Workshop on Humanitarian Negotiations and Decision-Making

Program Date

18 Dec 22 Dec 2023

Program Location

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Program Venue

Inntel Hotels Rotterdam Centre

Registration Closing Date

31 Oct 2023

Program Introduction

The ability to effectively negotiate in stressful situations is a vital skill for every humanitarian worker. As aid workers, we frequently face situations that require some form of negotiation and oftentimes from a position of relative weakness. The outcome of such negotiations becomes a game-changer for effective and timely provision of humanitarian assistance and protection. Volatile contexts, short time, and limited power to exert influence on the parties – these are the characteristics that make humanitarian negotiations unique.

Workshop on Humanitarian Negotiations and Decision-Making in Rotterdam, Netherlands has been designed to target the improvement in individual and organizational negotiation skills. We actively work to equip participants with a set of practical tools, methods, and skills that help them analyze the environment where the humanitarian negotiation takes place and build the strategy for achieving desired objectives.


Target Audience

This workshop is specifically aimed at humanitarian professionals that are involved in negotiations for access, assistance, and protection with government authorities, military personnel, armed groups, and civilians in conflict and emergency settings.


Program Objectives

Upon the successful completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Improve interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills
  • Master advocacy tools and techniques
  • Learn how to negotiate the best agreement from the position of relative weakness
  • Lead and participate in negotiations in humanitarian and protection contexts
  • Effectively analyze negotiating environment and build negotiation strategies under time-stress
  • Comprehend the peculiarities of humanitarian negotiations with governments, military, armed groups, donors, and civilians

Program Contents

First Day

  • Understanding Humanitarian Negotiations and accompanying challenges
  • Humanitarian Negotiations and International Humanitarian Law
  • Different modes of Negotiation
  • Characteristics of humanitarian engagement and negotiations with armed groups
  • Characteristics of humanitarian negotiations with government authorities
  • Humanitarian Negotiations with Donors
  • Humanitarian Negotiations with Civilians
  • Multi-Party Humanitarian Negotiations

Second Day

  • Defining the motivation for negotiation
  • Setting Negotiation Objectives
  • Partners in humanitarian negotiations
  • Interests, Position, and Power in humanitarian negotiations
  • Stress and Time-Pressure in Humanitarian Negotiations
  • Assessing Leverage
  • Maximizing Compatibility and Leverage
  • Selecting Start point and approach
  • Selecting the right tactics and defining arguments

Third Day

  • Diplomacy in Humanitarian Negotiations
  • Personal Negotiation Styles
  • Face-to-face negotiation:
    • Building relationship
    • Managing cultural differences
    • Language and Interpreters
  • Dealing with Failure in Negotiation
  • Following through the negotiation

Fourth Day  – Peer-to-peer workshop

The last day of the workshop will entirely be dedicated to hands-on practice and knowledge exchange. Participants will be requested to prepare specific scenarios from their work experience and discuss the negotiation options with the team. The consultants shall also present multiple complex scenarios and ask the delegates to find solutions during the group work. Upon the completion of these activities, the group shall come up with some suggestions on best practices in humanitarian negotiations.


Program Methodology

Humanitarian Negotiations and Decision-Making is a highly interactive workshop with particular emphasis on knowledge exchange. The presenter shall use proven adult-learning techniques to facilitate the conversation between the delegates. Several case studies and scenarios will be discussed. The participants will have an opportunity to engage in real-life simulations where they can practice communication skills and work on personal negotiation styles.

Program Fee
GBP3950

Payment Options

Fee Covers

  • Visa Assistance (complimentary)

  • Participant Assessment

  • Airport Pickup

  • Accommodation

  • Wi-Fi

  • Welcome Dinner

  • Breakfast

  • Workshop Kit

  • Program Materials

  • Program Experts

  • Practical Activities

  • Lunch

  • Refreshments

  • Interactive workshop

  • City Map & Direction

  • Risalat T-shirt (complimentary)

  • Field Visit

  • Program Certificate

  • Entertaining Tour

  • Program Report

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