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Model

Find, Empower, and Include

1. Find

We identify community leaders with dispute resolution potential and establish a network of peacemakers.

  • Data Hub for Peacemakers: A data hub increases public and court accessibility to peacemakers, and enhances transparency by providing their qualifications, experience, and past performance.
  • Community leaders include social welfare officers, paralegals, local, church, council, and judicial officers, government officials, disability leaders, and mediators.

 

2. Empower

We equip these leaders with inclusive mediation practices.

  • Capacity Building: We ensure quality assurance through ongoing capacity building for peacemakers.
  • Communication Strategy: We develop and implement a communication strategy for ADR practices.

 

3. Include

We create an inclusive mediation environment.

  • We provide necessary accommodations, including speech-to-text, text-to-speech, live captioning, and sign language interpretation.
  • Inclusive Institutions: We strengthen ADR institutions to be more inclusive for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

Model's Sustainability

The model’s sustainability lies in empowering local community leaders (peacemakers) with skills in inclusive mediation and ensuring ongoing relevance and effectiveness through accessible practices (speech-to-text, text-to-speech, live captioning). A strong partnership with the government justice system supports the long-term impact, enabling these leaders to resolve disputes within their communities and foster a self-sustaining network of accessible and inclusive peacemaking.

Theory of Change

Our theory of change addresses the exclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Tanzania's justice system by promoting inclusive mediation and building a network of peacemakers. We aim to establish inclusive mediation as the standard in the justice system, ensuring fairness, upholding the rule of law, and reducing case backlogs. This citizen-centric approach enhances democratic dispute resolution, moving away from the adversarial system. It rebuilds trust in the justice system by empowering individuals and changing mindsets. This aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, promoting peaceful and inclusive societies with access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions.