Using a randomized controlled trial, this study tests the impact of two peacebuilding interventions: Interest-Based Mediation and Negotiation (IBMN) training for local leaders and community dialogues. The study found that IBMN mediation training led to long-lasting reductions in violence and insecurity, with only 19% of residents in mediation-only communities reporting violent incidents over six months—versus 41% in control areas—and increased intergroup social cohesion, including trust and economic cooperation.
In contrast, standalone community dialogues had negligible effects on violence or cohesion, and adding dialogues to IBMN did not significantly enhance results beyond mediation alone.