This webinar is part of the When Flags Change speaker series, which examines how shifts in political order impact humanitarian negotiations. Each session explores different challenges, from managing new authorities and restrictions to rebuilding relationships and maintaining trust in negotiations. This session focuses specifically on rebuilding relationships with new powerholders and local communities in the aftermath of political transition.
The discussion will be led by Abdalmajid Alshaer, Zelal Saqr, and Nadja Leuenberger, who will each offer perspectives from their diverse operational backgrounds on the importance of relationships in navigating transitions and maintaining principled engagement.
The discussion will cover:
-
The role of relationship-building in humanitarian negotiations.
-
How changes in control can disrupt existing relationships.
-
The effect of such disruptions on negotiations with new authorities.
-
Practical strategies to rebuild relationships effectively and in a timely manner.
-
The balance between principled engagement and operational pragmatism during transitions.
This webinar aims to unpack the relational dynamics of negotiating in politically sensitive contexts and reflect on how humanitarian actors can re-establish constructive dialogue and collaboration after a change in power.
Webinar Details
📅 Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM (CEST)
⏳ Duration: 60–75 minutes
📍 Location: Online (Zoom) – Link provided upon registration
💰 Cost: Free of charge
📝 Registration Deadline: May 5, 2025
Featured Speakers:
Abdalmajid Alshaer
Abdalmajid Alshaer is a humanitarian engagement advisor with more than 20 years of experience in the humanitarian sector across Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Iraq, and Libya. He has served in senior roles with organizations including Première Urgence, Médecins du Monde, and the ICRC, where he worked as a field coordinator, head of substructures, and deputy head of delegation.
In this session, Abdalmajid will reflect on how humanitarian negotiators can rebuild meaningful relationships with new authorities and communities after a change in power, and what strategies can support effective engagement in complex and evolving contexts.
Zelal Saqr
Zelal Saqr is a humanitarian professional based in Damascus with over six years of experience working with INGOs and the United Nations. Her expertise spans fieldwork, emergency response, early recovery, livelihoods, education, protection, and cash-based interventions. She brings deep experience navigating politically sensitive contexts and overcoming field-level challenges in complex operational environments.
In this session, Zelal will share reflections from the Syrian context, focusing on how humanitarian actors can maintain and rebuild relationships with local authorities and communities amid political and operational shifts.
Nadja Leuenberger
Nadja Leuenberger an access and engagement specialist currently serving as Global Access Advisor at the Danish Refugee Council. She has previously worked with OCHA and a range of international NGOs in complex operational contexts including South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar.
With a strong interest in International Humanitarian Law and extensive knowledge on engaging with military actors and armed groups, Nadja brings a global perspective on navigating power shifts and maintaining principled access. In this session, she will share reflections on the challenges and strategies of (re)building relationships with armed stakeholders following a change in authority.
