DiploNews – Issue 342 – 2 March 2018
Upcoming study and training opportunities
Digital Policy and Internet Governance (just-in-time New-York-based course)
This new course aims to assist permanent missions to the UN in New York to actively follow the increasingly relevant fields of digital policy and Internet governance (IG), with a focus on dynamics in the UN. The course, offered by the Geneva Internet Platform and delivered by DiploFoundation, will benefit diplomats who follow IG, digital policy, cybersecurity, and related policy fields (e.g. telecommunications, human rights, trade). While improving their knowledge of digital policy, participants will also gain the practical skills and knowledge required to follow current IG processes. The course focuses on diplomatic and policy processes in the UN in New York. Due to the blended-learning course format, which includes weekly face-to-face meetings, registration is open only to applicants based in New York. For selected applicants, the course costs are fully covered by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. The course starts on 4 April 2018. Read more on the course webpage, and apply by 23 March.
Negotiation Skills
Non-traditional areas of diplomacy (education diplomacy, health diplomacy, Internet governance, humanitarian diplomacy, development diplomacy, and more) require the use of diplomatic skills to build bridges across sectors, diverse actors, and borders. This course on Negotiation Skills, offered by DiploFoundation and the Center for Education Diplomacy, is a practical, interactive course that equips participants with the skills to successfully prepare, undertake, and conclude negotiations in formal and informal settings with government and non-government actors alike. The course introduces the concept and principles of negotiation and reflects on the role of power and empathy in negotiation. It introduces key skills supported by case studies and practical learning activities, including an online simulation exercise. Rather than going into the theoretical considerations of negotiation, such as game theory or group decision-making theory, the course focuses on key skills that are valuable for a variety of negotiations. The course starts on 23 April 2018. Read more on the course webpage and apply by 26 March 2018.
May 2018 online diplomacy courses
Starting on 7 May 2018, we offer courses on diplomacy topics, both classic and contemporary:
Apply by 5 March 2018 for University of Malta accredited courses and by 2 April for Diplo certificate courses. For further information or to apply, click on the titles of the courses listed, or visit our courses webpage. Register now to reserve your place.
Malta scholarships
Thanks to support from the government of Malta, partial scholarships are available for applicants from developing countries to attend upcoming Diplo online courses. These scholarships cover 30%–60% of course fees and can be applied to most online courses in 2018. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information. You can also sign up for our courses mailing list to be informed about upcoming courses.

[WebDebate] Strategies for African states in multilateral diplomacy
On Tuesday, 6th March, at 12:00 UTC (13:00 CET) our next WebDebate takes place, when we will discuss the question: How can African states navigate multilateral diplomacy successfully?
Looking at some of the key venues of multilateral diplomacy – such as the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly – it is easy to get the impression that multilateral diplomacy is dominated by a few powerful Western states. In our next WebDebate, we will focus on the strategies for African states to engage successfully in multilateral diplomacy. We will debate the obstacles faced and discuss potential responses and future directions.
Our speakers are:
- Ambassador Amr Aljowaily (Egypt’s Ambassador to Serbia)
- Dr Yolanda Kemp Spies (Senior Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg)
Register to reserve your place.
Advanced Diploma in IG – first graduates
Diplo congratulates the first graduates of the Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance (IG)! Diplo launched this capacity development programme two years ago, building it around a selection of online courses focused on IG issues. The programme helps participants develop solid knowledge and practical skills in the area of IG policy-making, one of the most important global policy issues in the digital era. One of the graduates commented that this programme is ‘ideally suited for busy professionals who need to get a good grasp of the core Internet technical infrastructure and how it relates to global public policy issues.’ You can read more about the graduates and their experiences in Diplo’s blog, and more about the programme on Diplo’s Capacity Development in IG page.
Internet governance in March
What were the main Internet governance updates in March, and how will they shape future developments? What can we expect in April? Join us for our next monthly briefing, on Tuesday, 27th March, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments. Registrations are now open.
What’s been happening in Diplo’s blogsphere
In our most recent guest blog post, Manyi Arrey Orok-Tambe looks at Internet governance (IG) and multistakeholderism in Cameroon. She finds that Cameroon has made efforts to enhance its national IG and takes part in international IG forums. It is also working towards a fully operational digital economy by 2020. Therefore, IG has become part of Cameroon’s national interest. Yet, she also finds that there is a need to consolidate what has been achieved and to enhance the process. One suggestion is to create a multistakeholder steering committee or similar body to ensure participation of all stakeholders.
Join the launch of the #cybermediation initiative on 13 March 2018
How can digital technology contribute to political mediation? The UN Department of Political Affairs, DiploFoundation, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, swisspeace, and researchers from Harvard University have joined forces in UN Geneva to develop an initiative to explore how digital technology is impacting the mediator’s role in preventing and resolving violent conflicts. Join our launch event on 13 March 2018, from 13:00 to 15:00 CET, in Geneva or online.
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