Evaluation of Search for Common Ground’s support to the formative stages of mediation in Morocco

This internally led evaluation conducted in October 2005 by Alice Rowley and Amine Ghoulidi examined the first phase of SFCG-Morocco’s (SFCG-M) support to the institutionalisation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Morocco. The overall goal of the ADR programme is to improve justice administration in Morocco, and the first and third phases of the programme aim to build the capacity and sharpen the knowledge of Moroccan judges in ADR and mediation. The second phase is oriented towards civil society and lawyers and will provide training in mediation, ADR techniques and mechanisms to these groups. The evaluation was both reflective, assessing the implementation and outcomes achieved to date, and forward-looking, analysing the context and developing recommendations for future phases.
In July 2001, SFCG opened a field office in Morocco and launched a variety of projects to build local capacity in sound conflict management and collaborative planning. Through the phased Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programme described below, SFCG-M is focusing on boosting the government’s efforts in the institutionalisation of mediation by providing the necessary trainings while establishing mechanisms and channels that favour dialogue and collaboration between the directly concerned actors.
The evaluation was undertaken primarily to meet the needs of the SFCG programme team in Morocco.
Key findings included:

• The order and timing of activities for ADR1 was effective. They were well conceived and logically progressed.
• The Working Group (made up of judges and the Ministry of Justice) remained engaged throughout the whole process and found it to be relevant and effective.
• Strong results were achieved with ADR1 participants in terms of changes in awareness and attitudes, although there is now a clear need for a stronger focus on the practical side of mediation skills.
• For institutionalised ADR to be successful in Morocco, other stakeholders need to be brought into the process (civil society organisation and lawyers). There are some tensions among these stakeholders who so far only participated in the final ADR1 activity, a Conference. This event did however stimulate their enthusiasm to learn more about mediation and to collaborate and provides a strong foundation for the next phase – ADR2.

In summary, Phase 1 of the ADR programme succeeded in addressing the needs of the key stakeholders, in terms of providing training as planned. Outcomes identified during the evaluation include substantial changes in the knowledge and attitudes. There are great opportunities for SFCG-Morocco in ADR2 to extend the buy-in for institutionalised mediation in Morocco, as well as the practical skills base, and to stimulate dialogue and consensus along the way.
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