Course Details

Facilitation & Negotiation in Multi-Stakeholder Projects

Introduction
In the increasingly complex landscape of development and humanitarian projects, success hinges on the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, build consensus, and drive collective action. The Facilitation & Negotiation in Multi-Stakeholder Projects Training Course is designed to equip professionals with advanced skills in managing dialogue, navigating conflict, and facilitating collaborative decision-making across institutional, cultural, and sectoral lines. Whether coordinating with government agencies, civil society, donors, or community actors, effective facilitation and negotiation are critical for ensuring project alignment, sustainability, and shared ownership.

This 10-day practical training blends proven methodologies in group facilitation, consensus-building, and interest-based negotiation with real-world development scenarios. Participants will explore structured frameworks, participatory tools, and adaptive strategies to manage power dynamics, mitigate resistance, and foster trust among partners. The course is ideal for NGO staff, project managers, policy advisors, and field practitioners seeking to enhance their facilitation confidence and negotiation acumen in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Duration

10 Days
Target Audience

• Project and program managers
• Partnership and stakeholder engagement officers
• Humanitarian coordinators and field team leaders
• Policy and advocacy advisors
• Facilitators and training officers in NGOs and INGOs

Course Objectives

• Strengthen facilitation skills for inclusive, outcome-driven group processes
• Apply negotiation techniques to align stakeholder interests and resolve conflicts
• Manage dialogue, power, and emotions in multi-stakeholder settings
• Build trust, transparency, and accountability through co-creation
• Integrate facilitation and negotiation tools into project planning and delivery

Course Modules

Module 1: Foundations of Multi-Stakeholder Engagement

• Understanding the multi-stakeholder ecosystem
• Mapping stakeholders, roles, and interests
• Principles of inclusive engagement
• Challenges and opportunities in collaboration
• Equity and representation in stakeholder processes

Module 2: Core Skills of an Effective Facilitator

• The facilitator’s role and responsibilities
• Listening, questioning, and framing techniques
• Managing group dynamics and silence
• Neutrality, empathy, and presence
• Handling dominant voices and disengaged participants

Module 3: Facilitation Planning and Session Design

• Setting objectives and outcomes for sessions
• Designing agendas and participatory methods
• Matching techniques to group size and context
• Preparing materials and managing time
• Hybrid and remote facilitation considerations

Module 4: Interest-Based Negotiation Principles

• From positions to interests: uncovering what matters
• BATNA and negotiation leverage
• Structuring win-win negotiation processes
• Recognizing bias and emotional triggers
• Managing negotiation under pressure

Module 5: Facilitating Consensus and Collective Decisions

• Techniques for group decision-making
• Consensus-building vs. majority rule
• Voting, prioritization, and multi-criteria tools
• Dealing with dissent and compromise
• Documenting and validating agreements

Module 6: Conflict Resolution in Multi-Stakeholder Settings

• Diagnosing root causes of conflict
• Conflict transformation vs conflict management
• Dialogue-based approaches to resolution
• De-escalation and reframing techniques
• Creating safe spaces for honest discussion

Module 7: Power, Culture, and Diversity in Negotiation

• Navigating cross-cultural values and expectations
• Recognizing institutional and positional power
• Gender and inclusion considerations
• Bridging worldviews and communication styles
• Promoting equitable participation

Module 8: Visual and Participatory Tools for Facilitation

• Using diagrams, charts, and maps
• Stakeholder wheels and influence diagrams
• Group modeling and scenario building
• World Café, Open Space, and Appreciative Inquiry
• Participatory budgeting and resource allocation

Module 9: Managing Difficult Conversations and Emotions

• Preparing for emotionally charged topics
• Recognizing and managing facilitator triggers
• Responding to anger, grief, and resistance
• Supporting participants through discomfort
• Reflective practice and emotional resilience

Module 10: Building Trust and Psychological Safety

• Elements of trust in group processes
• Creating ground rules and shared norms
• Transparency and accountability mechanisms
• Encouraging vulnerability and authentic participation
• Maintaining trust during setbacks

Module 11: Facilitating Multi-Stakeholder Planning Processes

• Visioning and goal-setting across stakeholders
• Aligning project design with diverse expectations
• Action planning and responsibility mapping
• Monitoring joint implementation
• Collaborative adaptation and review cycles

Module 12: Institutionalizing Facilitation and Negotiation Capacity

• Creating in-house facilitation teams
• Integrating facilitation into organizational strategies
• Peer coaching and reflective learning cycles
• Documentation, toolkits, and process handovers
• Sustaining long-term stakeholder partnerships

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com