In the very beginning of 2020 different actors of development cooperation came together in Berlin to learn about the Do-No-Harm-approach and participated in exercises on different aspects connected to this topic. The group of participants consisted mainly of staff from German NGOs, public institutions, think tanks and institutes involved in implementing development cooperation on the ground. In addition, students took part in the workshop, for whose first work experience the topic will be relevant in perspective.
Between the 17th and the 19th of January we implemented our introductory workshop “Do-No-Harm in Conflict Settings”. The leading question was: “How can we make sure that we as actors of development cooperation contribute to peace instead of conflict?”.
The workshop also focused on exchanging practical experience about working in conflict-settings. More particularly, we created a space to talk about the challenges and problems participants are facing regarding the fear of doing harm in vulnerable development contexts, transcultural communication, lacking room for conflict regulation and hierarchies in their work settings.
In order to approach the leading question, participants among others joined sessions on postcolonial studies, critical whiteness, nonviolent communication and of course the do-no-harm-concept.
The participants shew high interest in the inputs and exercises and were very active throughout the discussions in which they expressed the urgent need of a critical reflection of one’s own role in the development field.
The follow-up-workshop will take place from February 7th to 9th in Berlin and give participants the chance to apply the learned approaches and theories in the frame of the simulation game “Kodori”.
Project Goals
In order to approach the leading question, participants among others joined sessions on postcolonial studies, critical whiteness, nonviolent communication and of course the do-no-harm-concept.
The participants shew high interest in the inputs and exercises and were very active throughout the discussions in which they expressed the urgent need of a critical reflection of one’s own role in the development field.
Target Groups
Actors of development cooperation