Highlighted Projects
Challenging situations demand creative processes for developing innovative solutions. Podziba Policy Mediation is known for taking on “never been done before” and “seemingly impossible” projects. We love working in uncharted territory. A quick look at our project list shows we span a broad range of policy areas and work in and across local, regional, tribal, state, national, and international political contexts.
PPM starts with basic building blocks of policy mediation and works with client input to tailor design every process and each process component for success in resolving complex and controversial disputes. Many of our processes lead parties to success after past failed efforts.
Process Design Tool for World Bank Mediators
Inclusive process design tool created for and used by CAO mediators to address disputes between host communities, governments, and investors.
Rebuild Congress Initiative
A cross-partisan group of U.S. Representatives met to develop consensus strategies to enable Congress to fulfill its Constitutional mandate.
The Abortion Talks
After fatal shootings at two women’s health care clinics in Massachusetts, the Governor and the Cardinal of the Archdiocese of Boston called for joint talks among pro-life and pro-choice leaders.
Emergency Pandemic Planning
The Ohio Department of Health received a Pandemic Influenza Public Engagement Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist in the development of a community containment plan to be employed during a pandemic.
Worker Safety Standards for Construction Cranes Negotiated Rulemaking
When crane accidents accounted for the highest incidence of worker fatalities and serious injuries in construction, industry, unions, and government jointly revised the outdated standards.
Human Studies Review Board
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency supports the committee that provides scientific and ethical reviews of proposed studies and protocols conducted with human subjects.
Native American Housing Assistance Negotiated Rulemaking
The Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act created the Indian Housing Block Grant program, through which HUD provides affordable housing resources for Native American and Alaskan Native tribes across the nation.
Carcieri “Fix” for Native American Lands Held in Trust
A narrowed interpretation of the Indian Reorganization Act in the Carcieri v. Salazar Supreme Court ruling limits the federal government’s ability to take land into trust to only those Native American tribes recognized by the United States government before 1934.
Sudan Peacebuilding Workshops
After the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed in Abuja in May 2006, unrest in the region continued. The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) and other experts sought to include civil society in negotiations to promote stabilization and violence prevention.
Middle East Conflict Resolution
Podziba Policy Mediation has facilitated and consulted on issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and internal conflicts within Israel.
United Nations Civil Society Outreach Symposium
The Millennium Summit Declaration set out the vision of heads of state and government for the United Nations’ role in the 21st century and commitments to promote peace, development and social justice.
United Nations Seminar on Gender and Inclusive Mediation for Special Envoys
The UN Department of Political Affairs (UNDPA) supports mediation efforts around the world and is responsible for implementing Security Council Resolution 1325, which affirms a critical role for women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and peace negotiations.
Civic Fusion Workshops in Europe
Government officials and academics have worked to apply public policy mediation approaches to unresolved complex issues and situations in Europe. Many countries are working to create mediator capacity to engage stakeholders and the public to effectively address issues such as environmental protection, land use, immigrant integration, and radicalization.
Chelsea Charter Consensus Process
Widespread corruption and fiscal mismanagement led the Massachusetts State Legislature to take the unprecedented step of suspending Chelsea’s democracy and putting the city into state receivership.
Casco Bay Estuary Project
The Casco Bay Estuary Project was established to protect, preserve and remediate Casco Bay and its watershed. Its 25-member management committee includes officials from federal, state, and local government, scientists, citizens, industrialists, and environmentalists.
Forestry Climate Change Dialogues
Well-managed forests can significantly reduce greenhouse gases. The Forest Carbon Working Group, a broad and diverse coalition of stakeholders, worked to develop consensus policy recommendations to limit and reduce climate change impacts.
Brownfields Law Negotiated Rulemaking
The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act provides liability protections for prospective purchasers when they conduct environmental assessments prior to purchase to determine the presence or potential presence of environmental contamination on the property.
National Fisheries Enforcement Summit
After members of Congress and elected state officials complained about unfair enforcement practices against Northeastern fishers and an Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Commerce investigation, NOAA initiated a series of change strategies.
Every Student Succeeds Act Negotiated Rulemaking
The U.S. Department of Education convened stakeholders to develop regulations for academic assessments and provisions for allocating federal funds for children from low-income families.
Federal Student Loan Regulations
Under the Higher Education Act (HEA), the Department of Education is required to use a process known as negotiated rulemaking to develop all of its regulations governing the nation’s student loan programs. Negotiated rulemaking provides a forum for government and stakeholder representatives to engage in complex negotiations.