How we can help

Evaluation services for people in your position.

Scoped fixed fee or capped day rates

Evaluation Panels

Two or three qualified evaluators from different disciplines, one chairing, who report jointly. A selective, high-value format for major projects, AI systems, institutional reviews and public decisions, where specialist recruitment and governance are demanding.

Fixed quote after conflict and scope review

Clarity Snapshot™

A short, reasoned written view on a single, precisely framed question, within tight limits agreed at scope review: a small document set, no interviews and no findings of fact on contested evidence. It is not a substitute for a full evaluation, an investigation or regulated specialist work.

First stepsFor communities & civil society
Three thingsto do this week.
01 Listen to each group separately first
02 Bring in an independent facilitator
03 Train local peer mediators
Clarity first · keep options open · make fairness visible

§ 07Frame your question

Describe it. Get the evaluation question.

Written for communities & civil society. Leave out names and confidential details.

Write in your own words. Leave out names and confidential details.

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The answer

Choose who you are and ask anything. The engine answers from the institution’s own guidance, in plain language.

§ 08Read next

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