About Nicola Dahrendorf
A career dedicated to principled humanitarian action, human rights, and conflict transformation – grounded in frontline experience and strategic engagement with governments and international institutions.
My work in human rights began in the 1980s with UK-based civil rights and refugee organisations, including as a Refugee Adviser with the UK Immigrants Advisory Service. This early grounding in legal advocacy and community-based protection shaped a long-term commitment to the rights of displaced people and civilians affected by conflict.
In the 1990s, I joined UNHCR, working in Cambodia, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. These frontline roles, combined with training in law and social anthropology, laid the foundation for later work on humanitarian protection, conflict analysis, and policy development.
Over time, my work moved increasingly into senior advisory and strategic roles – supporting the UN, NATO, and donor governments in designing approaches to civilian protection, mediation, civil–military engagement, and institutional reform in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
Recent Engagements
Selected projects and advisory roles from recent years
2024–26
Legal/IHL Adviser
NATO Exercises (Jackal 23, LOLE/LODO 25/26, EuroCorps)
Provided legal and IHL guidance for NATO simulation exercises, advising on civilian protection and compliance with international law.
2025
Convenor
Roundtable on the Erosion of IHL and Humanitarian Principles
Facilitated senior-level dialogue on challenges to international humanitarian law and humanitarian norms in contemporary conflicts.
2024
Policy Consultant
British Red Cross
Conducted political and conflict analysis of the Occupied Palestinian Territory to inform policy positioning and humanitarian response.
2024
Humanitarian and Civil–Military Adviser
UK FCDO / British Embassy Tel Aviv (Gaza Response)
Advised on humanitarian diplomacy and civil–military coordination during the Gaza crisis.
2023–24
Evaluation Team Leader
UNHCR Country Strategy, Mauritania
Led a comprehensive evaluation of UNHCR’s strategic approach and operational effectiveness.
2022–23
Senior Adviser
UNHCR Evaluation, South Sudan
Provided senior advisory support, with a focus on protection, accountability, and institutional learning.
2022
Team Leader
FAO Resilience Programme Evaluation, South Sudan
Led evaluation of resilience programming, assessing effectiveness and impact on vulnerable populations.
2016–24
Senior Protection Adviser
UN ProCap Deployments
Multiple deployments supporting UN agencies and peace operations (including UNRWA, Somalia, Zimbabwe, and UN DPO).
Areas of Expertise
Specialised expertise developed through three decades of fieldwork, leadership, and strategic advisory roles.
Humanitarian Protection and Advocacy
Senior protection and IHL advisory roles for NATO and UK FCDO
Convened and facilitated dialogues on the erosion of humanitarian norms
Integrated GBV, CRSV, and child rights into UN and donor strategies
Co-chaired the IASC Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (UNICEF HQ)
Civil–Military Engagement and Diplomacy
IHL and civilian protection lead for NATO simulation exercises
Advised AU and UN peacekeeping missions on CRSV and civilian harm mitigation
Worked at the interface of military, humanitarian, and diplomatic actors in active conflicts
Strategic Policy and Programme Leadership
Directed humanitarian and protection strategies for DFID/FCDO in Nigeria, South Sudan, and DRC
Led UK-funded stabilisation and governance programmes in fragile settings
Advised donors and institutions on protection, governance, and political positioning
Conflict Analysis, Mediation, and Peacebuilding
Evaluated peace mediation initiatives supported by the Berghof Foundation
Co-authored Arts in Peace Mediation (Swiss FDFA)
Delivered conflict and political economy analyses across the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and MENA
Programme Design, Evaluation, and Learning
Led major evaluations for UNHCR, FAO, and UK-funded humanitarian programmes
Advised on MEL frameworks for politically informed and protection-led programming
Supported institutional learning and strategic adaptation in complex environments