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The ability to effectively negotiate in stressful circumstances is a skill which is essential to every humanitarian worker. After receiving ample positive feedback about our humanitarian negotiation training, we want to ensure that as many humanitarians as possible have the chance to enhance their negotiation skills. However, language and safety restrictions make it impossible for us to reach all of them. Therefore, we provide a Training of Trainers (ToT) in negotiation skills for humanitarians. The ToT equips participants to deliver a two-day training in humanitarian negotiations for their colleagues in their own context and language.
In the first months of 2023, several ToT alumni have delivered their very own negotiation training to their peers. We checked in with two of the trainers after they delivered their first-ever 2-day negotiation training to 14 fellow humanitarians in Pakistan. The training was conducted by Human Relief Foundation in collaboration with Clingendael for staff and implementing partners of Concern Worldwide. The funding for the training was made available by USAID/BHA. The training aimed to enhance participants' negotiation skills and improve overall negotiation outcomes.
We checked in with two of the trainers after they delivered their first ever 2-day negotiation training.
Get to know Ahmed Raza and Habib Ahmad. Learn about heir experience and the motivations behind becoming a negotiation trainer.
Who are our Training of Trainers (ToT) alumni trainers?
Ahmed Raza is a development professional with 15 years of experience working with leading NGOs, Govt. & corporates in Pakistan. He has represented Pakistan at various National & International platforms including Trust Conference, UK. Ahmed is also part of the international community of practice of UNFPA & IMC addressing GBV in Emergencies as an emerging specialist.
Habib Ahmad is currently working as a Country Director Pakistan at Human Relief Foundation UK. He has overall 21 years of experience, famous as a leader in humanitarian aid, development, and peace. He is the International Rotary Peace Fellow, M. Phil- Peace & Conflict Studies, MA Social Work & Master in Public Administration, with extensive practical experience in integrated rural development, conflict-sensitive program management, and humanitarian aid with high-profile INGOs, donor agencies in Pakistan, Afghanistan, UK, and Thailand.
What made you want to partake in the Training of Trainers?
Ahmed Raza: After completing my negotiation skills training, I was continuously receiving requests to train fellow colleagues and other humanitarian workers on negotiations. This was one of the best opportunities offered by Clingendael to train peers so they can train other humanitarian workers. Furthermore, the content and previous experience during the foundation course mobilised me to apply for the course.
Habib Ahmad: I am a leader in peace, development, and humanitarian work. I aimed for the ToT to acquire the skills of designing and delivering the training to our staff, community, partners, and government organisations in a professional and organised manner.
What did your trainer journey look like?
Ahmed Raza: The ToT was one of the best training experiences I ever had. It was very detailed, and every aspect of the training was very well covered. I was very confident to conduct the training along with my fellow colleague Habib from Pakistan, who has magically managed to arrange the training. Amazingly helpful, our trainers from Clingendael remained available to provide support during the preparation of our training session. I feel highly confident and motivated now to conduct further training across Pakistan so our maximum fellow colleagues can benefit from what we have learned.
The Training of Trainers was one of the best training experiences I ever had.
Habib Ahmad:I was very enthusiastic about the ToT and applied with energy and great motivation. Once I got that wonderful opportunity, I tried to learn every session with full attention and also learned from a network of very good fellows. I always attend training with the aim to deliver that to my colleagues, juniors, and partners. This ToT really enabled me to deliver a very important and quality training to humanitarian professionals. This ToT provided me ample confidence because of the research-based and well-designed sessions. I feel very proud that I am an Alumnus and International facilitator of Clingendael, where I started my journey in 2018 as a trainee and now I am representing Clingendael as a trainer/facilitator. Moreover, the recipient of our training and Clingendael are both satisfied with our facilitation. My learning journey with Clingendael has just started, and I want to learn more and contribute my knowledge and skills for the benefit of communities around the globe.
My journey of learning with Clingendael has just started, I want to learn more and contribute my knowledge and skills for the benefit of communities around the globe.
What’s the impact of delivering these trainings?
Ahmed Raza: The feedback and the knowledge increase of participants from my first training really helped to understand the impact of these training sessions. The majority of the participants were amazed to see the methodology and practical implications of the training. They requested to continue these sessions and provide them to our fellow colleagues.
Habib Ahmad: This course is extremely important for humanitarian professionals. I am trying to train the senior management of the national and international organisations on this important subject. It will create an atmosphere of discussion and dialogue within these organisations and will help resolve conflict in an amicable manner. It will lead to a more harmonious collaboration among the humanitarian aid agencies and communities as well. The national NGOs will be enabled to negotiate in a more assertive manner with donors and INGOs. The INGOs and local NGOs will be enabled to negotiate with the national and local govt. in a more organised manner. Last but not least, this course really helped me and other professionals to negotiate serious and complex matters in a very planned and organised manner and get very good results.
A big thank you to Habib and Ahmed for making this negotiation skills training available to other humanitarians in their region!
