Capacity Development in Multilateral Diplomacy for Africa

Small and developing states with limited geographical, human, and financial resources face the challenge of doing more with less: they need to employ all available methods to increase their representation, including networks, alliances, and information technology tools. The effective presence of such states in International Geneva is vital for their social and economic development, as Geneva is the main governance hub for issues such as trade, climate change, health, and migration. Yet, diplomats representing small and developing states often lack the experience and exposure to Geneva-based institutions and processes that would allow them to ensure the interests of their nations are well represented.

The Capacity Development in Multilateral Diplomacy for Africa programme (CD Multi-Africa) is part of the Capacity Development in Multilateral Diplomacy programme (CD Multi) run in cooperation and with the support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

The CD Multi programme aims to:

• Increase the capacity of the selected states to participate efficiently and effectively in multilateral diplomacy.
• Strengthen functional links between participating states and International Geneva.
• Help the participating states make effective use of e-tools in order to overcome geographical, financial, and human resource limitations.
• Make participants from the selected states aware of the importance of the activities and decisions being taken or implemented in Geneva.

CD Multi-Africa combines the convenience of tutored online learning and research for geographically dispersed participants with the immediate benefits of face-to-face coaching and policy immersion in Geneva. The programme is designed for diplomats and officials, as well as participants from civil society and academia, from small and developing African states. There are three phases.

1. During the six-week interactive online learning phase (31 October – 16 December 2016), participants attend an interactive six-week online training course. The course focuses on topics of special relevance for African nations governed by Geneva-based institutions (environment and climate change diplomacy, human rights diplomacy, trade diplomacy, health diplomacy, humanitarian diplomacy, and Internet governance and telecommunication policy).
2. During the four-week policy research phase (16 January – 10 February 2017), participants select a research topic of relevance to their country and connected with the multilateral diplomatic scene in Geneva. They investigate and analyse this topic under the guidance of a research tutor, and with access to expert consultants for advice as needed.
3. The policy immersion phase in Geneva (spring 2017, dates to be determined) brings the ten top participants from the online course to Geneva for visits to international organisations in Geneva, meetings with officials working on small state issues, discussion of the diplomacy of small states (main issues and challenges in multilateral diplomacy), and other activities.

Full and successful completion of the online learning and policy research phases is required in order for participants to be considered for the policy immersion phase in Geneva.

This course is open to diplomats and other government officials, as well as civil society and academia, from small and developing African states.

Please note that this programme requires six to eight hours of study time per week. Before you apply, please consider carefully whether you can commit the necessary time in order to complete the course successfully. Where appropriate, please make sure you obtain the endorsement of your line manager to attend this course.

The programme has three phases:

Online learning phase (31 October – 16 December 2016): During this six-week phase, reading materials and tools for online interaction are provided through an online classroom. The course is based on a collaborative approach to learning, involving a high level of interaction. Each week, participants read an assigned module text, adding questions and comments as hypertext entries. Lecturers and other participants read and respond to these entries, creating interaction based on the module text. Each week participants complete a quiz based on the readings for the week, and at the end of the week, participants, tutors, and guest experts meet online in a chat room to discuss the week’s topic.

Policy research phase (16 January – 10 February 2017): During the online learning phase, each participant will select a topic of relevance to their country and connected with the multilateral diplomatic scene in Geneva for the individual research project. During the 4-week research phase, participants continue their research under the guidance of a research tutor, and with access to expert consultants for advice as needed. At the end of the research phase, each participant submits a research paper of 2500 – 3000 words. Participants receive individual feedback and assessment of their research papers.

Participation in the online learning phase and policy research phase requires six to eight hours of study time per week.

Participants who successfully complete the online learning and policy research phases will receive an electronic certificate and will be eligible for consideration for the policy immersion phase in Geneva.

Policy immersion phase: (Geneva, spring 2017, dates to be determined): This phase brings the ten top participants from the online course to Geneva for visits to international organisations in Geneva, meetings with officials working on small state issues, discussion of the diplomacy of small states (main issues and challenges in multilateral diplomacy), an introduction to International Geneva (main players, approaches, plans), training exercises (simulations on multilateral negotiations, training on drafting and use of language), and consultancy on the relevance of Geneva’s diplomatic activities to the multilateral diplomacy of the participants’ countries.

Applicants must:

• be a citizen of, or reside in, a small, developing African state.
• have at least one year of work experience as a diplomat or other government official, or within civil society or academia, in their respective states.
• have sufficient knowledge of the English language to undertake postgraduate-level studies (including reading academic texts, discussing complex concepts with other course participants, and writing academic essays).
• have regular access to the Internet (dial-up connection is sufficient, although broadband is preferable).
• dedicate sufficient time for online study, which requires six to eight hours per week.

Participation in this course for selected applicants is fully funded by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland (FDFA).

Please apply online using our online application form by 10 October 2016.

The application form asks you to provide a short motivation statement (150 words) explaining the reasons for your interest in this course. What are your personal and professional objectives for the future, and how will this course help you to reach them? You are also required to upload a current CV with your application.

Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.

This programme is open only to applicants from African states. Please consult the prerequisites for this programme before applying. Applicants who do not meet the prerequisites will not be considered.

Priority will be given to applicants who are diplomats or other government officials, and to applicants from small and developing states.

In case of enquiries, please contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu