This biannual workshop brought together 33 participants from humanitarian NGOs, US government agencies, U.S. and U.K. military and international organizations all involved in relief and peace operations. USIP Professional Training Director George Ward and Professional Training Officer Nina Sughrue used exercises and simulations to help participants develop their skills in negotiation, conflict analysis, cross-cultural communication and mediation.
This biannual workshop brought together 33 participants from humanitarian NGOs, US government agencies, U.S. and U.K. military and international organizations all involved in relief and peace operations. USIP Professional Training Director George Ward and Professional Training Officer Nina Sughrue used exercises and simulations to help participants develop their skills in negotiation, conflict analysis, cross-cultural communication and mediation. By promoting interaction among diverse participants with distinct but overlapping missions, the program also aimed to develop participants´ capacity to build trust, identify shared objectives, and work collaboratively.
The NGOs represented were CARE International, Witness for Peace, Interaction, The Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, CHF International and the Academy for Educational Development. The government agencies represented were: USAID (Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, and the Office of Private Voluntary Cooperation) and the State Department (Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization). The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, West Point, a Navy chaplain, the UK joint CIMIC Group, and UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations were also represented. Three of the participants were from the UK, one was from Sierra Leone, one was from Armenia, one was from South Africa and five were from Kosovo. The diversity of the participants, both ethnically and professionally, added a great deal to the workshop.
