Luiss University, Viale Pola, Room 13
10 March 2025, 17:00 – 19:00 CET

The event will examine the evolution of private diplomacy in response to the ongoing transformations in the MENA region and beyond. It will explore the changing landscape of international relations, where new actors—including businesses, NGOs, and civil society organizations—are playing an increasingly pivotal role in dialogue and mediation.

Furthermore, the discussion will assess the relevance of traditional diplomacy in today’s world and how it interacts with these emerging diplomatic forces. How are governments adapting to this shift? What innovative approaches are being used to foster negotiation, conflict resolution, and strategic partnerships?

The event aims to provide valuable insights into the future of diplomacy in a rapidly evolving global context.

Romain Grandjean is Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). He joined the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Swiss-based private diplomacy organisation, in 2007 and was deployed in Central African Republic as part of HD’s team facilitating the National Dialogue. In 2008 Romain set up the Middle East and North Africa Programme at HD and became the regional director in 2019. Today Romain oversees a team of 60 members and around 20 mediation projects across the region incl. in Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.