Civil Society Dialogue Network

The Civil Society Dialogue Network (CSDN) is a mechanism for dialogue between civil society and EU policy-makers on peace and conflict. It is co-financed by the EU (Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace) and the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), and managed by EPLO in co-operation with the European Commission (EC) and the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The CSDN was established in 2010 and the fourth phase (CSDN IV) began in 2020 and will last until 2023.

Most CSDN events take the form of dialogue meetings which bring together relevant civil society actors and EU policy-makers. They take place in Brussels, EU Member States and conflict-affected countries with EU presence.

Version française

CSDN events fall into the following categories:

1. Policy Meetings

2. Geographic Meetings

(including Early Response Meetings and In-country Dialogue Meetings)

3. Funding Instruments Meetings

4. Member State Meetings

5. The EU in International Peacebuilding Meetings

6. Training Seminars

EPLO will produce background material, including briefing papers, reports, and policy papers. Updates on the CSDN will also be disseminated via the EPLO Newsletter.

Click here to download the European Commission’s press release on the launch of CSDN I.

Click here to download an overview of the CSDN.

Click here to read all the publications from the first phase of the CSDN (2010-2013).

Click here to read all the publications from the second phase of the CSDN (2014-2017).

Click here to read the report of an independent evaluation of the second phase of the CSDN (2014-2017).

Click here to read the report of an independent evaluation of the third phase of the CSDN project (2017-2020).

For more information about the CSDN, please contact Ben Moore.

Latest Publications

Discussion Paper – The European Union as a peace mediator – Natalia Mirimanova (March 2020)
Background Paper – Climate change and violent conflict: Challenges and opportunities for the EU and civil society (December 2019)
Background Paper – EU Support to Women Mediators: Moving Beyond Stereotypes (April 2019)
Discussion Paper – Peace Stories – Terri Beswick (January 2019)
Discussion Paper – Civil society peacebuilding actors in Iraq (October 2017)
Discussion Paper – The EU and conflict prevention in Jordan – Laura Davis & Fatima Ayub (March 2017)

Latest Videos

Conflict dynamics and drivers of peace in the Sahel region

#HumansBuildPeace – Pascal Kipkemboi

Latest Event

Title	Online Training Seminar on Peacebuilding Advocacy towards the EU
Type	Training Seminar
Date	22-26 June 2020
Venue	Online
Short Description	The objectives of this training seminar were to: Increase participants’ capacity to influence the EU in conflict prevention/peacebuilding through understanding EU processes, mechanisms and entry points; Develop advocacy skills towards the EU specific to participants’ work; Promote networking, exchange between participants, EPLO staff, EU officials.
Useful Links	For more information please contact Lorenzo Conti or Manon Levrey.

Previous Events

Geographic Meeting – Conflict dynamics and peace drivers in the Horn of Africa in the context of the Covid-19 crisis: Gathering civil society input (June 2020, online)

Meeting Report

Final Agenda

For more information about this event, please contact Lorenzo Conti.

Policy Meeting – Capacity building of military actors in support of development and security for development (CBSD) 2018-2020:
Informal exchange of views with international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) (May 2020, online)

Meeting Report

Final Agenda

For more information about this event, please contact Lorenzo Angelini.

Geographic Meeting – Conflict Dynamics and Drivers of Peace in the Sahel Region: Gathering Civil Society Perspectives (March 2020, Brussels)

Meeting Report (version française)

Final Agenda (version française)

For more information about this event, please contact Lorenzo Angelini.

Policy Meeting – Strengthening the EU’s Role in Mediation: Gathering Civil Society Input (February 2020, Brussels)

Key Findings

Final Agenda

For more information about this event, please contact Lorenzo Conti.

Policy Meeting – Strategic review of CSDP Missions in Somalia: Gathering Civil Society Input (February 2020, Nairobi)