Rationale and Need for the Course
Many staff of Foreign Missions including UN agencies based in Nairobi and the region lack basic diplomatic, negotiation and mediation skills. Additionally, many staff in civil societies and government institutions lack Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) skills. This professional certificate course aims to build capacity of staff who lack such valuable skills.

The short course was designed after a careful study of the local market needs. Importantly, representatives of various foreign missions in Nairobi approached us to initiate such a certificate course targeting people working in diplomatic and other spaces who do not have the basic required skills in diplomacy, negotiation and mediation to address emerging problems at the workplace and interactions with third parties.

Significantly, the recent trends outlined below have proved that USIU-Africa will again be at the forefront of building capacity in this field:

1. With the UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements arising from Mediation (Singapore Convention) promoting a harmonized legal framework for the right to invoke settlement agreements as well as for their enforcement.
2. The Convention is an instrument for the facilitation of international trade and the promotion of mediation as an alternative and effective method of resolving trade disputes. Being a binding international instrument, it is expected to bring certainty and stability to the international framework on mediation, thereby contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), mainly the SDG 16.
3. The Kenyan Constitution demands that Parties commence all process through ADR and has since established the Court Annexed Mediation of the Judiciary which recognizes private and international settlement agreements as enforceable by the courts.

Just as USIU-Africa introduced a course on Negotiation and Mediation nearly 14 years ago before the concept was introduced through the peace efforts of H.E. Koffi Annan following the Kenyan Post Election Violence (PEV), the time is now ripe to continue playing a lead role in this process.

Course Description
The world is interconnected but uncertain and turbulent. Due to uncertainty and mistrust, disputes, conflicts, and wars abound which various organizations and individuals seek to resolve through diplomacy, negotiation and mediation. Understanding theories, concepts, and practices of diplomacy, negotiation and mediation have become more important than ever before. The diplomacy, negotiation and mediation certificate course empowers individuals and equips them with the relevant skills to reach common understandings and agreements. The common understanding is between people, organizations, and institutions-reached through peaceful and constructive means. The course involves utilization of ADR mechanisms such as good offices, social capital, networks, third parties, conciliation, consensus, and compromise.

The certificate course on diplomacy, negotiation and mediation consists of four modules. The first three modules focus on the three topic areas (diplomacy, negotiation and mediation, 27 hours and they can be concluded in the trainee’s order of preference. Once the trainee has successfully completed the three modules, he/she will enroll in the Final Practicum (13 hours). After the trainee has successfully finished all the 3 modules, he/she will be issued a certificate.

Course Objectives
In the understanding that the increasingly inter connectivity of relations also breeds uncertainty in the global political system due to the increase of various state and non-state actors, the following are the core primary objectives of this certificate course:

1. Enhance capacity for Parties to engage in ADR as a primary point of conflict resolution
2. Manage arising disagreements
3. Mitigate uncertainty in interactions
4. Practice skills in restoring, enhancing and sustaining relations between Parties

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, trainees will be able to:

• Identify local, regional, and global dispute, conflict or war phenomena;
• Equip learners to understand the various regimes governing the enforcement of mediation agreements
• Compare similarities and differences in diplomacy, negotiation and mediation theories and concepts
• Apply the acquired knowledge and new skills in diplomacy, negotiation and mediation in the professional environment
• Equip learners with hands-on experience of key skills and concepts of the practice of negotiation and mediation through a simulation exercise

Modules and Practicum to be Covered:

• Diplomacy Module (27 hours)
• Negotiation Module (27 hours)
• Mediation Module (27 hours))
• Final Practicum (13 hours)

Methodology

• Seminar, participatory, and simulations

Mode of delivery
The program is taught in a hybrid form but requires students to be physically present depending on the mode of teaching of a particular module.

The teaching of each module consists of 3 hours per week, either physically or virtually, and includes several activities, exercises, and assignments. Classes take place on set weekdays, or Saturdays, depending on the availability of the facilitator. Attendance is obligatory.

The course will be conducted in English language.

Target Group
The course targets individuals and groups (state agencies and non-state agencies) who work internationally, regionally, and locally with an opportunity for capacity-building, growth, development, and practice in this critical area.

Admission Requirement
At least a first university degree (undergraduate) and a number of years of experience working in international organizations, government institutions, and/or civil society organizations.

Application Form
Click HERE to apply for the Certificate in Diplomacy, Negotiation & Mediation course.

Training Fee and Payment Details
The fees payable is USD 1,200 for each of the three modules including assessment and examination fees.
Application processing fee is USD 30, for a total of USD 3,630.

The banking details are as below:

The Co-operative Bank of Kenya Ltd
Co-op. Bank House Branch, Haile Selassie Av, Nairobi
Account name: United States International University (USIU)
Account No. 01120002134100

Kenya Commercial Bank
Thika Road Mall Branch
Account name: United States International University (USIU)
Account Number: 1179516710

International students not from EAST AFRICA should remit their funds to the listed account;

US Dollar Account Number:6462210014
Account Name:USIU or U.S. International University
SWIFT Code: CBAFKENX

Intermediary Bank:JP Morgan Chase Bank, New York
SWIFT Code:CHASUS33
Routing Number: 021000021
Kenya Commercial Bank - A/C No. 1179516710

For information on how to make payments, please visit here.

Certification
A certificate will be issued at the end of the course upon successful completion of the course work and the final practicum.

Contact Information
For inquiries and application details please contact:
Willsmith Ngare,
Program Officer,
Institute For Public Policy And International Affairs,
Email: ippia@usiu.ac.ke
Telephone: +254 730 116 641