CBI Case Studies

In Israel, conflicts between Bedouin communities and the Israeli government have grown increasingly intense in recent years. At stake in the strategically and symbolically important southern Negev Desert region are fundamental questions of both security and stability for the State of Israel and development, justice, and human rights for the Bedouin minority citizen population.

In June 2002, the Cleveland Air Toxics Working Group reached consensus on over a dozen projects that will reduce risks of air toxics posed to children, families, and adults in two of Cleveland’s urban neighborhoods.

Clients

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

CBI Practitioners

Juliana Birkhoff, Sanda Kaufman

Across the country, two decades of effort to “get tough on crime” through increasingly strict sentencing laws, prison conditions, and parole rules have produced the highest incarceration rates in U.S. history. Since very few prisoners serve life sentences, these policies have also led to the highest prison release rates in history.

CBI Practitioners

David Fairman

CBI was retained by IFC to design and facilitate an external stakeholder engagement process to discuss the draft policies as part of the review process.

CBI Practitioners

David Fairman

From November 2005 to March 2006, CBI staff and dispute resolution partners in Argentina and Uruguay were retained by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to assess stakeholder concerns and facilitate stakeholder involvement in a review of environmental and social impacts surrounding two controversial paper pulp mills – co-located 8 kilometers apart on the Rio Uruguay.

CBI Practitioners

Merrick Hoben

The City of Somerville asked CBI to conduct an impartial assessment of the issues surrounding the proposed development of the Assembly Square site in east Somerville. The Assembly Square Conflict Assessment is an inquiry by CBI into the possibility of a successful mediated process among a broad range of stakeholders.

Clients

City of Somerville

CBI Practitioners

Patrick Field

Since 1996, the Consensus Building Institute and Environmental Mediation Services (EMS), have assisted in the cleanup of Massachusetts Military Reservation, one of the largest Superfund sites in the country.

CBI Practitioners

Patrick Field

For the past several years, CBI has partnered with the UNDP to build the negotiation capacity of UNDP staff stationed all over the world.

CBI Practitioners

David Fairman, Stacie Nicole Smith, Merrick Hoben

In January 2007, the Consensus Building Institute (CBI) lead a collaborative process to evaluate and improve the integrated functioning of the various entities that play a role in a growing Maine Town’s planning “system”. The process engaged over one hundred and fifty citizens, land owners, and professionals, and many stakeholders expressed interest in exploring additional options for educating and engaging the public in land use and other important Town governance issues.

 

 

 

CBI Practitioners

Patrick Field, Kate Harvey

CBI assisted the World Bank Compliance Advisor Ombudsman team to address concerns raised regarding social and environmental impacts of the Allain-Duhangan hydroelectric project in India. Issues and concerns included: quality and quantity of village drinking and irrigation water; worker safety near the construction site; assurance of women’s and children’ safety; excessive dust from project activity; and introduction of HIV/AIDS induced by migrant laborers.

Clients

World Bank

CBI Practitioners

David Fairman, Merrick Hoben

The Meriden Economic Resources Group hired CBI to undertake an assessment of public opinion and concerns regarding obstacles to downtown development, including flood control, transportation barriers, economic development, and more.

CBI Practitioners

Stacie Nicole Smith

The National Park Service invited Patrick Field, Managing Director of CBI, Robert Fisher, Senior Mediator at Fisher Collaborative Services, and Ona Ferguson of CBI to conduct an assessment to determine the feasibility of using a negotiated rulemaking process to manage the use of motorized vehicles on the Cape Hattera National Seashore, North Carolina.

Clients

National Park Service

CBI Practitioners

Patrick Field, Ona Ferguson

Since 1997, CBI has assisted the Alberta Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) to develop and refine their mediation program through training, policy analysis, and evaluation.

Clients

Environmental Appeal Board, Alberta, Canada

CBI Practitioners

Patrick Field

The Lincoln Institute for Land Policy supported a CBI study, led by CBI Managing Director David Fairman and Senior Associate Merrick Hoben, to research land use conflicts in Latin America.

Clients

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

CBI Practitioners

David Fairman, Merrick Hoben

CBI has developed a customized 3-day “Negotiation & Influence Skills” curriculum for Capital One’s senior executives and middle management.

CBI Practitioners

Hal Movius