Centre for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development - SeeD

22/09/2026

Yesterday, on the International Day of Peace, Dr. Ilke Dagli Hustings presented SeeD and CPDC’s External Impact Assessment Report for the UWC Scholarship Programme for Cypriot Youth at a Dialogue in Action event organised by the Nobel Peace Centre and UWC. On this Day, our findings are as important as ever in understanding the pathways we need to leverage education and dialogue for sustainable peace.

This event brought together stakeholders to share the results of the report, which evaluated UWC programming for intercommunal youth dialogue in Cyprus. Our impact assessment found that the programme was successful in strengthening intercommunal relations, civic attitudes, constructive citizenship and individual development among participating youth. More importantly, we found that participation intensity matters, emphasizing the importance of implementing peace and dialogue programming as a cycle of engagement rather than a one-off intervention.

Our assessment therefore shows that it’s not only contact that matters, but continuity; one workshop or scholarship experience can open the door, but repeated engagement is what turns contact into action that lasts. As our assessment shows, dialogue must thus happen as a virtuous cycle of participation, communication and building meaningful ties.

The Nobel Peace Centre emphasizes just how important the process of dialogue is through its eight principles for good dialogue. In the words of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Martin Luther King Jr.: “People fail to get along because they fear each other. They fear each other because they don't know each other. They don't know each other because they have not properly communicated with each other.” Dialogue must be consistent, deliberative and multi-perspective; in this way, communities will therefore learn to effectively communicate, engage and ultimately come to know one another.

In today’s world, dialogue is of utmost importance, and yet is often overshadowed by debate, argument and disagreement. To celebrate this year’s International Day of Peace, let us therefore invest in the art and science of dialogue through programming that builds genuine trust and reconciliation as pathways to transformative peace.

View our presentation here:https://api.scoreforpeace.org/storage/pdfs/PRE_CyprusUWC25_Nobel-Peace-Centre-Event_210926.pdf

View our report here:https://api.scoreforpeace.org/storage/pdfs/EU-Scholarship-Programme-Impact-Assessment-Report-FV.pdf

View the eight principles here: https://www.nobelpeacecenter.org/en/dialogue

Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Centre
UWC Cyprus

11/09/2026

On November 2-4, SeeD’s Director of Strategic Engagements, Ilke Dagli Hustings, will be participating in the Commonwealth People’s Forum as Civil Society Advisory Governor for the Europe and Canada region.

This year, the People’s Forum will take place in Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda, in parallel with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The goal of the Forum is to provide a platform for Commonwealth citizens to engage in dialogue with leaders, reflect on opportunities and challenges, and help shape policy and practice pertaining to issues ranging from climate justice to economic inclusion to freedom of expression.

Throughout the Forum, participants will work to strengthen people-centered governance, enable exchange among citizens and leaders, and promote inclusion of women, youth, and other vulnerable groups. Ilke will support dialogue on these pressing subjects across Europe and Canada, engaging actors from Cyprus, Malta, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Registration to participate in the Commonwealth People’s Forum and contribute your perspective is available here: https://commonwealthfoundation.com/2026-commonwealth-peoples-forum-interest-form/

08/08/2026

Read more: https://cpdc-official.com/c-up

28/07/2026

On 22 June, SeeD participated in the 7th Annual Conference of the International Association for Reconciliation Studies (IARS) at Ledra Palace.

The panel, “Rethinking Peace Process Design: Integrating Civic Participation, New Methodologies, and Pathways to Overcome Impasse,” examined how civic assemblies and consultative bodies could contribute to the Cyprus peace process. The speakers discussed how inclusive participation, deliberative democracy, new methods, and emerging technologies could strengthen legitimacy, deepen public engagement, and help address long-standing negotiation impasses.

The discussion brought together Dr.İlke Dagli-Hustings of SeeD, Charis Psaltis, Neophytos Loizides, Allison McCulloch, and Meltem Onurkan-Samani.

Watch the full panel here:
https://youtu.be/SFFUqtjZe0U

From the panel on civic assemblies in the Cyprus peace talks at the...

