🗣️ MFSD brings the Naivasha Grid into Organisational Ombuds practice: from Humanitarian Negotiation to Conflict Prevention and stronger Governance

~ Press Release ~

Milan, 5 October 2026 – Preventing and addressing conflict before it develops into a formal dispute, while strengthening organisational governance and resilience. This was the central theme of the Keynote Address delivered by Pierfrancesco C. Fasano, Scientific Director of MFSD ADR Centre & Academy, at the 2026 Annual Meeting of NOMMO, the Network of Ombudsmen and Mediators of Multilateral Organizations, hosted at the World Food Programme (WFP) Headquarters in Rome.

Entitled “Bringing Peace to the Room in an Uncertain World”, the Keynote Address was delivered to more than 40 professionals from around the world engaged in Ombuds, mediation and workplace conflict resolution within multilateral organisations. The NOMMO programme formally featured the Keynote Address on 30 September.

From humanitarian negotiation to organisational conflict

At the heart of the address was a proposal to translate some of the analytical disciplines of the Naivasha Grid, a framework developed in the field of humanitarian negotiation, into Organisational Ombuds practice and the informal management of workplace conflict.

The purpose is not to equate profoundly different environments and mandates. Rather, it is to explore whether disciplines developed for negotiation in highly complex settings can offer a different lens through which to understand organisational conflict: distinguishing facts from assumptions and perceptions; mapping stakeholders and formal and informal influence; identifying the interests, needs and concerns underlying stated positions; and finding a possible space for movement before conflict becomes entrenched.

Bringing the Organisational Ombuds function to businesses and non-profit organisations

While well established within many international and multilateral organisations, the Organisational Ombuds function remains comparatively less familiar in Italy and across parts of Europe.

Its potential, however, extends beyond international institutions. Businesses, SMEs and non-profit organisations may also benefit from a confidential and informal space in which concerns can be raised at an early stage and options explored before organisational or interpersonal difficulties develop into formal disputes.

This is the direction now being pursued by MFSD, which is developing and providing Organisational Ombuds services as part of its broader work in conflict prevention and dispute resolution.

Unaddressed informal conflicts can progressively consume resources, damage professional relationships and, in more serious cases, impair an organisation’s effectiveness. Early engagement can therefore be valuable not only for resolving individual concerns, but also for identifying patterns and strengthening the organisation as a whole.

Ombuds, Governance and ESG

The Organisational Ombuds function also has a significant governance dimension.

By providing an informal channel through which concerns may emerge early, helping prevent the escalation of conflict and bringing systemic issues to light, the Ombuds function can contribute to stronger and more resilient organisational governance.

In this respect, it may also make a meaningful contribution to the “G” – Governance – within ESG policies: conflict prevention is not merely a matter of managing relationships, but can form part of the broader capacity of an organisation to listen, respond, learn and govern effectively.

Rome was not built in a day

“Rome was not built in a day and neither will Organisational Ombuds practice be,” Fasano observed.

“Building awareness and trust around this function, particularly in Europe, will take time. The Organisational Ombuds should not be perceived as an additional layer of bureaucracy, but as a resource that can help organisations address concerns early, preserve relationships and strengthen their capacity to manage conflict constructively.”

The experience of the NOMMO Annual Meeting offers an encouraging perspective on how the exchange of practices across institutions, professional cultures and different fields of conflict resolution can contribute to the continuing development of the Organisational Ombuds function.

MFSD thanks NOMMO and the World Food Programme for the invitation, the warm welcome and the opportunity to contribute to an international exchange among professionals committed to confidential, impartial and informal approaches to organisational conflict resolution.