World: Humanitarian Diplomacy Online Course

We are now accepting applications for the February 2016 session of the Humanitarian Diplomacy online diploma course, offered by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in cooperation with DiploFoundation. This 12-week course, led by Ambassador Christopher Lamb and a team of experienced practitioners, extends the knowledge base and develops practical skills of current and future practitioners in humanitarian diplomacy and policy. In a supportive international online environment, the course familiarises participants with basic definitions, concepts, actors, and institutions in the field of humanitarian diplomacy, introduces international humanitarian law, hones advocacy and negotiation skills, develops participants’ research skills, and increases their understanding of national and regional humanitarian diplomacy activities.

This course is currently offered in English, however participants who are more comfortable with French will have the option to write and submit some course assignments and the final research paper in French.

The online course will extend the knowledge base and develop the practical skills of current and future practitioners in humanitarian diplomacy and policy.

To achieve its objectives, the course will:

· Familiarise participants with basic definitions, concepts, actors, and institutions in the field of humanitarian diplomacy.

· Introduce participants to international humanitarian law, the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and National Societies’ role as an auxiliary to government.

· Hone the advocacy and negotiation skills of participants.

· Facilitate an international exchange of experiences and knowledge in a safe and supportive online class environment.

· Develop the research skills of participants, and increase their understanding of national and regional humanitarian diplomacy activities.

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

· Explain clearly the concept of humanitarian diplomacy and provide examples of humanitarian diplomacy in action.

· List and categorise the main actors in the field of humanitarian diplomacy and describe their roles.

· Describe the interplay between relevant international law, including international humanitarian law, and humanitarian diplomacy.

· Analyse the role of advocacy and persuasion in humanitarian diplomacy.

· Organise a humanitarian diplomacy alliance.

· Plan a persuasion campaign, taking into consideration the application of fundamental humanitarian principles.

· Explain how to shape or influence negotiations through an evidence-based approach.

· Describe how different humanitarian diplomacy contexts influence negotiation outcomes.

· Analyse case studies of humanitarian diplomacy, identifying goals, actors, methods, challenges, and implementation.

Course outline

· Module 0 – Orientation to Online Learning: During this short module, participants will be introduced to the online classroom and tools for communication and interaction that they will use during the course. Participants will also be guided through practice exercises and will have the chance to ask questions and request assistance as needed.

· Module 1 – Introduction to Humanitarian Diplomacy: This module looks at how diplomacy is understood within various definitions of humanitarian diplomacy, making use of the IFRC humanitarian diplomacy policy and its four signposts for action. How has humanitarian diplomacy evolved, and what is the current situation? Why is it relevant today? Who practices humanitarian diplomacy? What is the profile of a humanitarian diplomacy practitioner?

· Module 2 – Humanitarian Diplomacy Toolkit: This is a cognitive toolkit, or a set of thinking tools, to help the humanitarian diplomat navigate through vast amounts of information and fast-changing policy contexts. The toolkit does not contain ready-made solutions. Practically speaking, this cognitive toolkit will help humanitarian diplomats to engage in debate, argue in favour of their positions, persuade interlocutors, and find creative solutions for overcoming stalemates in policy discussions, eventually reaching compromises acceptable to all negotiating parties.

· Module 3 – Humanitarian Diplomacy Actors: This module surveys the evolution of the RCRC Movement and introduces the main characteristics, role and function of the IFRC and National Societies, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It briefly covers the 1949 Geneva Conventions and other instruments of international humanitarian law. It also introduces the role of other actors, including national governments, international organisations, private entities, and individuals. The module looks at how decisions are made, at national, international, and global levels.

· Module 4 – How Humanitarian Diplomacy is Performed – Persuasion and Advocacy: This module explains the functions and audience for persuasion. It looks at different contexts for persuasion (national, international, local, crisis) and differentiates between public persuasion (similar to advocacy and public diplomacy) and private persuasion. The module guides participants through the organisation of a humanitarian diplomacy alliance.

· Module 5 – How Humanitarian Diplomacy is Performed – Persuasion and Advocacy (practical skills):This module focuses on skills such as framing devices as a practical technique for persuasion, spin tricks in persuasion, use of the media (including social media), speaking, and writing. It guides participants through the steps of organising a persuasion campaign (main phases and approaches) at different levels.

· Module 6 – How Humanitarian Diplomacy is Performed – Negotiations: This module introduces types of negotiations in humanitarian diplomacy, in the multilateral, regional, and national context, as well as in crisis situations. It covers influencing negotiations through decision-shaping (if the humanitarian player does not have a decision-making role) and the evidence base - how to obtain it and maximise its impact.

