Diplomacy Training Program

What Diplomacy Training Program does

Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) is a Sydney-based, independent non-government organization and registered Australian charity founded in 1989 by Nobel Peace Laureate José Ramos-Horta and Emeritus Professor Garth Nettheim. DTP delivers participatory human rights training and capacity building to civil society advocates, Indigenous community leaders, migrant workers' rights defenders, and children's rights advocates across the Asia-Pacific and MENA regions. Its core offerings consist of eight thematic training programs — including the flagship Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy Program, Children's Rights, Climate Change Business and Human Rights, Diaspora Communities, Indigenous Peoples (Asia-Pacific and Australia), International Human Rights Mechanisms, and Rights of Migrant Workers — supplemented by webinar series (CRC, UNDRIP, DTP-STARTTS) and online navigator tools. Programs are delivered as residential courses of 5 days to 3 weeks, hosted in partnership with regional NGOs in countries such as Timor-Leste, Thailand, Fiji, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Qatar.

The organization's core technology is its participatory training methodology, not a software platform. It maintains lightweight digital assets (the Indigenous Rights Navigator Tool and the Migrant Worker Rights Navigator Tool) hosted on UNSW infrastructure, and reaches alumni through a fortnightly eNews, social media, and an online resources library. DTP is affiliated with UNSW's Faculty of Law and Justice, which provides office space, training venues, and academic support. The Advisory Council includes an International Court of Justice judge and former UN Special Rapporteurs, and Corrs Chambers Westgarth provides pro bono legal services.

DTP's business model is a multi-source non-profit funding stack. Revenue streams include government and institutional grants (Australian DFAT under ANCP accreditation, UN OHCHR, Swiss government, US National Endowment for Democracy), philanthropic donations (DGR-registered charity with US Equivalency Determination), training fees for some courses, and substantial in-kind pro bono support. DTP has trained over 4,000 human rights defenders working in 90+ countries since 1990, and is recognized by the 2019 Asia Democracy & Human Rights Award and the 2015 ACFID Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award. A near-term funding risk is the suspension of US sources following the Trump administration's inauguration.

Name

Diplomacy Training Program

Legal name

Diplomacy Training Program

Website

https://dtp.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Diplomacy Training Program is a Sydney-based non-profit, founded in 1989 by Nobel Peace Laureate José Ramos-Horta, delivering participatory human rights training programs to civil society advocates across the Asia-Pacific and MENA regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Training and Capacity Building Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Democracy, Human Rights & Governance Assistance (BPADABAG), Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE)

Keywords

• Human rights training
• Capacity building programs
• Advocacy training
• Civil society training
• Human rights education

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Institutional Grants: DTP receives grants from governments including Australian Government DFAT (ANCP accreditation), UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Swiss government, and US National Endowment for Democracy. DTP has been affected by funding suspension from US sources following President Trump's inauguration.
2. Philanthropic Donations: DTP seeks support from individuals and foundations in Australia and internationally. Donations are critical for core costs, new programs, and subsidizing participant attendance. DTP is a registered charity with DGR status in Australia and has US Equivalency Determination.
3. Training Fees: DTP charges training fees for some courses to help meet costs and subsidize programs. Development NGOs, embassies and others support individual human rights defenders by paying their training fees.
4. Pro Bono Support: Faculty of Law and Justice at UNSW provides office space, training venues, and academic support. Trainers, Board members, Advisory Council and Corrs Chambers Westgarth provide valued pro bono support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) delivers participatory residential and online human rights training and capacity-building programs to civil society advocates, Indigenous community advocates, and human rights defenders across the Asia-Pacific and MENA regions. Core offerings comprise eight thematic training programs (Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy, Children's Rights, Climate Change/Business and Human Rights, Diaspora Communities, Indigenous Peoples – Asia Pacific and Australia, International Human Rights Mechanisms, and Rights of Migrant Workers), complemented by webinar series and online navigator reference tools. Programs are delivered in partnership with regional NGOs and UN bodies.

