Hannes Siebert

Senior Adviser, Facilitator and Non-formal Envoy, PeaceAppeal & Berghof Fdns and UNDP

As an international peace process and negotiations adviser and facilitator, Hannes has worked in many of the world’s most conflict-ridden societies. He is currently facilitating and advising on aspects of the peace processes in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Lebanon, working with national stakeholders in the development and implementation of national peace structures, authentic negotiations processes and local/regional conflict interventions. In South Africa he served as director in the National Peace Secretariat, the multi-party body mandated to implement its 1992 National Peace Accord. Post-1994 he assisted the Special Presidential Task Force in key in-tractable conflicts, focusing on de-militarization of militia. With 5 Nobel Peace Laureates, he initiated the establishment of an international foundation in 2000 in support of their “International Appeal for Peace and Non-Violence”; In 2001, as an associate and fellow at the Center for War, Peace and the News Media at NYU, he coordinated the West-Dar al Islam Media Dialogues program – facilitating dialogue between major media institutions in the U.S. and Middle East; and in 2003 he developed Peace Tools, a comprehensive set of innovative tools for conflict transformation and negotiations processes. CURRENT: • Sri Lanka – Advised the country’s peace secretariats and facilitated the creation of the multi-party negotiations forum, One Text. • Nepal – Co-facilitated and supported the drafting of many key agreements – including the Comprehensive Peace Agreement; Facilitated talks between the Nepal Army and the Maoist Army; Help set-up a national dialogue process, NTTP; and advise the Ministry for Peace and Reconstruction. • International – Developed strategy and policy papers for international agencies and governments in the field of peacebuilding and conflict interventions, looking at best practices worldwide. • Lebanon – supported the National Dialogue and working with stakeholders in the establishment of the Lebanon Common Space Initiative. Between 1991 and 1994, Siebert served as director in the National Peace Secretariat in South Africa, the multi-party body dedicated to reducing violence and promoting dialogue during the tense run-up to the first democratic elections. In the late ‘90s, Siebert was a member of the World Economic Forum’s “Transitions to Peace” initiative on peace-building in South Africa, the Balkans, Northern Ireland and the Middle East. Siebert has been an associate and fellow of the Center for War, Peace and the News Media at New York University. In this capacity, he initiated and coordinates the West-Dar al Islam Media Dialogues program, which facilitates dialogue between major media institutions in the U.S. and Middle East. A former newspaper editor and television producer, Siebert still produces children's animation and interactive media projects. He recently helped to launch a children's initiative that supports orphanages in war-torn regions if south Asia, caring for children that are victims of war and human trafficking. Siebert is also an Ashoka Fellow.