RESEARCH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Research and Program Development

Conflictus aims to help individuals, social groups and organisations develop effective conflict resolution strategies by enabling them to better understand and assess their needs.

Our team of experts specialise in conflict analysis, conflict mapping, developing social cohesion programmes, developing conflict sensitive approaches, creating training kits and tools, and improving programmes and projects to meet individual needs.

All our work in this area is designed to help individuals, community groups, teams and organisations build and maintain effective relationships while managing the complexity of the conflicts they face.

Our priority is to create a safe and inclusive environment where all voices are heard, respected and understood. To this end, we are pleased to list below some of the work we are doing in collaboration with national and international organisations:

Our Collaboration with GIZ

Since 2017, Conflictus has partnered with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to support sustainable capacity building in the fields of youth participation, social cohesion, and conflict transformation. Through training programmes and support for locally driven micro-projects, Conflictus has contributed to empowering young people as active agents of social peace.

Below are two key programmes implemented in collaboration with GIZ:

Social Cohesion Training of Trainers (ToT) and Project Mentoring – GIZ Nexus Programme

Client: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Nexus Programme
Duration: November 2020 – March 2022
Provinces: Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Bursa, Ankara
Target Group: Youth leaders, volunteers and national trainers from refugee and host communities

Conflictus was commissioned by GIZ Nexus Programme to design and implement a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on social cohesion. The programme was delivered in two phases:

The first phase targeted young leaders and volunteers from refugee and host communities in four provinces.
The second phase focused on national-level trainers from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Training modules were developed around key themes such as understanding conflict, principled negotiation, intercultural communication, youth participation, community-based peacebuilding, and the role of NGOs in promoting social cohesion.

Following the training, Conflictus provided mentoring support to youth participants as they designed and implemented micro-projects funded by GIZ. These projects aimed to strengthen community dialogue and inclusion at the local level.

To evaluate impact, Conflictus conducted focus groups, field visits, and surveys across implementation provinces. The evaluation process considered inclusivity, gender representation, conflict sensitivity, and local relevance. Findings were used to inform GIZ’s final programme assessment.

Youth Development for Social Cohesion

Client: GIZ

Duration: April 2017 – March 2019

Provinces: Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Istanbul, Ankara

Target Group: Youth aged 15–29 from refugee and host communities

Conflictus designed and implemented a large-scale youth empowerment programme aimed at promoting social cohesion through peer-led engagement. Over the course of two years, 22 training programmes were delivered to more than 500 young people, including local youth workers, university students, and community volunteers from both refugee and host communities.

The trainings focused on life skills, intercultural dialogue, leadership, and community mobilisation. Participants—referred to as youth multipliers—were supported in developing their own initiatives and small-scale activities in partnership with local Youth Centres.

Through mentoring and field-based support, over 750 youth-led micro-projects were implemented across four provinces. These projects fostered meaningful interactions between refugee and host community youth, contributing to mutual understanding, gender inclusion, and conflict sensitivity.

The programme was carried out in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports, and trainings were delivered in both Turkish and Arabic with professional interpretation. This holistic and participatory approach led to lasting behavioural change and strengthened youth agency in community life.

Our Collaboration with YTB – Supported by UNHCR-TURKEY

Conflictus has partnered with the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to deliver long-term programmes on conflict resolution, social cohesion, and intercultural dialogue. These initiatives have engaged hundreds of young people and professionals from refugee and host communities, building sustainable capacities in peer education, facilitation, and local peacebuilding.

Below are key projects under this collaboration:

Social Cohesion Training of Trainer for Young People from Different Cultures

Client: YTB, supported by UNHCR

Duration: 2022–2025

Provinces: Samsun, Istanbul, Gaziantep, Mardin, Mersin

Target Group: Social cohesion trainers coming together from refugee and host communities

This long-term project aimed to support young people from diverse cultural backgrounds in becoming local facilitators of social cohesion. The training focused on strengthening their facilitation, peer education, and community project design skills. Each 4-day training of trainers (ToT) workshop equipped participants with replicable methodologies and a tailored educational kit. As a public institution affiliated with the Turkish Presidency, YTB plays a key role in state-level engagement with youth and diaspora groups. Participants were encouraged to implement follow-up activities in their local communities, and their experiences were documented and assessed to enhance the long-term impact.

Participants were encouraged to implement follow-up activities in their local communities, and their experiences were documented and assessed to enhance the long-term impact.

Conflict Resolution and Social Mediation Training Programme for University Students from Different Cultures

Client: YTB – Supported by UNHCR

Duration: May 2022 – October 2024

Provinces: Mardin, Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş, Konya, Mersin, İstanbul, Samsun, Kayseri, Elazığ, Erzurum,

Target Group: 891 university students (362 refugee, 529 host community)

This programme was designed to enhance social cohesion among university students from diverse cultural backgrounds through conflict transformation skills. The curriculum covered topics such as conflict analysis, resolution strategies, transformative mediation, discrimination awareness, and communication tools.

Trainings were delivered through experiential and applied drama-based methods. Participants were encouraged to apply their learning in academic and community settings, and their progress was monitored through regular feedback and reflection activities.

Conflict Resolution Workshop for YTB-Affiliated Academics

Client: YTB – Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities

Date: December 2023

Target Group: Academics affiliated with YTB

This training focused on improving the capacity of academics to design and deliver trainings on social cohesion and conflict resolution. Through experiential methods, academics engaged in group facilitation, problem-solving, and scenario-based analysis. They were also encouraged to develop tools that could be integrated into their own academic or field-based work. The workshop strengthened their role as multipliers within the educational ecosystem.