Product overview

The Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) offers a comprehensive suite of human rights training programs across the Asia-Pacific and MENA regions. The core offering consists of eight thematic training programs: Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy (the flagship annual program), Children's Rights, Climate Change Business and Human Rights, Diaspora Communities, Indigenous Peoples (Asia Pacific and Australia), International Human Rights Mechanisms, and Rights of Migrant Workers. These are supplemented by specialized programs and webinar series including CRC webinars (24 webinars), DTP-STARTTS Human Rights webinars, and UNDRIP webinars. DTP also provides online tools including the Indigenous Rights Navigator Tool and Migrant Worker Rights Navigator Tool. The organization delivers training through participatory methodologies, residential courses typically lasting 5 days to 3 weeks, with programs held in partnership with alumni and their organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy Program Flagship annual comprehensive human rights and advocacy training program providing foundational knowledge of international human rights standards and the UN system, along with strategic advocacy skills. Residential course typically 5 days to 3 weeks, delivered in partnership with regional NGOs across Asia-Pacific.
• Children's Rights Program Program focused on promoting implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), building awareness, knowledge and understanding through workshops and a series of 24 CRC webinars featuring leading child rights experts.
• Climate Change, Business and Human Rights Program Capacity building program addressing business impacts on human rights and the climate crisis, covering UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP), OECD Guidelines, and accountability frameworks.
• Diaspora Communities Program Program supporting community advocates from diaspora communities in their advocacy for human rights, peace and democracy, building understanding of international law and advocacy skills. Originated with DTP's support for the Timorese diaspora in Australia from 1990.
• Indigenous Peoples – Asia Pacific Program Annual regional capacity building program on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, building knowledge of UNDRIP, ILO 169, and UN mechanisms for Indigenous rights advocacy. Delivered in partnership with the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP).
• Indigenous Peoples – Australia Program Program promoting and advancing the realisation of Indigenous Peoples' rights in Australia, working in partnership with Oxfam Australia and other organisations.
• International Human Rights Mechanisms Program Program developing capacity of human rights defenders to effectively engage with UN Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Special Procedures, and Treaty Bodies.
• Rights of Migrant Workers Program Regional capacity building program focused on the rights of migrant workers, addressing forced labour, wage theft, modern-day slavery, and recruitment practices. Delivered with Migrant Forum in Asia across Asia and the Middle East since 2004.
• Other Programs Specialised capacity building programs for advocates focused on specific country situations, events or thematic human rights issues including human rights defenders, digital rights, and corruption.
• CRC Webinar Series Series of 24 webinars on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child featuring leading child rights experts, practitioners and young people, delivered in collaboration with Australian Lawyers for Human Rights.
• DTP-STARTTS Human Rights Webinar Series Series of 9 webinars on Genocide and the Genocide Convention, UN Human Rights Mechanisms, and The Magnitsky Acts, delivered in partnership with STARTTS.
• UNDRIP Webinar Series Series of webinars to build awareness and knowledge of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
• Indigenous Rights Navigator Tool Online quick-reference guide to help human rights advocates identify international law instruments and assistance available to Indigenous Peoples.
• Migrant Worker Rights Navigator Tool Online tool to help explore and understand current issues facing migrant workers in a transnational context.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ human rights defenders trained since 1990
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Regional Office of the Pacific (OHCHR-ROP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership formalized in an MoU in 2021, growing out of collaboration on capacity building initiatives on the Global Compact on Migration, Business and Human Rights and the Climate Emergency's impact on the Pacific.
• Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004MFA and DTP have worked in partnership since 2004 on strategies to develop the capacity of advocates working for the rights of migrant workers. This innovative program has included regional capacity building programs, multi-module country network building programs, programs in the Middle-East and with business.
• Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004AIPP and DTP have collaborated on capacity building programs that have built knowledge of UNDRIP, ILO 169 and the SDGs. Business impacts on Indigenous peoples have been a key focus of these capacity building programs.
• FORUM-ASIAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991FORUM-ASIA and DTP have partnered in organizing and delivering capacity building programs for human rights defenders in Asia since FORUM-ASIA was established in 1991. FORUM-ASIA is a key partner in DTP's Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy Training Program.
• Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIANGO is the leading organisation of civil society in the Pacific and helps to guide DTP's programs in the region. Programs have covered Business and Human Rights, the Climate Emergency, and Labour Migration.
• Justice System Monitoring Project (JSMP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTP values the partnership with Timor-Leste's JSMP, an NGO with a long record of service to the community and to victims of human rights violations in Timor-Leste. JSMP has hosted most of DTP's Annual Regional Human Rights and Peoples' Diplomacy Programs.
• Citizens' Constitutional Forum (CCF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCF has been DTP's national NGO partner in Fiji since 2003. Programs have covered children's rights, migration, business and human rights and the Universal Periodic Review.
• Youth Law AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYLA is DTP's key partner for the Child Rights Program in Australia.
• Australian Lawyers for Human RightsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALHR is DTP's key partner for the Child Rights Program, collaborating on CRC webinar series.
• WITNESSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTP collaborates with WITNESS especially in training on video strategies and skills. Values the contribution of WITNESS Asia's representative Arul Prakkash as a trainer on its programs.
• Front Line DefendersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLD collaborates especially in training on safety and security strategies and tools for human rights defenders. FLD's Asia representative Sayeed Ahmad is a DTP alumnus and trainer. FLD also acts in defense of DTP alumni at risk.
• Faculty of Law and Justice at UNSW SydneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTP is affiliated with the Faculty of Law and Justice at UNSW Sydney. The faculty provides valuable in-kind support including office space, training venues, and academic support.
• Oxfam AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTP has partnered with Oxfam Australia to promote and advance Indigenous Peoples rights in Australia. Programs included support for Asia-Pacific Regional Indigenous Peoples' programs.
• Fred Hollows FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTP worked with Fred Hollows Foundation to develop and deliver programs in Australia with Indigenous community advocates on the Right to Health.
• Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTP and STARTTS partnered on capacity building initiatives with refugee and migrant community leaders in NSW, including residential training programs and webinar series.
• Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTP's national partner in Nepal on poverty, human rights and peoples' diplomacy.
• Pravasi Nepali Coordination Committee (PNCC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTP's national partner in Nepal on the rights of migrant workers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Foundation: New York-based broader human rights organization that runs leadership and advocacy training programs; comparable in training-led defender empowerment, though operating globally rather than regionally concentrated.

