Keep reading to find out why our community members are attending the Summit and why you should too!
Apostolos Veizis
INTERSOS’ Executive Director
Athens, Greece
CCHN member since 2020
I see the Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) as a virtual family of negotiators. It’s a family where we share experiences on the challenges when negotiating for access with different actors and how to get the best possible outcome. It's a space where we discuss not only the challenges we face during operations, but so much more!
I had the opportunity to meet fellow humanitarian practitioners during a CCHN Peer Workshop held in Athens in September of 2020. Most of us had already been in touch with each other as humanitarians working in Greece, but we had never met face to face. It was great to exchange and reflect on our own negotiation experiences. I then joined the Training of Facilitators program, which allowed me to meet even more people and work more closely with the CCHN team.
The World Summit on Frontline Humanitarian Negotiation will be a systematic approach and reflection of all issues related to humanitarian negotiation. It will also be an opportunity to enlarge the network and find more people who are really engaged in this work. For me, the Summit is the opportunity for the CCHN family to open itself to new members and new topics.
I will participate in the session “Voices from Lesbos” organized in collaboration with Stéphanie Ferland, CCHN’s Negotiation Support Specialist for Europe. For me, it’s important to bring the topic of humanitarian negotiation in a European setting to the Summit because it’s an ongoing issue. The current humanitarian crisis in Europe has been touched upon from an academic and political perspective, but never from a negotiating point of view. By bringing the voices from Lesbos on the challenges on migration, we can try to find answers to the questions that we have, like how to negotiate in a European setting, which has its own distinctive characteristics.
“For me, it’s important to bring the topic of humanitarian negotiation in a European setting to the World Summit because it’s an ongoing issue. By bringing the voices from Lesbos on the challenges on migration, we can try to find answers to the questions that we have, like how to negotiate in a European setting, which has its own distinctive characteristics“.
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Mohammad Thaer Allaw
Regional Access Advisor, Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
Yemen
CCHN member since 2019
“Remember those moments when you felt stuck in dilemmas of humanitarian negotiations? Trying to figure out options, solutions, the risk of your compromise, impact on people, impact on your job, etc.? and you wish there is someone or something could help you out of it?” Well, this is the Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN), except, it is even better. It is a community. The best thing about communities is that you know that you are not alone in this. You know that someone else has been through this before and someone else can actually understand your demons (those tiny unresolved negotiation pokes!).
If you approach CCHN events with an open mindset to learn and reflect, knowing that you are in a safe space —and you actually are—, then you will learn from every participant. I learned a lot from my peers, while facilitating workshops and, most recently, from the Middle East Think Tank discussions. My most precious learning was that, outside the humanitarian bubble, there is an enormous realm of expertise and by having the skills to adapt and contextualize, you will find plenty of answers. I also learned how to use MIRO! And it turned out to be an extremely useful tool to visualize and organize my thoughts.
Since last summer, the world has changed, probably forever! The World Summit will reveal important research work, provide numerous workshops and discussions to help reflect on negotiations from various perspectives and last year’s experiences. It is an opportunity not to be missed!
All the sessions will be relevant and insightful with no exception. It all depends on what you are looking for, from strategic to practical, from tools to concepts, from humanitarian sector to academic circles and expert level. All will be covered. It is going to be one of the most resourceful events in humanitarian negotiations this year.
“Since last summer, the world has changed, probably forever! The World Summit will reveal important research work, provide numerous workshops and discussions to help reflect on negotiations from various perspectives and last year’s experiences. It is an opportunity not to be missed!“
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Matina Stamatiadou
Senior Project Officer, Catholic Relief Services
Athens, Greece
CCHN member since 2020
The Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) is an innovative initiative that aims to strengthen frontline humanitarian negotiators’ skills by providing exceptional training.
The activities offered are highly sophisticated. They have a strategic approach to the challenges that humanitarian actors face when conducting their daily duties.
The practitioners' connection is one of the highest advantages that CCHN offers. During my journey with the CCHN team, I have met great fellow colleagues that shared their valuable experiences. That is a unique opportunity to advance and grow your own career as a humanitarian practitioner.
The CCHN World Summit on Frontline Humanitarian Negotiation a unique opportunity! The themes of the World Summit are extraordinary. The CCHN team has designed the Summit based on the concurrent needs that humanitarian practitioners are facing. Hence, it is essential to partake in this event to receive valuable information and strategic guidance to advance the humanitarian framework where we operate.
Additionally, during the Word Summit, humanitarian actors will present case studies, efficient approaches, and suggested methodologies —all essential information to advance our operational standards.
