The CCHN World Summit on Frontline Humanitarian Negotiation 2021 and 5th Annual Assembly of the CCHN Community of Practice Broadcast from Caux, Switzerland 28 June – 3 July 2021 Organized by : In partnership with : With the support of : The Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation Executive Summary PART 1 The World Summit on Frontline Humanitarian Centre developed a hybrid event model - with a A unique, world-class conference Negotiation, organized in the summer of 2021 limited number of participants meeting in person by the Centre of Competence on Humanitarian and many more joining virtually – which yielded an around frontline negotiations Negotiations (CCHN), was one of the largest incredibly inclusive and innovative experience. The virtual gatherings of humanitarian professionals Summit brought together frontline negotiators, to take place in humanitarian policymakers, scholars, donor and COVID-19 pandemic government representatives from a plurality of “The road of access times. Drawing from geographical regions, backgrounds and fields; leads to the Palace of the experiences of the number and diversity of virtual participants, the CCHN staff, its connecting from 125 countries, increased wisdom.” – William Blake, community members dramatically compared to CCHN assemblies in as paraphrased by a and many more previous years. Summit participant frontline negotiators, the Summit was The 2021 World Summit took place at a particular designed to provide an time in the history of the CCHN, following the end of open and safe space for practitioners to exchange the Centre's five-year incubation period and just at on current themes related to humanitarian the beginning of an institutional transition process negotiation, find practical solutions to complex from a pilot project to a long-term initiative. In this problems, engage with peers and other professional framework, the Summit became an opportunity networks and learn new techniques to negotiate to gather input from a large network focused on successfully on the frontlines. promoting a collaborative culture in the conduct of frontline humanitarian negotiation, open Over six days, the Summit gathered more than 1,400 and critical discussions, and connections across practitioners from across the globe sharing the same domains. It also symbolized two other transitions belief: that the remedy for complex humanitarian – from a Western-centric normative paradigm to a challenges can be found in the diversity of practices more field practice-oriented experience, and from and the ability to learn from each other, rather than face-to-face gatherings to an increasingly extensive the promotion of singular policy models and common use of digital technologies in the creation of virtual principles. Participants joined not as representatives meeting spaces. of humanitarian agencies or organizations but in their own capacity as field practitioners seeking to explore new possibilities, compare notes, promote diversity "In view of the operational challenges we and celebrate their differences as a face on migration, the response to the source of value. pandemic or the growing environmental After the cancellation of the hazards, it is no longer 'if' but 'how' CCHN Annual Assembly in 2020 professionals will collaborate across agencies due to the health restrictions and field operations." imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCHN explored Peter Maurer – President, ICRC different means to ensure a safe gathering could still take place during the following year. The THE CCHN WORLD SUMMIT ON FRONTLINE HUMANITARIAN NEGOTIATION 2021 THE CCHN WORLD SUMMIT ON FRONTLINE HUMANITARIAN NEGOTIATION 2021 2 3 5th Annual Assembly of the CCHN Community of Practice | 28 June – 3 July 2021 5th Annual Assembly of the CCHN Community of Practice | 28 June – 3 July 2021 The Summit in numbers APPLICATIONS TO 2,833 JOIN AS PARTICIPANT 750 ORGANIZATIONS 125 COUNTRIES ONSITE ONLINE 75 ATTENDEES 1,416 ATTENDEES Distribution per world 445 241 224 213 210 region EUROPE AFRICA ASIA MENA AMERICAS 25% of participants were CCHN community members Grainne O’Hara, Director of International Protection at UNHCR, discusses with MSF's Stephen Cornish and ICRC’s Peter Maurer during the opening day of the Summit. Negotiating with multiple class conference tackling the most challenging actors in complex and present-day issues related to humanitarian negotiation. Organized in collaboration evolving humanitarian with Initiatives of Change in a hybrid format How participants heard of the Summit environments has become (partially in person, partially through virtual PARTICIPANTS meeting tools), the event immediately drew increasingly challenging. To 8% through the the attention of thousands of humanitarian 4% other respond to crises, humanitarian CCHN website