ICHD partners with Conflict Management Institute (CMI) in the framework of the initiative of the European NGOs Working in Partnership for Peace on the European Partnership for the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (EPNK).

The EPNK project particularly aims at enacting initiatives which will cumulatively contribute to a peaceful settlement over Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) in partnership with local and civil political actors. The projects specifically targets young leaders from Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. It strengthens the capacity of Conflict Affected Groups (CAGs) to engage in conflict resolution processes, contributing to the cumulative growth of a critical mass of social groups actively engaged in the peace process. A network of young leaders from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh will develop their skills in conflict transformation, arrive at a common vision and thus contribute to a peaceful resolution of the NK conflict.  Young leaders will also become skilled in planning and implementing cross-border joint or cumulative peacebuilding activities which contribute at a societal level to a peaceful resolution of the NK conflict. Young people living across the borders will be better able to play a constructive peacebuilding role through empowerment and improved mutual understanding.

In August 2010 the Expert Councils were consulted in order to select the future participants in the EPNK/CMI project. The experts have discussed the issues related to criteria and mechanism of selection of young leaders, as well as, selection of competent trainers who could provide peacebuilding skills. The consultation was led by a CMI delegation with the assistance of the local partners. In late September 2010 CMI and its partners brought together local level experts selected on the Experts Councils recommendations and regional level experts (experienced trainers/practitioners) as well as experienced practitioners (total 7-10 participants) to design a manual for peacebuilding in Tbilisi.

Through by November 2011 the trainers selected by the Expert Councils and that have participated at the Joint expert workshop in Tbilisi will provide training to a group of around 10 young leaders. Based on their training, the young participants will design and implement small scale peacebuilding projects/activities. The participants will meet in order to share best practice/ lessons learned activities – sharing the experience of the previous activities. They will also be helped by trainers and experts to design a joint proposal to be supported by the local authorities. The group of young leaders and trainers will attend the Black Sea Peacebuilding Network (BSPN) Regional Meeting and present their work and proposal. The Expert Councils will support the young leaders in order to receive support for their proposal.