Half a century after its inception, development cooperation is today integral to finding solutions for global, regional and national problems. As such, it influences diplomatic agendas in many areas including security, the environment, trade, health, and migration.
This course explores development cooperation as an important dimension of international relations, particularly relations between developing and developed countries. Diplomatic training courses rarely include an introduction to and training in international development cooperation, including humanitarian aid, thus hampering diplomats’ ability to successfully negotiate development-related issues. The course looks at various types of development cooperation at national, regional and global levels. Development issues are examined from the perspectives of both provider and partner countries. Theory and analysis are supported with examples and illustrations from the professional experience of the course authors.
| Open for applications: | No |
| Application deadline: | Certificate: 31 August 2020; Credit Course: 3 August 2020 |
| Start date: | 5 October 2020 |
| Duration: | 10 weeks |
| Fees: | Certificate: €690; Credit: €850; Scholarships available |
| Course code: | IRL 5021 |
| ECTS credits: | 9 |
| Mode(s) of study: | Certificate Credit - Master/PGD |
Lecturers
Ms Dominique Hempel Rodas
Independent Senior Advisor, International Relations, Development Cooperation, and Capacity Development
Ms Dominique Hempel Rodas is a Swiss lawyer with more than 20 years experience on issues related to international law, development and private-public partnerships. After several years in private industry where she held different senior positions, including directing a consultancy services firm specialized in international legal and commercial fields, she joined the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992. First as a legal counsel and programme and country officer for eastern countries, she then headed the Legal Division of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) from 1994 to 2000. She was further seconded by the SDC to international organisations and projects (WHO/The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNDP/GAIN, and UNDP/Interpeace) where she occupied diverse leading functions both at the legal level as a senior legal counsel, and the operational level a programme advisor with a focus on Latin America. She returned to the SDC headquarters in 2008 in charge of training programmes, and then became responsible for the topic of capacity development within the SDC and its partners. She is the author of various publications on development cooperation, notably on the right to development. In addition, she has conducted different face-to-face courses and seminars both in Switzerland and overseas on such subjects as democracy, human rights, and rule of law, as well as instruments of development cooperation. Dominique has supported Diplo’s activities since 2002, and participated in its creation as a foundation. She is pleased to join Diplo’s faculty as a lecturer on Development Diplomacy.
Dr Katharina Höne
Senior lecturer, researcher, and project manager
Dr Katharina (Kat) E Höne researches, writes, and teaches on a number of issues in the area of diplomacy, global governance, and the impact of technology on international relations. Over the last years, she has focused on research at the intersection of diplomacy and technology. She was part of a research project on Data Diplomacy: Updating diplomacy to the big data era and the lead researcher and author of Mapping the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence for the conduct of diplomacy report, both supported by the Ministry for Foreign of Affairs of Finland. In addition, she has more than 10 years of experience in teaching international relations at universities in the UK and Germany, and in delivering in-situ, blended, and online training to diplomatic practitioners. Kat holds an MA in Diplomatic Studies (University of Leicester, UK) and a PhD in International Politics (University of Aberystwyth, UK). In her work, she is driven by her aim to level the playing field at international negotiation tables through capacity development, and to provide out-of-the-box thinking and inspiration by drawing on her passion for science-fiction.
Half a century after its inception, development cooperation is today integral to finding solutions for global, regional and national problems. As such, it influences diplomatic agendas in many areas including security, the environment, trade, health, and migration.
This course explores development cooperation as an important dimension of international relations, particularly relations between developing and developed countries. Diplomatic training courses rarely include an introduction to and training in international development cooperation, including humanitarian aid, thus hampering diplomats’ ability to successfully negotiate development-related issues. The course looks at various types of development cooperation at national, regional and global levels. Development issues are examined from the perspectives of both provider and partner countries. Theory and analysis are supported with examples and illustrations from the professional experience of the course authors.
By the end of this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe major issues and dilemmas in international development cooperation today.
- Present and explain issues related to development cooperation, from the perspectives of both donor (provider) and recipient (partner) countries.
