Humanitarian negotiators commit to a week of didactical learning in Nairobi

From 27 to 31 October, the Clingendael Academy organised a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) course on Humanitarian Negotiation Skills in Nairobi. Eleven experienced humanitarian professionals working in Ethiopia, Ukraine, Iraq and elsewhere, travelled to Nairobi to take part in a week of full trainer immersion — dedicating their time to deepening both their negotiation expertise and their ability to share these skills with partners and colleagues in their own contexts.

All participants were alumni of Clingendael’s Foundation Course in Humanitarian Negotiation Skills, allowing them to build on a shared foundation while strengthening their confidence and skills to facilitate negotiation trainings themselves. The week combined interactive sessions, hands-on facilitation practice, and constructive peer-to-peer feedback, creating space for reflection, experimentation, and growth.

This ToT course is part of Clingendael’s Humanitarian Negotiation Programme and aims to strengthen negotiation capacities across the humanitarian sector and support localisation by equipping practitioners to deliver training in their own regions and languages.

We thank all participants for their energy, openness, and commitment. As they return to their teams and communities, they carry forward the tools and confidence to strengthen humanitarian negotiation practice from within!