practitioners engaged in frontline negotiations. professionals need to acquire 9% through the By late June, the CCHN had received more USERS JOINED FOR CCHN newsletter robust negotiation skills, than 2,800 applications from a wide range of 1064 OPENING DAY share experiences, and learn practitioners from 125 countries, with diverse expertise and backgrounds, looking forward to from fellow practitioners and connecting and exchanging experiences after a AVERAGE VIRTUAL negotiation experts. long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 643 PARTICIPANTS PER DAY In June-July 2021, the Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) brought together frontline negotiators, USERS MET THROUGH 26% through humanitarian policymakers, scholars, donors, 209 THE ONLINE social media and government representatives for a world- NETWORKING PLATFORM 53% through their respective organizations THE CCHN WORLD SUMMIT ON FRONTLINE HUMANITARIAN NEGOTIATION 2021 4 5 5th Annual Assembly of the CCHN Community of Practice | 28 June – 3 July 2021 1.1 An innovative and inclusive hybrid event format "I'm really impressed that there are over 2,000 participants registered. In this period of The World Summit 2021 was a first private meetings, a virtual exhibition, and some COVID-19 pandemic, it's probably the largest in the history of CCHN's annual entertaining features such as a virtual photo booth humanitarian gathering this year." and a photo gallery. To ensure all participants felt gatherings for several reasons, at ease with the platform, the CCHN staff provided Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President – ICRC and particularly for its innovative day-long technical support through a "Welcome hybrid format. While some of the Room": a virtual meeting space where users could participants gathered in Caux, a ask for directions and be guided towards their online session of choice. mountain village above the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, The Summit's interactive platform also hosted hundreds of humanitarian a live-streaming channel broadcasting some of the opening day sessions as well as a variety of "The pandemic may have kept us apart, but practitioners and experts came video content being filmed in Caux. By joining the we have never been so together through our together virtually from their own channel via a YouTube link at any point during the digital platform." locations across the globe. day, online users could listen to interviews with speakers, contributors or community members Claude Bruderlein, Director – CCHN During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, present at the Summit, watch video highlights the CCHN adapted its services and day-to-day from each day of gatherings, or even take a virtual functioning to the changing situation. This meant guided tour of the event venue. bringing most of its events and workshops online, experimenting with interactive platforms The broadcasting schedule also allowed for some and rethinking the way learning sessions were more lighthearted and playful moments aimed at delivered. This expertise proved extremely helpful enhancing the convivial community spirit through for the conception and planning of the World its "Vox Pop" content: community members, Summit as a hybrid event – bringing together CCHN staff and contributors spending their breaks some of the partners, contributors and community in the Palace's common areas were invited to members in person in a Swiss venue while take part in informal, impromptu interviews broadcasting the event online to allow for a much that featured humorous questions and games. larger group of participants. Practitioners connecting from afar particularly enjoyed the live-streaming channel and its To allow for effective and interactive participation, content as a way to immerse themselves in the all the World Summit sessions were broadcast event atmosphere, feel closer to other attendees on a customized digital platform that also in Caux and learn more about humanitarian provided opportunities for online networking, negotiations in an engaging way. Re-watch the World "It just feels great when you see the sun on your screen Summit live-streaming and the stars on your window." program at this link: Fikri Pido, CCHN community member bit.ly/WS21-livestreaming The Caux Summit was filmed and broadcast live on a special interactive platform. More than 1,000 users joined the opening day sessions online. THE CCHN WORLD SUMMIT ON FRONTLINE HUMANITARIAN NEGOTIATION 2021 6 7 5th Annual Assembly of the CCHN Community of Practice | 28 June – 3 July 2021 1.2 The Caux Palace: a symbolic venue in the history of humanitarian negotiation At the crossroads of several by the Initiatives of Change movement, which has professional networks around facilitated international