· Module 7–**Humanitarian Diplomacy Beyond Negotiation:** Through examination of case studies, this module looks at using humanitarian diplomacy to ensure implementation of a negotiated outcome.

· Module 8 – Other Practical Skills in Humanitarian Diplomacy: Many practical skills are relevant to humanitarian diplomacy, including protocol, drafting, media training, public speaking, and use of social media. The module also covers resource mobilisation, planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, and quality assurance

Who should apply

· Red Cross and Red Crescent National Society governance, senior management, branch leaders and managers, volunteers, and staff

· IFRC and ICRC staff

· Other professionals who need to employ humanitarian diplomacy techniques

Please note that this course is quite demanding in terms of time and commitment, requiring seven to ten hours of study time per week. Before you apply, please consider carefully whether you can commit the necessary time in order to complete the course successfully. Where appropriate, please make sure you obtain the endorsement of your line manager to attend this course.

Methodology

This 12-week course in humanitarian diplomacy is conducted entirely online, using DiploFoundation’s online classroom and learning methodology. The course consists of two phases: an interactive online course lasting eight weeks, immediately followed by a four-week research phase. Participation in the course requires seven to ten hours of study time per week.

During the online course phase, reading materials and tools for online interaction are provided through an online classroom. The course is based on a collaborative approach to learning, involving a high level of interaction. Each week, participants read an assigned module text, adding questions and comments as hypertext entries. Lecturers and other participants read and respond to these entries, creating interaction based on the module text.

During the week, participants complete additional online activities including quizzes and group tasks. At the end of the week, participants, lecturers, and guest experts meet online in a chat room to discuss the week’s topic. Please note that due to the spread of course participants across time zones worldwide, scheduled online session times will not fall within working hours for all participants. Some participants will need to attend online sessions during the morning or evening hours.

During the research phase, participants will apply their knowledge to analysing a humanitarian diplomacy action or activity. Working individually or in pairs, participants will select a topic relevant to their work, country or region, and prepare a short research paper as the final assignment for the course. Each participant will have individual support and feedback from a tutor throughout this phase.

The course materials are in English, and all course discussions will take place in English. However, participants who are more comfortable with French will have the option to submit some written assignments and the final research paper in French.

Participants who complete the course successfully will receive an electronic diploma issued by DiploFoundation and the IFRC.

Prerequisites

Applicants must have:

· An undergraduate university degree; or at least two years of work experience in the humanitarian or development field.

· Sufficient knowledge of the English language to undertake postgraduate-level studies (including reading academic texts, discussing complex concepts with other course participants, and writing academic essays).*NOTE: some course assignments and the final reseach paper may be submitted in French.*

· Regular access to the Internet (dial-up connection is sufficient, although broadband is preferable).

· Sufficient time for online study, which requires seven to ten hours per week

Fees

Fee is €990 per participant, due upon acceptance into the course.

A limited number of partial bursaries will be available to selected candidates from developing countries who work or volunteer with their local RCRC National Society, or with other humanitarian organisations. Please indicate if you are requesting a bursary on your application form and provide the name and contact details of a reference person at your National Society or organisation.

How to apply

To apply, please fill out the online application form for this course.

Please upload the following three supporting documents in English language with your application:

1. A current CV

2. Initial ideas for your research project (300-500 words), keeping in mind that your project should be about a humanitarian diplomacy action which took place (or is currently taking place) locally, nationally, regionally or internationally; refer to the IFRC Humanitarian Diplomacy Policy to better understand what humanitarian diplomacy is about:

-brief description of your proposed topic

-your reasons for choosing this topic: why is it important? why is it of particular interest to you?

-your main objectives: what do you hope to learn? who might benefit from the research? what kind of recommendations or lessons might come out of your research?

Please note that you will have the chance to further develop your research project ideas during the course.

1. A motivation letter (maximum 1 page) which includes:

-details of your relevant professional and educational background, including your personal objectives and plans for the future

-reasons for your interest in humanitarian diplomacy

-why you feel you should be selected to participate in this course: how your participation will benefit you, your institution and/or your country

These are required documents and your application will not be considered without them. All supporting documents must be written in English, even if you plan to write your research paper in French. Late applications will be considered only if places remain in the course. In case of enquiries, please contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu

On your application form please do not forget to indicate if you are applying for a partial bursary (provide contact details for a reference person at your National Society or organisation, if so), and whether you wish to write your final research paper in French.

The course starts on 22 February 2016. The application deadline is 11 January 2016. For more details and to apply, please visit the course webpage. Contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu in case of questions.