Direct peers

• Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP): Regional indigenous rights network and DTP partner since 2004; co-delivers Indigenous Peoples Asia-Pacific Program capacity building and is one of the closest peers given overlapping constituency and shared program line.
• Front Line Defenders: Dublin-based international NGO focused on the protection and capacity building of human rights defenders; DTP explicitly partners with Front Line Defenders on safety/security training and defender protection, and FLD acts on behalf of DTP alumni at risk.
• WITNESS: Global organization training human rights defenders in video advocacy; DTP explicitly partners with WITNESS to deliver video strategy training on its programs and shares the same defender-audience training methodology.
• FORUM-ASIA: Bangkok-based regional human rights NGO network serving Asia-Pacific; DTP has co-delivered its flagship annual training program with FORUM-ASIA since 1991, making it both partner and the most directly comparable peer in regional defender capacity building.
• International Service for Human Rights (ISHR): Geneva-based NGO training and supporting human rights defenders to engage with UN mechanisms; comparable to DTP's International Human Rights Mechanisms Program in target audience (defenders), methodology (training + advocacy), and thematic scope.
• Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights: Rapid-response fund and capacity builder supporting women human rights defenders globally; comparable as a defender-support organization operating through grants and training rather than litigation or direct service delivery.
• ARTICLE 19: International freedom of expression NGO that delivers training and capacity building for defenders and journalists; overlaps with DTP's strategic advocacy, video advocacy, and digital rights programming in similar Asia-Pacific and global markets.

Others

• Australian Human Rights Centre (UNSW): Academic human rights center at DTP's host institution (UNSW Faculty of Law and Justice); provides academic and convening infrastructure for DTP and conducts adjacent human rights education, training, and research in the same ecosystem.

Regional players

• DefendDefenders: East Africa-based consortium providing protection and capacity building for HRDs; a regional counterpart to DTP with the same 'training + protection' model but operating in a different geography (East/Horn of Africa vs. DTP's Asia-Pacific/MENA focus).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dtphumanrights
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCefVbgnCpD6Sh8ARr01oxIw
• Facebookfacebook.com/DTPHumanRights
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dtphra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diplomacy Training Program