Based on the announced agenda, the discussions and sessions are of great interest. I think that it will be fascinating to participate in the ''High-Level Panel on Designing Collaborative Approaches to Global Humanitarian Challenges''. I’m really looking forward to the Summit, as humanitarian experts from all over the globe will examine such an exceptional topic!
“The themes of the World Summit are extraordinary. The CCHN team has designed the Summit based on the concurrent needs that humanitarian practitioners are facing. Hence, it is essential to partake in this event to receive valuable information and strategic guidance to advance the humanitarian framework where we operate”.
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Sharmina Hoque
Field Associate, UNHCR
Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh
Member since 2019
The CCHN is a place where people can discover their own potential and confidence. It’s a platform for community members to share experiences, discuss about challenges, and derive solutions. The CCHN arranges workshops and sessions to strengthen the capabilities on frontline negotiations for better engagement through a community of practice. Most importantly, the CCHN offers screen-free workshops with one of the crucial objectives is to learn from one another.
I met some great fellow practitioners through the CCHN. It happened when I attended an onsite Peer Workshop in Bangladesh as well as in Naivasha, Kenya during the Community Assembly. Before attending the Peer workshop, I tended to achieve hundred percent of my expectation in all aspects of life and career. But I've gradually learned to accept all positive outcomes of my actions.
This World Summit on Frontline Humanitarian Negotiation is the first World Summit I will ever attend. That is why I’m so excited, and it makes me feel so special. This World Summit will bring together humanitarian workers from all the corners of the world to share their expertise. Besides that, the Summit will have a full agenda along with a Global Peer Workshop on Humanitarian Negotiation, multiple working groups and simulations. It will offer the opportunity to meet fellow participants in a dedicated interactive platform, where a virtual exhibit hall will be hosted.
This World Summit is the first world summit in my career. I'm eagerly waiting to join the summit. I will be able to attend Passport for Resilience sessions. Currently, I am working for refugees in the largest refugee camp of the world, and it will help me to enhance my capacity to negotiate for the benefit of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers. This World Summit will bring together humanitarian negotiators, policymakers, researchers and negotiation experts from other professional circles and I am looking forward to meeting such dynamic people and learn from them.
Evolving humanitarian environments are becoming increasingly challenging. To respond to crises, humanitarian professionals need to acquire robust negotiation skills, share experience, and learn from fellow practitioners and negotiation expert. So, it shall be interesting and helpful for humanitarian colleagues to be a part of the World Summit this summer.
“Evolving humanitarian environments are becoming increasingly challenging. To respond to crises, humanitarian professionals need to acquire robust negotiation skills, share experience, and learn from fellow practitioners and negotiation expert. So, it shall be interesting and helpful for humanitarian colleagues to be a part of the World Summit this summer”.
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Sylvester Eromosele
Third Party Mediator for the Society for Peace Studies and Practice
Benin City, Nigeria
Member since 2020
The Center of Competent Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) is a great organisation that equips humanitarian practioners worldwide with the updated skills and knowledge that enables them to function better and more efficiently as negotiators.
I have met several unique practitioners through the CCHN online workshop sessions. Since I met them, I have learnt new and advanced ways of carrying out humanitarian negotiation activities and I am still learning more.
The upcoming CCHN World Summit will enable for various humanitarian practioners and experts to meet, share experiences and learn more ways to advance their careers.
I have been working with the with the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) advancing peacebuilding and humanitarianism in my country, Nigeria. My participation in the World Summit will further expose me to international actors and practitioners in the field, and also advance my career and aspirations.
I am looking forward to joining the thematic sessions on how to facilitate peer exchanges between humanitarian negotiators. The reason for this is to enable me to gain more experience in the application of humanitarian negotiation practices as learnt from different contexts around the world.
“The upcoming CCHN World Summit will enable for various humanitarian practioners and experts to meet, share experiences and learn more ways to advance their careers“.
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Mohammad Usman Nagenu
Humanitarian Access Officer, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
Maiduguri, Nigeria
CCHN member since 2017
The Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) is a center where humanitarian negotiation tools are developed through exchanges with frontline negotiators and best practices are gathered directly from the field. The tools developed help frontline humanitarian negotiators in planning negotiations and engaging with counterparts. The Center leverages on experiences of frontline community members as well as academics who help to shape the tools and encourage their use during frontline negotiations as well during daily program activities. The Center is also a hub for learning and exchanging among members of the community without the barrier of hierarchy.
During my first encounter with the CCHN in 2017, I met one CCHN facilitator who taught me how to use most of the tools. To this day, I still use these tools to support my team during negotiations. Later on, I met with the same facilitator during the 2019 community assembly in Naivasha, Kenya, where I learned about the importance of digital technology when negotiating in the frontlines.
