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CD Multi (Capacity Development Programme in Multilateral Diplomacy)

Background

 

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Small 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. In addition, diplomats from small and remote states often lack the experience and exposure to Geneva-based institutions and processes that would allow them to ensure that the interests of their nations are well represented.

Small states, especially geographically remote Pacific, Caribbean, and African nations, strongly depend on international law and order. 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.

Objectives

This Capacity Development Programme in Multilateral Diplomacy (CD Multi) aims to strengthen the capacity of small Pacific, Caribbean, and African states to participate more dynamically in multilateral diplomacy in general, and in Geneva-related activities in particular, which should as a consequence lead to opening up or strengthening their permanent representation to the United Nations in Geneva.

This programme will:

  • 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.

Building on CD Pacific

In 2013 and 2014, DiploFoundation implemented a Capacity Development Programme in Multilateral Diplomacy for Pacific Islands (CD Pacific). The current project, CD Multi, builds on the success and experience of CD Pacific and suggests a follow-up project in three directions:

  1. Follow-up activities for CD Pacific alumni, including a travel fund for preparation of tailored trips in Geneva UN-meetings.

  2. New run of the multilateral diplomacy programme for Caribbean countries, with a focus on those without permanent representation to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva.

  3. New run of the multilateral diplomacy programme for African countries, with a focus on those without permanent representation to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva.

  4. A travel fund for successful participants of CD-Multi Africa and CD-Multi Carib which would enable preparation of tailored trips to Geneva UN events.

Timeline

  • CD Pacific follow-up (May 2016 – December 2017)

  • Online Learning and Policy Research phases of the online course Capacity Development in Multilateral Diplomacy for the Caribbean and the course Capacity Development in Multilateral Diplomacy for Africa (October 2016 – February 2017)

  • Policy Immersion in International Geneva (June 2017)

  • Follow-up activities CD Multi-Carib and CD Multi-Africa (May– December 2017)

 
Background information

Diplo is informally considered to be the diplomatic academy of small island states. Due to their physical remoteness, many small island states use Diplo’s online training programmes to supplement their own diplomatic training. Diplo has the following expertise in training of small and remote states:

  • A well-established online course on Diplomacy of Small States taught by practitioners and academics from small island states.

  • Research projects and publications on the characteristics of the diplomacy of small states (available in the resource repository).

  • Maltese diplomats as lecturers and trainers, with extensive expertise in running diplomacy in small states.

  • An active network and alumni from Pacific, Caribbean and African states, particularly in the fields of climate change diplomacy and Internet governance. The alumni network includes the priority countries of this proposal.

 

Contact

Tereza Horejsova, Project Manager – terezah@diplomacy.edu