© 2025. ILLUSTRATION BY PEACE DIALOGUE NGO
Amid increasing regional uncertainty, Peace Dialogue convened its staff, board members, and project stakeholders for a strategic retreat held from March 28–30, 2025. The three-day retreat served as a platform for collective reflection, reassessment, and forward-looking planning—ensuring the organization remains resilient and mission-driven in an evolving geopolitical landscape.
A RENEWED STRATEGIC FOCUS
Building on its foundational pillars—Human Rights and Democracy and Fostering a Culture of Peace and Conflict Transformation—Peace Dialogue has embraced a new strategic direction focused on enhancing Armenia’s societal resilience. This approach prioritizes capacity building and deeper community engagement to address external hybrid threats that jeopardize national sovereignty, democratic institutions, and civic space. Among the key concerns identified were the growing influence of far-right narratives and the erosion of democratic norms.
STRENGTHENING THE ORGANIZATION
To realize its renewed strategic vision, Peace Dialogue is prioritizing institutional resilience. Participants highlighted the importance of reinforcing internal structures to meet the demands of an expanding portfolio, while preserving the organization’s core strength—its dedicated team.
Sustaining impact in a challenging environment requires thoughtful growth. Discussions emphasized the need to strategically expand human resources, foster internal learning, and improve operational clarity. Strengthening monitoring and evaluation, as well as enhancing communication and outreach capacities, were also identified as key areas for development.
Despite limited resources, the organization remains driven by a strong sense of purpose, with internal cohesion and external support serving as essential pillars for long-term sustainability.
UPHOLDING CORE VALUES
At a time when the concepts of peacebuilding, democracy, and civil society are increasingly contested, participants reaffirmed Peace Dialogue’s unwavering commitment to its core values. The organization stands firm in resisting the instrumentalization of these principles and remains dedicated to defending them through its partnerships and programming.
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE: OPPORTUNITIES AND COMPLEXITIES
The retreat also engaged with transitional justice as a potential framework for fostering democratic accountability. While its relevance was broadly recognized, discussions underscored the conceptual and political challenges of applying transitional justice in the context of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, where divergent narratives persist.
LEADERSHIP RENEWAL
As part of its commitment to institutional development, Peace Dialogue launched a process of board renewal. New members were brought in to diversify leadership, strengthen governance, and help guide the organization through its next phase of strategic growth.
LOOKING FORWARD
Serving both as a compass and a catalyst, the 2025 strategic retreat reaffirmed Peace Dialogue’s dedication to human rights, justice, and peace. With a renewed strategic vision, strengthened internal structures, and a deepened commitment to its values, the organization is well-positioned to navigate the path ahead—toward 2030 and beyond.
The strategic meeting was implemented with funding provided by the Sigrid Rausing Trust.
