Julia von Dobeneck leads the Robert Bosch Stiftung's Western Balkans peacebuilding strand since 2023. In addition to its core support to the EFB, the foundation initiated and funds the EFB's bridging divides program, which is aimed at transcending ethnic boundaries and addressing political polarization by constructive dialogue. Convinced that something needs to change in the area of peacebuilding, the foundation implements the locally-led principle in all its funding approaches.
Julia von Dobeneck is a professional mediator with years’ experience in leading positions in peace mediation, peacebuilding and political consulting, e.g. at the German Bundestag. She is also a Steering Committee member of KoneKtor - Philantropy East Forum. For the Center for Peace Mediation/Viadrina University, Julia advised on peace processes at the German Federal Foreign Office, supported the set-up of the ministry’s mediation team and conceptually advanced peace mediation in Germany. Together with Ukrainian partners, she researched dialogue processes in Ukraine. For CSSP, she facilitated dialogue on the municipal level in Kosovo and co-headed the Mitrovica Mediation Center set-up. As a freelance mediation consultant, she worked for the OSCE mission in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as for the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (hd). She is co-founder of the Women Mediators Network Germany (WPM) and the Initiative Mediation Support Germany (IMSD).
Julia has a background in law and media/communication science.