- Assess development needs and cooperation opportunities.
- Advise on the preparation of an 'aid request' to be submitted to a provider.
- Appraise cooperation proposals submitted by partner governments or local organisations.
- Select the most appropriate type of provider for different activities - bilateral, multilateral or private sources.
- Support the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of development projects, and recommend changes as needed.
- Argue for and defend the role and potential of development cooperation in today's international relations, and be better able to foster the win-win aspects for both developed and developing countries.
Excerpt from course materials
The objectives of traditional diplomatic tasks and those of international development cooperation activities may sometimes be incompatible; this situation can make it difficult for a donor representative to fulfil both responsibilities. On the one hand, a diplomat’s most important task is to defend the interests of his or her home country concerning political issues, economic aspects, security, migration and other such matters; on the other hand, he/she must consider development goals such as poverty alleviation, food security, the promotion of nascent industries, debt forgiveness, and protection of the environment. Conflicts are foreseeable...
Course outline
- Introduction: rationale for the course; goals and structure; definitions and basic concepts (such as poverty alleviation and participation); presentation and interpretation of important figures of bilateral, multilateral and private cooperation.
- Types, Forms and Instruments of Development Cooperation: definitions and characteristics of humanitarian aid, development aid and economic measures, including the interplay among them; analysis of the main methods for each of these forms.
- Multilateral Development Cooperation and Diplomacy: main characteristics of multilateral development cooperation; multilateral actors and stakeholders; the roles of multilateral development institutions at country, regional, and global levels; governance of multilateral development institutions; provider and partner country perspectives; recent trends and challenges.
- Partner and Provider Country Perspectives: Reasons for both partner (recipient) countries and for public and private providers (donors) to implement development programmes; positive and negative consequences of development cooperation; expectations for improvements.
- The Role of Diplomats in International Development Cooperation - Tasks and Tools: the specific tasks of a diplomat in development cooperation activities; introduction to some simple tools to assess development cooperation projects and evaluate implementation; reflections on possible dilemmas between traditional diplomatic tasks and those of development cooperation activities.
- The Main Principles of the 2000s. From the Millennium Development Goals to the post-2015 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals: evolution of development since its inception; MDGs progress and shortcomings; the way forward for setting a global development agenda post-2015.
- The Post-2015 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals: the main principles and characteristics of the SDGs; similarities and differences between the MDGs and the SDGs; progress on the SDGs.
- The Debate on Development Aid: the question of whether international cooperation works; the most important challenges of development cooperation.
This course will be of interest to:
- Practising diplomats, civil servants, and others working in international relations who want to refresh or expand their knowledge under the guidance of experienced practitioners and academics.
- Postgraduate students of diplomacy or international relations wishing to study topics not offered through their university programmes or diplomatic academies and to gain deeper insight through interaction with practising diplomats.
- Postgraduate students or practitioners in other fields seeking an entry point into the world of diplomacy.
- Journalists, staff of international and non-governmental organisations, translators, business people and others who interact with diplomats and wish to improve their understanding of diplomacy-related topics.
| Olga Algayerova (State Secretary, MFA of the Slovak Republic), talks about practical skills she acquired attending the Development Diplomacy course. |
This course is conducted entirely online over a period of ten weeks. Reading materials and tools for online interaction are provided through an online classroom. Each week, participants read the provided lecture text, adding questions, comments and references in the form of hypertext entries. Lecturers and other participants read and respond to these entries, creating interaction based on the lecture text. During the week, participants complete additional online activities (for example, further discussion via blogs or forums, quizzes, group tasks, simulations or short assignments). At the end of the week, participants and lecturers meet online in a chat room to discuss the week’s topic. To complete the course successfully, participants must write several essay assignments. Courses are based on a collaborative approach to learning, involving a high level of interaction.
This course requires a minimum of five to seven hours of study time per week.
All course applicants must have regular access to the Internet (dial-up connection is sufficient, although broadband is preferable).
Applicants for certificate courses must have:
- An undergraduate university degree OR three years of work experience and appropriate professional qualifications in diplomacy or international relations.
