Dr. Florent BLANC, Ph.D. is Director of the “Negotiators of Europe” research and training program at ESSEC Business School.
He is the consortium team leader for the implementation of the Framework Contract (HR/R1/PO/2019/024 - LOT 3) covering the conception and delivery of negotiation-related trainings and services for the European institutions. This consortium joins the teams of College of Europe and the European Institute for Public Administration (EIPA).
As part of ESSEC IRENE’s negotiation training team, Florent delivers negotiation-related modules for the European Commission, public institutions in France and around the globe as well as private sector clients.
He contributed to capacity4dev activities as a member of the pool of trainers delivering Policy Dialogue and Negotiation as well as Context for Development modules under recent training contracts. For over 7 years, he also contributed to develop and adapt dedicated training modules for EUD teams (Nepal, Ivory Coast and Barbados). He also advised EUD on contractual negotiations for large infrastructure projects.

He contributed to the EU-PALOP-TL partnership by proposing a reflexion on the dialogue mechanisms and necessary capacity-building for Members of the partnership.

Florent holds a PhD from Northwestern University where he was George Lurcy scholar (Fulbright Program 2004-2005) and adjunct professor between 2006 and 2010. With a focus on national security policies and counterterrorism, Florent taught also courses in immigration policies, social changes, legal studies and journalism methodologies. From 2011 to 2016, he was West African Program manager for a French NGO where he oversaw and delivered projects on social cohesion, crisis prevention and education policy reform, with a focus on Mali. Florent also holds a doctorate from SciencesPo Paris.

With a strong academic foundation in Anthropology, background in Economics, and an MSc in Conflict and Development, I bring professional experience in sustainability at a multinational IT company, project management on large-scale World Bank initiative in Mozambique and Angola and now, business development in international consultancy.

As a Business Development Analyst, I drive market analysis, proposal development, and strategic partnerships to expand opportunities in international development. I leverage my expertise in project management, contract negotiations, and stakeholder engagement to support impactful global initiatives.

Having lived in 7 countries apart from my country of origin (Mozambique, the Philippines, Uruguay, Brazil, Portugal, Belgium and the UK), for a total of 14 years, I thrive in diverse environments, combining adaptability, analytical thinking, and a naturally inquisitve mindset, which allows me to tackle complex challenges with commitment and never-ending curiosity.

I am a Tunisian sociologist with over 25 years of experience in gender equality, social inclusion, and participatory governance. I have led and contributed to numerous EU-funded projects in Tunisia, supporting rural communities, women’s leadership, and inclusive public policies. I have moderated international events (CSW69), trained civil society organisations, and produced strategic reports. I’m passionate about sharing knowledge from the field, especially around gender and territorial equity in the MENA region.