Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation
The Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) is a joint initiative of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the UN World Food Programme.
Our mission
Through its work, the CCHN aims at…
Fostering a global community of frontline negotiators
The CCHN brings together humanitarian practitioners engaged in frontline negotiations across different organisations, contexts and world regions to create a community of practice: a global network of humanitarian professionals who share an interest in developing this domain and who benefit from learning and exchanging with others.
Promoting reflection, learning and exchanges on humanitarian negotiation
The CCHN provides humanitarian professionals with a safe and confidential space to exchange on their practices and develop humanitarian negotiation skills through experience-based learning opportunities.
Helping humanitarian organisations build their negotiation capacity
The CCHN offers tailored, on-demand support to humanitarian organisations wishing to strengthen their staff members’ negotiation capacity. By doing so, the CCHN contributes to a more consistent and coherent approach to humanitarian negotiation across the sector.
Our vision
The CCHN envisions a world where people in crisis situations are protected and assisted through an independent, vibrant and inclusive community of frontline negotiators.
Our governing board
The CCHN is administratively hosted by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. The CCHN’s governing board is composed of four representatives of its founding agencies, negotiation experts, and members of the community of practice who act in their personal capacity. The governing board is in charge of:
Providing direction to the CCHN’s activities.
Adopting and reviewing the CCHN’s objectives, annual workplan and budget.
Monitoring the outcomes of the CCHN’s work.
The current board is composed by:
- Peter Maurer, President of the governing board (ad personam)
Representatives of humanitarian agencies contributing to the CCHN:
- Stephen Cornish – Director General, Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland
- Filippo Grandi – High Commissioner, UN High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR)
- Robert Mardini – Director General, International Committee of the Red Cross
- Carl Skau – Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, UN World Food Programme (WFP)
Members of the CCHN community of practice (ad personam):
- Ms. Hanalia Ferhan
- Ms. Esther Opoka
- Dr. Apostolos Veizis
Recognised negotiation experts (ad personam):
- Michael Møller – Chair of the CCHN Independent Evaluation Steering Committee in 2020
For additional information on the CCHN’s governance, please contact us at [email protected].
More information
Funding
The CCHN’s diverse funding sources include multi-year agreements with institutional donors, support from partner humanitarian agencies, and in-kind contributions.
Our current sources of funding
- Strategic partners (International Committee of the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland, UN High Commissioners for Refugees, UN World Food Programme).
- Institutional donors (Governments of Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland).
- Other funding sources (local partners, in-kind support for field implementation).
For additional information on the CCHN’s donors and funding, please contact us at [email protected].