21/07/2026

From June 6-10 , SeeD colleagues Dr. Ilke Dagli-Hustings and Yana Tucker attended the AI for Good Summit, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum, and the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva.

The week centred around one shared question: how can AI best serve humanity? Discussions explored the role of AI in widening access and supporting innovation across education, development, mental health, and humanitarian action fields, among others.

Conversations also examined how global governance can ensure the use of AI is ethical, responsible, and grounded in human rights.
Through sessions, exhibitions, and exchanges with other organisations, Ilke and Yana explored emerging AI applications and discussed their possible use in peacebuilding.

For SeeD, this opens an important conversation around AI for Peace: how AI can support peacebuilding efforts, help practitioners respond to challenges, and contribute to more peaceful societies, with accountability and human judgement at their core.

15/07/2026

SeeD presented evidence on social cohesion and interethnic relations at the launch of the DIALOG 2026–2028 Programme

the Centre for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development (SeeD) participated in the launch of the DIALOG 2026–2028 Programme—Moldova's new strategic framework for strengthening interethnic relations and social cohesion, organised by the Agency for Interethnic Relations.

During the event, Cristina Petcu, Research Coordinator for SeeD Moldova, presented findings from the Expert Community Scoring Tool (ECoST), highlighting how locally generated evidence can support more informed and inclusive public policies.

The presentation showcased results from assessments conducted in 20 urban and rural communities across Moldova, where local experts evaluated community wellbeing, civic participation, and intergroup relations.The findings indicate the levels of acceptance of ethnic and cultural diversity, attitudes towards Ukrainian refugees, cooperation between neighbouring communities and community mobilisation potential.

09/07/2026

Ukraine’s recovery cannot succeed without placing women’s economic security, mental wellbeing, and equal access to services at its core. Our analysis shows why gender-sensitive reconstruction must be a strategic priority for URC2026.

06/07/2026

📢 The report is out: the EU Scholarship Programme for Cypriot Youth at UWC is making a meaningful contribution to peace, youth development, and civic action in Cyprus.

The new External Impact Assessment Report covers the 2020–2025 programme cycle and examines the impact of the programme. The assessment found high levels of positive intergroup feelings among beneficiaries, including social proximity, intercommunal trust, and social tolerance.

The assessment was carried out by the Centre for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development (SeeD) and the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Centre (CPDC), using quantitative and qualitative research to examine how the Programme’s intended outcomes are emerging among participants.

📖 Read the full report and explore the findings:https://api.scoreforpeace.org/storage/pdfs/EU-Scholarship-Programme-Impact-Assessment-Report-FV.pdf
Read the executive summary here:https://api.scoreforpeace.org/storage/pdfs/EU-Scholarship-Programme-Impact-Study-Executive-Summary-English-FV.pdf

UWC Cyprus Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Centre Ilke Dagli Meltem Onurkan Samani

05/07/2026

Our new infographic shares key findings from SeeD’s latest SCORE BiH report on social cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The findings show a more nuanced picture than many public narratives suggest. Everyday coexistence across ethnic lines is largely functional, community cooperation is strong, and inclusive belonging remains one of the country’s key strengths.

The report still points to important challenges. Intergroup trust remains limited, confidence in institutions is moderate, and pessimism about the country’s direction remains high.

The opportunity is clear: build on local resilience, turn civic potential into structured participation, and make progress more visible.

Read the full report here: https://api.scoreforpeace.org/storage/pdfs/score_eng.pdf

01/07/2026

Our new SCORE report on social cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina is out.

Based on SCORE BiH 2025, with comparative insights from SCORE BiH 2020, the report looks at intergroup relations, belonging, civic participation, trust in institutions, and people’s sense of progress.

The findings show a country more resilient than it is often portrayed. Community cooperation is strong, everyday coexistence remains functional, and many people still share an inclusive sense of belonging.

Yet the report also shows that pessimism about the future remains high, trust between groups is still limited, and civic potential needs stronger spaces to grow.

This is why evidence matters: it helps identify where risks are concentrated, where strengths already exist, and what kinds of action can support trust, participation, and social cohesion.

Read the full report here:https://api.scoreforpeace.org/storage/pdfs/score_eng.pdf