NOHA Advanced Training in Humanitarian Mediation Took Place in Nairobi

Using mediation to address protection challenges

Humanitarian organisations regularly face situations in which violence, displacement, restricted access or tensions between different groups threaten the safety and wellbeing of affected populations. The Nairobi training examined how mediation and facilitated dialogue can provide additional tools for addressing these challenges.

Participants explored how humanitarian mediation could contribute to preventing or mitigating violence, supporting voluntary returns, improving access to hard-to-reach communities and strengthening respect for the rights of affected populations.

The training also considered how mediation approaches could complement wider humanitarian activities, including community engagement, accountability to affected populations, protection mainstreaming and safe programming.

Understanding when and how to mediate

A major focus of the training was the preparation that takes place before a mediation process begins.

Participants learned to analyse conflicts and contexts, identify the positions, interests and motivations of different interlocutors, and assess whether mediation or negotiation was the most appropriate approach in a given situation. They also worked on developing mediation strategies, identifying potential options and alternatives, and recognising the conditions needed for a process to succeed.

Particular attention was given to the interpersonal dimensions of mediation. Participants practised communication techniques, trust-building and rapport, as well as approaches for dealing with difficult interlocutors and managing challenging interactions.

Practical learning through simulation

The Nairobi programme placed a strong emphasis on learning through experience. Approximately 70% of the training consisted of practical and participatory activities, including skills-based exercises, simulations and role plays. This allowed participants to apply concepts to realistic scenarios and develop confidence in using mediation tools in their own work.

Rather than treating mediation as a purely theoretical process, the training encouraged participants to test different approaches, reflect on their effectiveness and consider the ethical and operational challenges that can arise when humanitarian actors become involved in dialogue processes.

Participants also explored the risks and limitations of humanitarian mediation, including the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries and understanding when mediation may not be suitable.

Connecting humanitarian principles and mediation

The training highlighted an important relationship between humanitarian action and third-party mediation. The principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence share important similarities with the principles underpinning neutral mediation.

This raises opportunities for humanitarian organisations to use their existing relationships, presence and acceptance to facilitate dialogue in certain contexts. At the same time, the training encouraged participants to consider carefully the circumstances in which a humanitarian organisation can credibly perform a mediation role without compromising its humanitarian mandate or relationships with affected communities and other actors.

The training was facilitated by Jérôme Grimaud, a humanitarian practitioner and accredited mediator with extensive field experience in protection, humanitarian access, negotiation and mediation. His experience includes frontline negotiations, humanitarian mediation processes and the development of neutral third-party approaches to improving civilian protection and humanitarian access.