- Sufficient ability in the English language to undertake postgraduate level studies (including reading academic texts, discussing complex concepts with other course participants, and submitting written essay assignments of up to 2500 words in length).
Applicants for accredited courses must meet University of Malta prerequisites:
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject with at least Second Class Honours.
- English language proficiency certificate obtained within the last two years (minimum requirements: Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) – 95 (with a writing score of at least 24); IELTS: 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each element); Cambridge: Advanced Certificate with Grade C or better). Please indicate on the application form if you are still waiting for your English language proficiency results.
Course fees depend on whether you wish to obtain university credit for the course:
- €850 (University of Malta Accredited Course)
- €690 (Diplo Certificate Course)
Applicants must pay full fees upon official acceptance into the course. The fee includes:
- Tuition fee
- Access to all course materials online, via Diplo’s online classroom
- Personal interaction via the online classroom with course lecturers, staff and other participants
- Online technical support
- University of Malta application fee (for University of Malta Accredited Courses only)
- Access, via the Internet, to the University of Malta e-journal collection (University of Malta Accredited Courses only)
- For Diplo Certificate Courses, postgraduate level e-certificate issued by DiploFoundation on successful completion of course requirements (interaction and participation, all assignments) which can be printed or shared electronically via a permanent link
Financial assistance
Discounts are available for more than one participant from the same institution. A limited number of partial scholarships are available for diplomats and others working in international relations from developing countries.
To apply for a scholarship please upload your CV and a motivation letter with your application. The motivation letter should include:
- Details of your relevant professional and educational background.
- Reasons for your interest in the course.
- Why you feel you should have the opportunity to participate in this course: how will your participation benefit you, your institution and/or your country?
As Diplo's ability to offer scholarship support is limited, candidates are strongly encouraged to seek scholarship funding directly from local or international institutions.
A number of routes for application are available:
- Apply for this course as a Diplo Certificate Course
- Apply for this course as a University of Malta Accredited Course
- Take this course as part of the Master/PGD in Contemporary Diplomacy
Apply for a Diplo Certificate Course
Applicants for certificate courses should apply online.
If you are applying for financial assistance, please upload your CV and a motivation letter with your application. The motivation letter should include:
- Details of your relevant professional and educational background.
- Reasons for your interest in the course.
- Why you feel you should have the opportunity to participate in this course: how will your participation benefit you, your institution and/or your country?
Please note that financial assistance from DiploFoundation is available only to applicants from developing countries. Late applications will be considered if there are spaces available in the course.
Apply for a University of Malta Accredited Course
Complete application packages must be received by specified application deadlines in order to be considered.
- Two copies of the University of Malta application form filled out in full (download form for overseas applicants; download form for applicants with Maltese qualifications).
- Certified copies of original degree(s) and official transcripts.
- English translations of degree(s) and transcripts if they are not in English, signed and stamped by translator.
- English language proficiency certificate obtained within the last two years (minimum requirements TOEFL: paper-based – 650; Internet-based – 95. IELTS: 6.5. Cambridge: Proficiency Certificate with Grade C or better). Please indicate on the application form if you are still waiting for your English language proficiency results.
- Photocopy of personal details pages of your passport.
- If you are requesting financial assistance, please include your CV and a motivation letter with your application. The motivation letter should include details of your relevant professional and educational background; reasons for your interest in the course; and why you feel you should have the opportunity to participate in this course: i.e. how will your participation benefit you, your institution and/or your country? Financial assistance from DiploFoundation is available only to applicants from developing countries.
- Application fee or proof of payment (€100 – non-refundable – see methods of payment).
Please send the complete application package by e-mail to admissions@diplomacy.edu or by post to:
DiploFoundation
Anutruf, Ground Floor
Hriereb Street
Msida, MSD 1675, Malta
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Cancellation Policy
Diplo reserves the right to cancel this course if enrolment is insufficient. In case of cancellation, Diplo will notify applicants shortly after the application deadline. Applicants who have paid an application fee may apply this fee towards another course or receive a refund.