United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) July 2008
InterWorks conducted the “Essentials of Humanitarian Negotiation” (EHN) workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 30 June -4 July 2008. The objective of the workshop was to improve the negotiation skills of humanitarian professionals. The workshop emphasized techniques for reaching mutually beneficial (“win-win”) solutions, such as correctly analyzing your own and the other’s negotiation position, using active listening, inventing options for mutual gain and reducing anger and hostility. The ultimate goal was to increase the quality of humanitarian response by enhancing the capacity of humanitarian professionals to advocate and support interests on behalf of agencies and beneficiaries. The workshop included thoughtful presentations and numerous negotiation exercises to create an intelligent, intense, dynamic and challenging learning environment.
The presentation/command exercises were very relevant. The exercise helps us to understand the contents better. Exercises also helped us to build confidence on self, a great [feeling] that we could negotiate better.
– Workshop participant