1. Overview of the Training Programme
Every development organization faces multiple challenges in realizing their strategic priorities: greater demand for accountability and transparency, growing competition for scarce resources, stricter compliance requirements, security concerns, a multiplicity of local and international partners, rapidly changing technologies, along with many others.
How can you bring about the effective realization of your organizational strategic priorities in such a complex and dynamic context? Every change in the internal or external environment of the development organization could trigger risks with either positive or negative consequences for the realization of its strategic priorities. How can you identify and effectively manage these risks? How can you avoid potentially negative consequences and how can you maximize the potential benefits? Our training course is designed to support development practitioners with necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to manage risks in their organizations.
Each course consists of a series of highly interactive sessions, offering a blend of theoretical concepts and practical solutions essential for effective risk management in development organizations. Prominent guest speakers will bring additional insights from national and international practice.
Each participant will be coached to design an integrated risk management (IRM) framework, unique for its own organization. The IRM framework will serve as a tool to ensure effective identification and assessment of risks towards the realization of the organizational strategic priorities.
2. Programme agenda
April 27: A Dutch-style welcome reception.
April 28: 9:00 – 17:00
Session 1: Basics of Risk Management
This session will introduce the concept of risk management based on the ISO 31000 guidance standard.Participants will learn the principles, framework, and processes of risk management. They will also learn about the differences between the risk management of a single development intervention and risk management at programme portfolio level.
Session 2: Managing Risks
During this session participants will discuss the importance of a holistic approach to risk management. They will consider the steps to establishing and realizing an effective risk management policy and structure in their own organization and also discuss risk response strategies for development organizations.
Session 3: Risk Culture and Risk Governance
During this session participants will learn how to embed a mature risk culture within the organization. They will consider the importance of the human factor in risk perception and defining the risk appetite and risk tolerance of a development organization. They will also learn about the importance of stakeholder engagement and effective risk communication to ensure successful risk governance in the organization, as well as among a wide range of development partners.
Optional evening session: Current trends: risk management practices as promoted by OECD, EU, WB, and other development organizations.
April 29: 9:00 – 17:00
Session 1: Integrated Risk Management Framework
Participants will be introduced to the concept of integrated risk management.
Session 2: Designing an Integrated Risk Management Framework (IRM) for your own organization
Each participant will have the opportunity to design an IRM framework specifically for his/her own organization (or project/programme).
Session 3: Integrated Risk Management: National Risk Assessment in the Netherlands
Guest speaker: Dr. Marcel Mennen, National Institute of Public Health and Environment, Centre for Environmental Safety, the Netherlands, will present a practical case study on national risk assessment in the Netherlands.
April 30: 9:00 – 17:00
Session 1: Scenarios and Scenario-based Strategies
This session will provide an introduction to the ‘concept of futures’ and how anticipation of the future can inform development practice. Participants will discover how scenario planning can be used to help development actors strategize ways of responding to imminent social and economic challenges in today’s developing world.
Session 2: Accountability vs. Flexibility
Participants will discuss the importance of accountability by development partners in the context of a constantly emerging development context that requires flexibility and responsiveness.
Session 3: Final Evaluation of the Course
Participants will have the opportunity to evaluate the training programme and its organization.
3. Speakers

Magda Stepanyan, MA, MSc, CIRM,
She holds an MA in Sociology (Yerevan State University), MSc in Public Administration (Leiden University), and The International Certificate in Risk Management from The Institute of Risk Management (UK). She is the Founder & CEO of the Risk Society consultancy (www.risk-society.com). Her main areas of expertise include integrated risk management, disaster and climate risk governance, capacity development, civil protection, recovery planning, and M&E. She has more than 15 years management and consultancy experience, working with organizations such as the EC, UN, WB, Red Cross, and many others. She is a priority expert of the UNDP BCPR Expert Roster and a member of the OSCE consultancy roster.
She authored a UNDP Technical Paper on Risk Management for Capacity Development Facilities (2012).

Paul de Ruijter
He holds an MSc in Management Engineering from the Twente University (The Netherlands). He is director of De Ruijter Strategy (http://www.deruijter.net ), a specialist Scenario Planning and Strategy consultancy, with almost a quarter of a century of experience in the field. In recent years he has worked as a designer and consultant for scenario and strategy projects for various organizations such as Rabobank, IHC Merwede, BAM, the International Energy Agency, the World Council for Sustainable Development, and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Paul is the author of ‘Scenario Based Strategy. Navigate the Future’, a handbook on scenario planning in theory and practice. Paul teaches at the University of Amsterdam, at Nyenrode Business University and at Delft TopTech and is in demand as a speaker at international congresses and seminars.

Marcel Mennen, PHD,
Marcel Mennen holds an MSc in Physical Chemistry from Leiden University and a PhD in Physical Science and Mathematics. He is a senior scientist at the National Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM). His expertise covers a broad range of areas, from air quality, health and environmental science, environmental disasters and CBRN risks and threats, to the broad scope of national safety and security. He has written a number of scientific publications in these areas. He was head of the chemical emergency response unit of RIVM for almost ten years. Since 2010, he has been General Secretary of the Dutch National Network of Safety and Security Analysts (ANV). This network produces the yearly National Risk Assessment of the Netherlands, in which risks, threats and hazards are assessed using an all-hazard uniform methodology.
4: Practical Information
Course language
English
Certificate
Participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
Who is it for
Development practitioners from both developing and developed countries. We expect participants to come from NGOs, think-tanks, Inter-governmental organizations, foundations, and charities.
When
April 28-30, 2015
Where
The Hague, The Netherlands
Price
€1995 (ex. VAT)
The course fee includes coffee, tea and lunch on all days as well as a welcome reception on the first day. It also includes 2-hour remote coaching to be requested within six month after completion of the course. A range of discounts is also available: participants from developing countries are entitled to €500 discount per person; a 10% early bird registration applies to bookings made before 1 march, and there is a 30% colleague discount for each additional participant from the same organization.
Cancellation policy
Participants may cancel up to 14 days before the start date. No refunds.
Seats
Number of seats is limited to 25!
Accommodation
The organisers will help participants find accommodation in the close vicinity of the training venue.
For inquiries and registration please contact
Magda Stepanyan
info@risk-society.com
Tel: +31 (0) 616499150