Our Collaboration with UNHCR TURKEY

Since 2019, Conflictus has collaborated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to strengthen local capacities for conflict resolution, social cohesion, and community-based protection across Türkiye. Through targeted trainings, field-based mentorship, and tailored training tools, Conflictus has contributed to empowering both institutional actors and grassroots leaders from refugee and host communities.

The programmes covered a wide range of themes including conflict mediation, intercultural dialogue, misinformation management, and peer learning and were implemented in partnership with municipalities, NGOs, and local leaders across multiple provinces. These initiatives aimed not only to build individual competencies but also to foster collective resilience and peaceful co-existence in diverse urban and rural settings.

Below are key programmes implemented in collaboration with UNHCR Turkey:

Conflict Mediation Training

Client: UNHCR in collaboration with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality

Date: January 2022

Provinces: İstanbul

Target Group: Municipal staff and community centre personnel

This training programme was designed to strengthen the capacity of municipal personnel and community centre staff in addressing social tensions and supporting peaceful co-existence between refugee and host communities. Delivered in partnership with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the programme focused on practical conflict mediation skills tailored to frontline interactions.

Participants were introduced to core concepts of conflict transformation, negotiation strategies, and tools for constructive communication. The training promoted solution-oriented approaches to managing everyday challenges in diverse community settings.

Key learning areas included:

Enhancing negotiation and dialogue skills
Applying mediation strategies to resolve interpersonal and community-level disputes
Strengthening communication to reduce misunderstandings and foster trust
Promoting inclusive and socially cohesive community relationships
Developing long-term tools for conflict-sensitive service provision

The training methodology combined experiential exercises with context-based case studies, empowering participants to internalize and apply conflict-sensitive approaches in their professional roles. This initiative contributed to building stronger, more resilient municipal responses in an increasingly diverse urban landscape.

Capacity Development for Problem Solving in the Communities Through Conflict Mediation and Resolution Trainings

Client: UNHCR TURKEY

Duration: June – December 2021

Duty Station: Turkey Southeast Region (Adiyaman, Sanliurfa, Mardin, Hatay, Adana,

Gaziantep and Kilis)

Target Group: Mukhtars, refugee committee members, volunteers, and community leaders from refugee and host communities

Conflictus designed and delivered this programme to strengthen local capacities for navigating social tensions and promoting peaceful co-existence at the neighbourhood level. The training content was specifically developed to equip participants such as mukhtars and refugee representatives with conflict mediation, intercultural dialogue, and community-based problem-solving tools.

In addition to the training delivery, Conflictus facilitated a structured process in which participants developed their own localized action plans. These plans focused on addressing social cohesion challenges within their communities and were supported through coaching and technical guidance.

By combining tailored content with participatory planning methods, the programme contributed to sustainable conflict transformation and empowered local leaders to take proactive roles in strengthening cohesion across Turkey’s southeast region.

Intercultural Dialogue Trainings for Social Cohesion – Engaged Conversations

Client: UNHCR, in collaboration with local NGOs
Duration: September – December 2021
Provinces: Tokat, Uşak, Kütahya
Target Group: Opinion leaders, NGO staff, and active community members from refugee and host communities

This training programme was designed to strengthen intercultural dialogue and support peaceful coexistence between refugee and host communities at the local level. Conflictus developed and delivered interactive sessions focused on communication, identity, social cohesion, and strategies for overcoming prejudice and misinformation.

The methodology supported participants in reflecting on their own experiences, building mutual understanding, and acting as dialogue facilitators in their own communities. A special focus was placed on engaging opinion leaders who play a key role in shaping attitudes and behaviours within their networks.

Key aims included:

Enhancing dialogue between Syrian refugees and host communities
Addressing social tensions through shared understanding and empathy
Promoting intercultural awareness, conflict sensitivity, and collective problem-solving
Encouraging participants to initiate peacebuilding and cohesion efforts within their local settings

The "Engaged Conversations" framework empowered individuals to connect across cultural lines and become active agents of social cohesion.

Conflict Mitigation Skills Trainings

Client: UNHCR
Date: 2020
Provinces: Adana, Hatay (online implementation)
Target Group: Mukhtars and refugee community representatives

This training programme was developed to strengthen conflict mitigation capacities at the neighbourhood level by supporting solution-oriented communication between refugee and host communities.

Conflictus designed and delivered a tailored training for muhtars and refugee representatives—both of whom play key roles in their communities. The content focused on conflict resolution, intercultural dialogue, community resilience, and peacebuilding. Emphasis was placed on helping participants navigate misinformation, build trust, and foster constructive interaction across diverse social groups.

By combining practical tools with a reflective approach, the programme empowered participants to:

Understand the dynamics of conflict at the local level
Communicate more effectively across cultural and social divides
Strengthen social cohesion through inclusive and responsive leadership

This initiative contributed to long-term community resilience and peaceful co-existence in a region with complex social dynamics.

Capacity Building Services in Community-Based Protection

Client: UNHCR
Date: 2019

Province: İstanbul
Target Group: NGO staff working on social cohesion from organisations such as WALD, SGDD-ASAM, Refugee Association, HRDA, TRC, and Habitat Association

Conflictus delivered a 5-day capacity building training of trainers (ToT) focused on community-based protection and social cohesion, targeting NGO professionals working with Syrian refugees and host communities.

The training covered key themes such as peer-based approaches, conflict resolution, mediation, intercultural learning, and participatory methods for strengthening social inclusion. Following the training, Conflictus developed a comprehensive training manual tailored for NGO use, combining theoretical foundations with interactive tools and activities.

In addition to training delivery, Conflictus prepared a progress and evaluation report to support learning, and enable wider use of training tools across diverse teams and context.