Academy
Training category
Humanitarian negotiation
Why training negotiation skills for humanitarian aid workers?
The work of humanitarian aid workers and the accompanied negotiations are crucial for delivering aid to those in need. The ability to effectively negotiate in stressful circumstances is a skill which is essential to every humanitarian worker: from the field-based aid worker negotiating access on the frontline to the manager in headquarters talking to donors and governments. The Clingendael Institute focuses on equipping participants with a set of tools which allows them to better analyse a situation they find themselves in and to make more conscious choices on how to negotiate.
Participants learn through simulations and role play to put into practice these tools and techniques to better deal with their daily challenges. At the same time, the training serves as a platform where humanitarian workers can exchange dilemmas and learn from each other’s experiences.
Facts & figures: Impact of the Humanitarian Negotiation Programme
The programme was established in 2016 with support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign affairs. The training courses are offered in The Hague, near conflict areas and online.
Since 2017, Clingendael Academy has trained more than 700 humanitarians and mediators in negotiation skills to increase access and effectiveness of aid delivery. 83% of our alumni were part of negotiations within six months after following our training and 94% of those alumni believe that the tools and techniques learned improved their negotiation result.
The reported negotiation activities include:
- Negotiating for access to an area or a target population (30%)
- Financial negotiations: with donors or suppliers (19%)
- Negotiating for cooperation from local communities (16%)
- Negotiating for permission to implement specific activities (after gaining general access) (14%)
- Negotiations with other humanitarian organizations on coordination and implementation (14%)
- Defending humanitarian principles as conditions for operations (7%)
Check out our result and impact map 2017-2020.
Clingendael's results are mentioned in the Dutch Development Results 2019 under the themes Security and rule of Law and Humanitarian aid.
Activities 2021
We keep adding new training opportunities throughout the year. Some of our trainings are invitation only, or target humanitarian aid workers from specific countries, so keep that in mind while applying. After the deadline has been closed, our experts look at all the applications and make a selection of participants who seem most fit to take part in the programme. The training courses are delivered in English and French.
Stay up to date about our new courses. Register for our email alert. You will receive an e-mail once we have an ‘open registration’ course coming up.
| Dates 2021 | Activity | Days | Location | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20-26 Jan |
Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training |
5 |
Digital |
Full |
|
8-12 March |
Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training |
5 |
Digital |
Full |
|
15-19 March |
Third Party Mediators in the Humanitarian Context: Negotiation & Mediation Skills |
5 |
Digital |
Full |
|
22-26 March |
Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training |
5 |
Digital |
Invitation only |
|
12-16 April |
Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training |
5 |
Digital |
Full |
|
17-21 May |
Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training |
5 |
Digital |
Invitation only |
|
8-10 June |
Advanced Course - Negotiation Skills Training |
5 |
Digital |
Alumni only |
| 19-23 July | Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training | 5 | Digital | Full |
| 13-17 Sept | Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training | 5 | Digital | Invitation only |
| 29 Sept-1 Oct | Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training | 5 | Digital | Apply now |
| 12-14 Oct | Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training | 5 | TBD | TBD |
| 25-29 Oct | Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training | 4 | The Hague | TBD |
| 16-18 Nov | Foundation Course - Negotiation Skills Training | 5 | TBD | TBD |
| 30 Nov-2 Dec | Advanced Course - Negotiation Skills Training | 3 | Digital | Alumni only |
Which training suits you?
We offer different negotiation skills training courses for humanitarian aid workers. Below you can find an overview of the different trainings.
Foundation course
This training deals with the basics of negotiation.
- Face-to-face: a four-day training (in The Hague) or three-day training (in the region)
- Online: a five-day training
Courses for alumni of foundation course
- Advanced course: a three-day face to face training for participants who have taken part in the foundation course. It builds on the elements learnt during the foundation course & goes into more detailed negotiation situations such as deadlocks.
- E-negotiation: a two-day online training in e-negotiation.
Training of Trainers
Participants who have taken part in the foundation and advanced course will in the course of a week be prepared to deliver a two-day negotiation training to their colleagues.
Third Party Mediators
- Face-to-face: a five-day programme for local actors mediating negotiations in a humanitarian context
- Online: a three-day training in e-mediation
Tailor-made: if you are looking for a negotiation skills training for your organisation or consortium, please contact us.
Stay up to date about our new courses. Register for our email alert. You will receive an e-mail once we have an ‘open registration’ course coming up.
Language and costs
We deliver training courses in both English and French. The language of the training is indicated in the application form. Clingendael covers the training fees which means the trainings are free. Humanitarian organisations are expected to cover travel and accommodation costs of their participating staff. Financial assistance is available in some circumstances.
