About
Our story
In 2022, we, Monica Giannone and Anselm Dannecker, ran a climate negotiations workshop at the Harvard Kennedy School. Seasoned negotiators shared their challenging experiences, which we examined through the lens of negotiation theory. During one session, as we were speaking, a guest speaker asked us to “slow down” so they could take notes. All we had done was use the language of our discipline, negotiation theory, to reframe what they had just said. Yet, they saw value to framing that experience in our language.
Another pivotal moment came from a conversation with a former high-ranking Latin American negotiator. She recounted flying to her first COP with minimal preparation, armed only with the book “On Behalf Of My Delegation” illustrating the challenges many young negotiators face in getting institutionalized training opportunities.
These experiences inspired us to make negotiation training accessible to those who typically lack it. We aimed to bridge theory with practice for a more profound impact. Over a year, we collaborated with negotiators worldwide, learning from their experiences to ensure our curriculum and resources are truly impactful in the complex realm of international climate negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
This website offers these resources to everyone. But it is more than just a repository—it’s a platform for ongoing collaboration and growth. Our goal is to build a community where educators can share their materials and insights, enriching the learning experience for future climate leaders.
But this educator webpage is just the tip of the iceberg, it’s a first step of galvanizing people to showcase their learning materials and to empower educators.
Our vision and mission are bigger.
Vision
We envision a world where individuals, equipped with cutting-edge negotiation skills, drive climate action in their settings—from local administrations to international forums. By developing innovative teaching materials and new learning platforms with others, we empower changemakers to advocate for and implement climate-friendly solutions effectively.
Mission
Our mission is to democratize access to essential negotiation training, enabling individuals from all walks of life to become powerful advocates for climate action. By cultivating collaborations with leading researchers and institutions, we aim to push the boundaries of educational methodologies, ensuring that our participants are not only informed but also inspired and ready to lead tangible change.
Trainings and workshops
We have trained hundreds of negotiators from around the world using our comprehensive negotiation curriculum and we are currently developing a fully virtual climate negotiations course for open enrollment. If you are interested, sign up here and we will let you know once opportunities arise.
Using our Resources
Looking for information on how to use our exercises and resources?
Team
Anselm is a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Collaboratory. He loves to think about complex multiparty negotiations and conflict. Anselm regularly coaches and works with diplomats, leaders in business, politics, and civil society on their negotiation strategies.
Monica is the Director of the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Collaboratory at Harvard Kennedy School. She is interested in complex negotiations and helping people navigate differences and disagreements of all kinds. Monica regularly works in ongoing conflicts around the world and engages with practitioners from all sectors on negotiating more effectively and resolving conflicts.
Aditya is a Research Assistant with the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Collaboratory. He is passionate about galvanizing researchers and universities around joint climate action, especially action that benefits the most vulnerable.
Brian Mandell is the Mohamad Kamal Senior Lecturer in Negotiation and Public Policy, and the Faculty Chair of the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Collaboratory at the Harvard Kennedy School. Brian has pioneered the teaching of complex multiparty negotiations and is recognized for his ability to distill complicated theories into accessible insights.
Andrea is a Director at the Growald Climate Fund, the former lead negotiator for Colombia, and was the facilitator of the adaptation chapter of the Paris Agreement. Andrea works on reducing the carbon intensity of energy system but maintains a leg in diplomatic action bringing people together for more effective climate agreements.
Tina served as Director of Strategy for COP28, Senior Advisor and Director of the COP28 President’s Office, and was formerly a Senior Fellow at Harvard. She is known for leveraging strategic relationships across governments, businesses, and international institutions, particularly in the Middle East. Tina’s core expertise is in positioning climate action as a driver of economic opportunity.
Contributors
Stay in Touch
If you have any thoughts to share, or would like to submit your exercise for publication on our website, please complete the form.
"*" indicates required fields