This programme provides advanced training in conflict analysis and negotiation to key representatives of indigenous peoples. The focus is on a problem-solving negotiation approach to strengthen participants' capacity to more effectively negotiate to have their needs met, while also promoting constructive relationships between members of their communities and those in the dominant community. Indigenous experts including Members of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues as well as other specialists and representatives of regional organizations serve as resource persons for the training programme.

The international training programme has been conducted annually at the time of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations, and now the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, held at the United Nations in Geneva. International training programmes have been organised in Geneva in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2018. The 2019 international programme is planned at the time of the meeting of the Expert Mechamism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. As well, a regional training programme is conducted in a different part of the world on a rotating basis. The first regional programme was held in Mexico in 2001 for indigenous representatives of the Americas. The 2003 regional programme took place in Thailand for representatives of the Asia-Pacific. The 2004 regional training was organised in Tanzania for indigenous representatives of Africa. The 2006 regional training programme was held in Morocco for representatives of the Great Lakes, Central, North and West Africa, and the 2007 and 2009 regional training programmes were organised in Australia for indigenous peoples' representatives of the Pacific. Planning is underway for the next regional programme.

In May 2002, the UNITAR Seminar for Members of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was organized in New York at the request of a number of incoming Permanent Forum Members. The Seminar was planned to assist their efforts to prepare for and implement the first historic meeting of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at United Nations Headquarters, and to facilitate work on their important mandate. The former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and representatives of the UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes engaged in dialogue with the new Forum Members.

The programme has been funded by the Government of Canada, the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Ford Foundation.