Navigating at the UN: Insights from INCAS Peace Practice Lead
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Our recent LinkedIn post on UN negotiations training provided by INCAS was followed by a surge in interest from INCAS community on LinkedIn. We sat down with Sofia Carrondo, INCAS Peace Practice Lead, to answer some of the questions from our followers.
Q: How does INCAS actually train senior practitioners for UN system negotiations? What techniques you use to boost negotiation skills in international diplomacy?
Sofia: INCAS combines applied and good practice negotiation theory with real-world examples from our own experience. We dive into negotiation basics, highlighting the particularities of the UN system. Our adult-learning approach fosters participant interaction, deepening understanding and networking.
Q: How does INCAS keep its training programmes up to date with current global challenges in international conflict and security? Are there tailored strategies to address real-time issues?
Sofia: We gather details about participants' roles and concerns before the training and on that basis select relevant examples to use. Time is put aside for in-depth discussions, allowing participants to delve into specific situations. For instance, when participants show interest in sanctions regimes or the presidency rotations of the UN Security Council, our training addresses these topics directly.
Q: How does INCAS promote collaboration and teamwork across different cultures in the context of UN negotiations? Do your training programmes include exercises to bridge cultural differences and enhance negotiation skills?
Sofia: Knowing how to negotiate in multicultural environments is key. We emphasise the exchange of experiences to boost learning on this topic. Our training also covers rapport and trust building. We have sessions on forming coalitions, diving into power dynamics and stakeholder mapping. Participants actively engage in group activities, including fun role-playing exercises.
And for those of you who wonder about Sofia’s background, here are 25 years summarised in a few words… She has extensive United Nations experience, notably leading the New Deal/Stabilisation team for UNSOM in Somalia and advising on post- crisis transitions at UNDOCO. Her work with the United Nations includes senior roles in Georgia, Kosovo, and Central Asia, focusing on governance, human rights, and recovery.
For more about our applied training programmes, reach out to Sofia Carrondo or contact us here.
