Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the mission of Mediators Beyond Borders?
- Is Mediators Beyond Borders affiliated with any other Without Borders organization?
- Is Mediators Beyond Borders a first responder in crisis situations?
- Can anyone join?
- How do I join?
- What financial contribution is required of Members?
- What do the contributions fund?
- What do I get for my membership dues or supporter donation?
- How much funding on a project goes to MBB salaries or administrative overhead?
- Was the MBB organization seed money or start-up funded by a government, foundation or corporate grant?
- How does MBB select projects?
- How are projects implemented?
- Do individual mediators work on a different project every year?
- Are mediators paid for their services?
- Who pays for travel expenses?
- How are mediators selected or assigned to a MBB project?
- What is the typical time a mediator works on a specific project?
- How are projects submitted for consideration?
1. What is the mission of Mediators Beyond Borders?
Mediators Beyond Borders brings together experienced mediators to collaborate and participate in mitigating violent conflict and organizing alternative approaches to expressing, acknowledging, and addressing political, economic, social, ethnic, and religious differences. By fostering collaborative initiatives in partnership with local efforts, Mediators Beyond Borders assists in building and sustaining local capacity in ways that encourage forgiveness and reconciliation and integrate peace with justice.
2. Is Mediators Beyond Borders affiliated with any other Without Borders organization?
MBB is not affiliated with Doctors Without Borders or any other without borders or sans frontiers organization. MBB welcomes all opportunities for collaboration.
3. Is Mediators Beyond Borders a first responder in crisis situations?
No, Mediators Beyond Borders is not a first responder. MBB assists in pre-conflict (preventing) and post-accord (resolving and healing from conflict) situations to work with communities in building their conflict resolution capacity.
4. Can anyone join?
Yes, conflict resolution professionals of all types can join as Mediator Members. Those who have minimal training or experience can join as Citizen Supporters and offer cultural information, collaborative partner contacts, project ideas and other expertise. Students may contribute as Student Supporters or via a chartered MBB Student Chapter.
5. How do I join?
You may join here. PDF applications that can be electronically filled and emailed are also available for download.
6. What financial contribution is required of Members?
Mediator Members contribute USD 365.00 per year. They may contribute at a higher rate to more effectively advance the work of MBB. Student Supporters, including members of chartered Student Chapters, contribute USD 18.25 per year. Citizen Supporters contribute USD 36.50 per year. Sponsorships are available on a limited basis for those with financial need.
7. What do the contributions fund?
Contributions build and sustain MBB administration. Project expenses are funded from grants or other sources.
8. What do I get for my membership dues or supporter contribution?
As a Mediator or Student Supporter you are eligible to apply for, and be considered for participation on any MBB project. You also have full access to MBB web resources that are designed to provide a comprehensive knowledge base about those areas of the world where MBB has projects. The web resources include country profiles, peace-building publications, conflict histories, and networking opportunities. Training will be available on a project by project basis.Citizen Supporters can be follow MBB's progress and projects via its website, and can sign up for MBB™s electronic newsletter (in development) and project news e-alerts. All contributions whether as dues or donation, carry with them the satisfaction of being part of a new and important initiative to reduce conflict and violence in our world. Your contribution will help make MBB™s vision of partnering with communities, NGO's and other organizations for the purpose of creating and enhancing peace building capacity a reality.
9. How much funding on a project goes to MBB salaries or administrative overhead?
None. Office and other expenses are fully funded by member dues and supporter donations. Grants for a particular project fund travel and expenses for that project only, not general MBB overhead.
10. Was the MBB organization seed money or start-up funded by a government, foundation or corporate grant?
No, MBB is funded solely by member dues and supporter donations.
11. How does MBB select projects?
All projects go through an extensive review and evaluation and must be formally approved by the MBB Board of Directors. Student Chapters and regional MBB affiliates may not proceed independently with any initiative. The project approval process involves committees and members of the advisory council scrutinizing any proposal for consistency with Mission and Values, objectives, feasibility, safety, cultural sensitivity, sustainability and other criteria.
12. How are projects implemented?
Volunteer project teams are assembled from MBB members based upon the experience and skills required for the project. Student Chapters, Advisory Council and Supporters may consult and supplement the work of MBB members. Projects are monitored by MBB project panels for appropriate implementation and quality assurance. MBB also establishes a separate review protocol to evaluate and capture knowledge from the project
13. Do individual mediators work on a different project every year?
No. Continuity is critical to sustainable peace-building, selection criteria includes the commitment to continue with a project over a number of years. It is unlikely that a mediator will be selected for more than one MBB project outside of his/her country of residence more than once every few years.
14. Are mediators paid for their services?
No, all work is pro bono. Mediators volunteer their time, but may be reimbursed for their own travel.
15. Who pays for travel expenses?
Payment of travel expenses varies from project to project. Individual members may be requested to underwrite all or a portion of their own expenses.
16. How are mediators selected or assigned to a MBB project?
Once the Board of Directors approves a project or other initiative, notice goes out to all MBB Members. It is also posted on the public portion of the MBB website. Members may then apply. MBB evaluates the applications matching qualifications and interests with the needs of the project. Teams are assembled on a per project basis.
17. What is the typical time a mediator works on a specific project?
Mediators commit to the life of the project. The expectation is that this will require spending 1 to 2 weeks each year on site, as well as planning, training and coordinating time from home.
18. How are projects submitted for consideration?
All proposals must be submitted electronically. Proposal Application Submission (PAS) is available for download.
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