Negotiations Training Programme – Review Workshop, Wednesday 16th December 2020

Between June and October 2020, Forward Thinking, in cooperation with the House of Wisdom Institute, delivered an online negotiation training programme for a group of over 20 figures in Gaza. On Wednesday 16th December, Forward Thinking convened a review workshop to gather participant feedback from the programme.  During the programme, Professor Alain Lempereur led two needs assessment meetings and four workshops on the ‘principles of responsible negotiation’. Following participant requests, he then delivered a final workshop on mediation skills. Pat Hynes also provided a session on the practical role of mediation during ‘live’ negotiations and gave insights on his role mediating during the Irish peace process.  In this review session, participants shared how they had been able to apply lessons learned practically within their own contexts. The group emphasised that a clear lesson from the programme had been that negotiations can be ‘win win’. Talks between two sides can result in positive outcomes for both parties rather than one side ‘winning’ while another ‘loses’.  Feedback from the programme was overwhelmingly positive. The group expressed a desire for further training on negotiations skills or in relation to other areas of work such as project management.