Humanitarian intervention in complex crisis: A frontliner humanitarian organization’s experience
September 2019
Abstract of the Workshop
The WS’s goal is to give the students an in depth understanding of strategies, approaches and standard procedures, as well as best practices coming out from Intersos experience, about intervention in emergency in complex humanitarian crisis. Beyond the classification and theory about humanitarian emergencies, analysis and aid, the practical experience of the only “single mandate” Italian INGO will help the students to understand the general context, main elements for a good response strategy but also tools for implementation. The simulation based on real experience (Venezuelan crisis) and working groups (Indonesia, Syria) will facilitate the analysis of different methods and approaches.
Instructor
- Marcelo Garcia Dalla Costa, Head of Emergency Unit - INTERSOS
Humanitarian access in unstable and violent context: the case of Yemen
September 2019
Abstract of the Workshop
The WS aims at analysing the challenge of humanitarian intervention vis-à-vis the violation of IHL and unstable context. The case of Yemen, where Intersos works since long time as the sole Italian NGO, with operations in both fields will help the students to have an overall comprehension of the dynamics, actors, approaches and mitigation measures, that a humanitarian organization needs to take in order to fulfil its engagements without renouncing to its humanitarian principles. At the same time, the real experience (with a simulation and a working group) will facilitate the comprehension of best practices and lesson learnt. At the end of the workshop the students have deepened their knowledge and understanding of a complex humanitarian crisis and the challenges that humanitarian actors need to face. They also have more clear understanding about the strategies an INGO can apply in order to implement its mission in those type of contexts.
Instructor
- Fabrizio Cavalazzi - INTERSOS
Investments in troubled territories: How to draft a Notice of Arbitration
September 2019
Abstract of the Workshop
The workshop aims to provide students with an overview on the phenomenon of international investment arbitration as an instrument to settle disputes between private investors and host States under international law. The importance of investment arbitration in the international economic panorama has grown steadily over years (with currently more than 900 total cases and 332 pending cases as of July 2019) in parallel with concerns related to its capacity to deal with sensitive public interests, conflicting States’ international law obligations that may be involved in the dispute, lack of transparency and costs.
Through the analysis of documents publicly available concerning a concrete investorState dispute submitted to international arbitration, students will understand what are the main players involved (arbitrators, investor, State, third-parties) and their (sometimes conflicting) interests, the main phases of an international investment arbitration proceeding, as well as, the main international law principles and rules that come into play.
The workshop will specially focus on investment disputes emerging in contexts of conflicted sovereignty, such as Crimea and Venezuela, and will emphasise what are concerns affecting investor-State arbitration in these cases.
Students will simulate the drafting and submission of a Notice of arbitration, the initial act of an investment arbitration proceeding, and will discuss its content with the class.
This will help students understanding in practical terms what are the subjects involved, the requests usually formulated by the investor and the interplay between the different international law rules that apply to the proceeding.
Instructor
- Sondra Faccio - School of International Studies
Leaning Policy Advice
February 2020
Objectives
The course offers both theoretical and vocational training; in particular, it has been designed to help students deepen their knowledge of political and operational issues in the fields of nternational relations, diplomacy, international organisations, crisis management, and ultilateral political affairs, as well as to familiarise them with the specific office dynamics characterising IR policy jobs.
Structure
The "perspectives from the job" include what to expect when carrying out different policy job duties and political advice in the context of international political affairs and diplomacy. Among others, students will get acquainted with the main of aspects of political analysis and reporting; develop effective drafting skills for policy advice; learn practical techniques for the elaboration of briefing notes; acquire abilities for the preparation of outreach documents, including speeches and press statements; become aware of some key features of spin doctoring.
At the practical simulations, students are confronted with two different mock situations:
1) A complex crisis (explained with fictitious media reports, field offices analyses, and instructions from the management), which students have to examine and assess. The main task is then to draft a briefing note for the management, which includes a clear scene setter for a mediation mission, talking points, and defensive points. Students are tasked to prepare a draft briefing on the basis of facsimile cabinet instructions and a specific ready-to-use briefing template.
2) An inter-institutional dialogue scenario, which students have to review for the preparation of outreach documents (e.g. an institutional speech, a press statement, press points, defensive points for a press conference, tweets, etc…). Again, facsimile instructions from spokesperson services are provided to guide and help structuring preparation.
In addition to getting students more familiar with the daily work and challenges encountered by policy officers serving at the headquarter of an international organisation, at a foreign ministry, or in field offices and embassies, the vocational training also offers key skills that are relevant to the selection procedures currently applied by several international institutions (i.e., Council of Europe, European Union, NATO, OSCE, United Nations etc...) for entry level jobs or mid-management posts.
Instructor
- Giulio Venneri - Policy Officer at the Enlargement Directorate of the EU Commission