Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy (IMTD) works to promote a systems-based approach to peacebuilding and to facilitate the transformation of deep-rooted social conflicts. It uses a holistic and participatory approach to assess the key variables in deep-rooted conflicts and post-conflict settings.

Image credit: IMTD

It was founded by former US ambassador to the UN, John W. MacDonald in 1992 (Arlington, USA) and currently has more than 1,300 members in thirty-one countries. IMTD is supported by a wide range of key personnel, associates and interns. 265 interns from fifty-six countries have worked a the institute within twenty years.

The Institute is focused on identifying and understanding the causes of conflict within a nation. IMTD promotes the breaking down of stereotypes and other barriers to peace by providing conflicting groups through different methods such as developing mutual understanding between conflicting parties; building trust between adversaries; negotiations; reconciling past grievances and creating cultural awareness.

IMTD in Georgia

IMTD has a long term strategy concerning Georgia and is currently working on the multiple projects in the region relating to economic growth, conflict prevention, regional development and other issues. Despite of short presence of IMTD official representatives in Tbilisi, the Institute already launched a number of projects and is working on different large scale projects and initiatives.

Projects

Youth Peace Festival

IMTD together with International Center for Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN), Transcend Georgia, Akhmeteli Theatre have recently launched a peace festival projecy. The project is the first attempt to engage youth, art and academic representatives in one area aiming to create peaceful and friendly connections. There were two parts to the project, peace express and peace camp was planned in the framework of the international day of Peace. It was the first time Georgia joined millions of people around the world with events involving international participants. The project included 5 day forum “Peace Camp” at the black sea resort Batumi. This took place from the 20-26 September. Participants included students, successful scholarship candidates demonstrating their high interest in peace activism, conflict transformation, human rights and international affairs.

Nonviolence and Peace Education

The workshop took place on July 1-5, 2014, in Batumi, Georgia, workshop was coming of the nonviolent practices from the global Gandhian perspective, with the conflict resolution methods that have been currently adopted by IMTD, TRANSCEND and other peace education groups in Georgia. Other associates were invited from select states of the South Caucasus and Middle East that have supported and continue to employ nonviolent peacebuilding efforts.

During the meetings in Tbilisi (before the workshops held in Batumi) representatives of Ekta Perishad and Gandhi foundations had numerous high level meetings with government officials, NGO representatives and academics, during the meetings had been highlighted importance of the  follow up functions of inter-religious dialogue, of non-violent training, and of expanding resources for further peace education, expanding sharing of best practice with others both in Georgia and in the region.

Workshops added value on the regional scale of the activities planned by the organizers through engagement of groups committed to nonviolence and peace building from middle east, turkey, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan and others. Participants included peace activists from the Middle East and black sea region countries. The project was financed by OXFAM.

Youth Peace Initiative

The project was launched by the IMTD Georgia to raise awareness on peacebuilding within the youth generation. In the framework of the project more than 60 student and representatives of interested bodies had been involved in an intensive course regarding peacebuilding education held by professional lecturers. A visit from Johan Galtung was organised, who held numerous meetings and lectures with the different institutional bodies. This project was financed by the Children and Youth Development Fund, and was supported by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia.

International conference on peacebuilding process in the South Caucasus region

This project was implemented by the IMTD Georgia, TRANSCEND Georgia, and ICNN. During the conference, a number of problematic issues were discussed regarding security issues in the Caucasian region and cooperation perspectives on the  basis of peaceful rhetoric.