Short course Negotiation in Humanitarian Crises 2024
Information
Period
6 May 2024 - 17 May 2024Language
EnglishFormat
Distance learningRegistration
Registration deadline
28 April 2024Fees:
CHF 1'700.-
Deposit (non refundable upon admission): CHF 400-
Contribution to the SDGs
Objectives
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Define the objectives and specificities of humanitarian negotiation
- Apply a negotiation framework adapted to humanitarian crises
- Select and manage the most appropriate interaction and communication modes with various stakeholders while in a negotiation process
- Discover your personal style as negotiator and its consequences
Audience
Professional from other sectors involved in humanitarian operations like government officials, CIMIC officers, liaison officers
Graduate student with relevant volunteer or intern experience, looking to undertake a postgraduate course with a view to entering the humanitarian sector
Programme
Structure of the course
- Defining the similarities and differences between Humanitarian Negotiations and other types of negotiation
- Analysing a negotiation context
- Defining a strategy adapted to humanitarian crises
- Panel with experts
- Special types of negotiation: abduction of humanitarian staff, mediation with communities
- Role plays
Director(s)
Prof. Karl BLANCHET, Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, a joint Centre of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva
Coordinator(s)
Partnership
One of very few courses focused on negotiation, it allows humanitarian programme managers to develop skills to enable them to successfully negotiate with a multitude of actors. Through lectures and case studies, participants learn to design a negotiation strategy that is adapted to a specific context and takes into account short, mid-and long-term outcomes.
External speakers include academics and practitioners, and come from a range of institutions and organisations.
Admission criteria
- University qualification (bachelor’s degree or equivalent)
- At least three years of relevant professional experience
- Excellent command of English
- Motivation working in the humanitarian sector
Application File
- Copy of identity document or passport
- Passport photo (.jpg format)
- Curriculum vitae
- Cover letter (explaining what is the reason why you apply for this course and how will the acquired skills help you in your career)
- Copy of the highest educational qualification obtained
- Copy of work certificate or official document of the current job position
- Proof of English language level
- Employer's funding agreement, if applicable
- Employer's letter of support (recommended)
- Scholarship application form (if applicable). Please refer to https://humanitarianstudies.ch/scholarships-executive-short-courses/
More information about the application process is available on our application page.
Number of participants
“This training has allowed me to process my thoughts and to put words on situations and experiences which I kind of felt “stuck with” at this point in my carrier, without being able to pinpoint what made me uncomfortable. The reflexive process is too often absent from our daily practice, busy as we are running around trying to “fix things” and I am very grateful to have had that opportunity.”
Maëlle, course participant, November 2020
“On the one hand, what I learned from this training can be used not only externally with interlocutors of governments or non-state armed actors by getting access to a community in need of assistance and/or protection or to evaluate those needs and as part of this negotiation (but not as the main aim) to obtain security guarantees for the staff that will deliver aid or/and work alongside the community. On the other hand, it can be used internally to have the support of key stakeholders of my organisation that are important for one intervention as sometimes it is more difficult to gather a consensus in house. Finally, it can also be used when negotiating with other humanitarian or development organisations.”
Thaïs, course participant, November 2020
“I found both group and individual exercises very enlightening about negotiation techniques, approaches and don’ts of humanitarian negotiations. It was great to discuss during the group work on several elements which to me were obvious, but other members had a completely different vision and perspective. Several elements of this part will be used in my team’s and my future negotiations”.
Alexandros, course participant, November 2020
Contribution to the SDGs