UNITAR
30 May 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research, proud to have bestowed the ‘Doha Best Negotiator of the Year 2024’ award to Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, at the Doha World Negotiation Day Award Ceremony held today in Geneva, Switzerland.
Following the recipient announcement at Doha World Negotiation Day held on 9 December 2024, in Doha, Qatar, in partnership with the ADN Group and Doha Forum, an award ceremony was hosted at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar on 30 May 2025, to honour and commemorate Ms Grynspan’s efforts in international negotiation. This in-person ceremony offered recognition of Ms. Grynspan’s exceptional contribution to diplomacy and international cooperation, enabling a celebration of the imperative role of negotiation in obtaining multilateral peace and prosperity.
About the Winner
UNITAR
Ms. Rebeca Grynspan has demonstrated a strong commitment to human rights, dignity, and equality in her negotiations. Currently serving as Secretary-General of the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), her previous roles span from being Vice-President of Costa Rica to being the Director of the Subregional Headquarters in Mexico of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Notably, Ms. Grynspan has played an important part in the Istanbul agreements, which include the Black Sea Initiative and the United Nations Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian Federation. The UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative, agreed by Russia, Türkiye, and Ukraine, has allowed millions of tons of grain and other foodstuffs to leave Ukraine’s ports, playing an indispensable role in global food security. As of 12 July 2023, 33 million tons of grain have crossed the Black Sea. Signed on 27 July 2022 in Istanbul, the deal paves the way for Ukrainian grain, foodstuffs and fertilizer to reach global markets to help stabilize food prices worldwide and stave off famine in lower-income countries. The initiative specifically allows for significant volumes of commercial food exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny. Throughout the negotiations, Ms. Grynspan upheld ethical standards, protected human rights, and took a precautionary approach to environmental challenges, ensuring equitable solutions for all parties involved. It is with utmost pleasure that we had the honour of presenting the award to Ms. Rebeca Grynspan.
UNITAR
Doha World Negotiation Day 2024 offered a platform for participants to explore the shifting dynamics of global affairs through insightful discussions. It emphasized the critical role of negotiation and mediation in addressing contemporary challenges, including power imbalances, time constraints, cultural differences, and communication barriers in bilateral negotiations. The event reaffirmed the importance of multilateral diplomacy as a vital tool for bridging divides and promoting peace and prosperity worldwide.
Featuring two expert-led roundtables, the event witnessed diverse discourse on the role of negotiation in the international climate.
Beginning with the topic of ‘International Negotiation in an Age of Disruption’, speakers H.E. Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Mr. Miguel Bautista and Mr. Ahmed Essa Al-Sulaiti emphasised how rising geopolitical tensions, economic shifts, and technological advances have demanded adaptive strategies, skills and mindsets from the world's negotiators.
Proceeding with a roundtable on ‘The Complexity of Bilateral Negotiations’, speakers Ms. Joelle Germanier, Mr. Kirk Kinnell and Mr. Julien Morel emphasised the impact of power imbalances, shifting circumstances and communication barriers on the success of outcomes.
Mr. Rabih El-Haddad, Director of the Division for Multilateral Diplomacy at UNITAR
Annually, this prestigious event unites the world’s most renowned contributors to peaceful negotiations, conflict resolution and inequality reduction. This event is the fourth edition and it’s the first time this event has been implemented in Doha. (...) Hosting this event in Doha is not a mere coincidence. Qatar has become a powerhouse for preventive diplomacy, mediation and peaceful settlement of disputes through negotiations. By hosting this high-level event in the beautiful city of Doha, Qatar gives a clear signal of its commitment towards multilateral diplomacy and international negotiation.