With the support of the USAID Rule of Law Program and the Mediators Association of Georgia (MAG), thirty-two Georgian mediators had an opportunity to learn more about mediation styles and peer coaching from Dr. Greg Bond.

Dr. Bond is a mediator, moderator and trainer, and a lecturer at the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Wildau, Germany. He has broad international experience, including working in China, US, EU and Georgia.

The USAID Rule of Law Program took advantage of Dr. Bond being in Georgia and contracted him to conduct a professional development training for practicing mediators. This responded to MAG’s desire to provide continuous opportunities for mediators to learn new approaches, methods and skills, as well as learn from each other.

Dr. Bond spoke about the integrative and distributive approaches to negotiation in mediation, and shared with the participants the framework for peer coaching. Practical exercises allowed the participants to practice these approaches and reflect on their advantages and risks throughout the day, as well as to use the suggested model to coach each other on a specific case experience. 

“A core of mediation is to slow the process of negotiation down in order to first explore the interests and needs of the parties; mediators then reflect these interests and needs back to the parties. Mediators want to know what is important for the parties.” – said Dr. Bond while guiding the mediators.

One of the participants, mediator and lawyer Khatuna Beselia, said: "The training allowed me to see from a different angle how much responsibility I have when working on a specific case. I received important tips on approaches that will make my practice more effective and successful. The simulation exercises were particularly insightful when the role of the mediator was in the spotlight. We also received advice on the process of reflecting on specific cases that will help us coach each other in the future."