I also met two academics who are very interested in developing humanitarian negotiation tools, for example, Claude Bruderlein, who is the Director of CCHN, Alain Lempereur, a professor at Brandeis University & Harvard PON and Hanalia Ferhan, CCHN’s Negotiation Support Specialist for Africa.
Two tools explained by Claude back in 2017 that I still use today are the ORID questioning, as well as how to leverage my network of influence. It can’t be emphasized enough how useful CCHN activities are to meet other humanitarian practitioners and learn from their own negotiation experiences.
During the Summit, humanitarian colleagues will have the opportunity to meet a diverse group of humanitarian professionals from across the world. Best negotiation practices will also be shared and new tools that could be used will be identified.
The context where we work is changing constantly and needs new approaches to solve the evolving issues we face as humanitarian professionals. This is especially true when it comes to increased levels of insecurity for aid workers and the lack of an enabling environment to engage with the armed groups whenever it’s blocked by authorities.
I'm looking forward to discussing with experts in negotiating with armed groups during the Summit. I’m also interested in examining how to approach the issue of criminalization with other participants and experts. I have registered for the Advanced Professional Certificate in Crisis Negotiation (kidnapping and extortion). I would also like to join sessions on negotiating with armed groups and negotiating access for COVID-19 vaccination in conflict setting.
“The context where we work is changing constantly and needs new approaches to solve the evolving issues we face as humanitarian professionals. I’m looking forward to discussing with experts in negotiating with armed groups during the Summit and in examining how to approach the issue of criminalization with other participants“.
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Elena Qleibo
Senior Consultant for Peaceful Change Initiatives
San José, Costa Rica
Member since 2020
The Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) is an innovative approach to thinking about negotiation in the humanitarian practice, placing great importance in the well-being of the practitioner.
Through the CCHN Peer Workshops, I have been able to meet expert practitioners in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East and learn about their best practices, offering in turn my own experiences of humanitarian negotiation.
The Advanced Professional Certificate organized in collaboration with Harvard has provided me with invaluable learning. And participating in the Think Tank has been also an excellent space to delve into more specific topics. Lastly, the Monthly Forums also allowed me to participate in learning groups where we did simulation trainings.
The World Summit on Frontline Humanitarian Negotiation will help to spread the word about the work and different activities of the CCHN and allow those who have not been involved the space to learn and share.
I am interested in the diverse topics that will be touched upon during the Summit, like advanced negotiation skills, humanitarian response to migration, community mediation, among many others. I will be a participant in the Think Tank subgroup on negotiating with beneficiaries and have also joined the Resilience Passport sessions.
“I am interested in the diverse topics that will be covered during the World Summit, such as advanced negotiation skills, humanitarian response to migration, community mediation, among many others”.
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Ola Alshami
Communication Associate / Translator, WFP
Sana’a, Yemen
Member since 2021
The Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) is a unique community that aims at building our capacities as humanitarian practitioners through interactive discussions, meetings, webinars and workshops. It brings trainers, facilitators, experts, and participants from all over the world to share expertise about humanitarian negotiation challenges and success stories to be learned from. It has rich resources and materials, and it will be great if someone joins this fabulous community.
I have been introduced to great fellow practitioners and we worked in groups during the Online Peer Workshop on Frontline Humanitarian Negotiation for Humanitarian Interpreters organized in April 2021. I learned about some challenges they encountered as interpreters during negotiations and how they acted to overcome them. Moreover, the facilitators and the advisors were very informative and shared their views and themes smoothly from whom I learned very much.
The World Summit is so special because of its various intensive themes and topics that cover a great variety of issues. Moreover, it is an interactive platform that makes real-time participation from around the world simple and engaging. It will be interesting and helpful for humanitarian colleagues because they will be able to participate in virtual exhibitions, peer workshops, live simulations, community gatherings as well as a number of networking opportunities.
Participating in the World Summit will enable me to meet and interact with so many humanitarian professionals from around the world. The Summit’s agenda has many topics that grabbed my interest and attention such as the Advanced Professional Certificate, thematic working groups, a Specialized Advanced Session on Negotiating Access for COVID-19 vaccination, a Global Peer Workshop for Humanitarian Negotiation, among other sessions, because they are aimed at increasing the interaction and communication among participants of the Summit.
“Participating in the World Summit will enable me to meet and interact with so many humanitarian professionals from around the world. The Summit’s agenda has many topics that grabbed my interest and attention because they are aimed at increasing the interaction and communication among participants of the Summit“.
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