Customized Training
We
empower individuals,
governments and
organizations through
knowledge and learning
to effectively overcome
contemporary global
challenges.
SALLY FEGAN-WYLES
UN ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL
ACTING HEAD
United Nations System and Conference Diplomacy
Introduction to the United Nations System Conference Diplomacy and Multilateral Negotiation Chairing Multilateral Conferences
Rules of Procedure of United Nations Conferences United Nations Protocol
Working Efficiently with UN Budget Documents
Structure, Drafting and Adoption of United Nations Resolutions Diplomatic Report Writing
Inter-ministerial Coordination in Negotiation Preparation and Follow-up
International Crisis Management
Who we are
Customized training Meet our trainers Training design
Skills Development
Skills Assessment and Management Development Negotiation Skills and Techniques
Leadership and Diplomacy Public Speaking and Media Relations Positivity Skills
Training of Trainers
Environmental Diplomacy
Climate Change Diplomacy Green Diplomacy
Negotiating Climate Change Finance Negotiating Water Resources
Other popular courses
Public Diplomacy
Introduction to Water Diplomacy Cultural Diplomacy
Contemporary Multilateral Challenges: Cyber Crimes and Cyber Security Commercial Diplomacy
Agricultural Diplomacy
Human Rights Diplomacy
International Human Rights Protection
Advisory Service 1 2 10 10 11 11 12 12 15 14 14 14 3 8 15 15 5 9 8 9 18 18 19 19 25 26 24 24 24 25 22 27
Table of contents
Who we are
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
With over 50 years of experience, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) delivers more than
400 training activities per year, reaching out to 30,000 professionals world-wide. At the heart of UNITAR, the Multilateral Diplomacy Programme (MDP) is a leading provider of training in global and strategic challenges for professionals within and outside of the United Nations. Since 2004, UNITAR has been working closely with Ministries of Foreign Affairs to develop capacities in the field of multilateral diplomacy through the organization of professional, executive-type courses and
training-related activities.
Our courses have been developed to suit specific needs in the areas of Multilateral Diplomacy, Negotiation,
Leadership and the UN System.
Being at the forefront of the international arena we bring together people from all professional areas facilitating knowledge exchange and the creation of new networks.
We have developed extensive experience in designing and implementing professional training courses for
Customized training
Upon the request of individual UN Member States and/or in partnership with intergovernmental
organizations or UN agencies, UNITAR organizes and implements specifically designed courses on themes
related to multilateral diplomacy and international affairs management, including environmental diplomacy, human rights and international trade and development.
Start learning with us today
Choose your topics STEP 1
STEP 1
Contact us Receive tailor made training
STEP 2
STEP 2
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The duration, content and mode of delivery of the courses are defined in close consultation with the beneficiaries and partner organizations in order to meet participants’ specific needs.
The training activities can be implemented face-to-face in Geneva or in the beneficiary’s country, as well as
Meet our faculty
Masoumeh Sahami
Shola Omoregie
Jean-Marc Boulgaris
TRAINER IN NEGOTIATION TRAINER IN UNITED NATIONS
RESOLUTIONS TRAINER IN CONFERENCE DIPLOMACY
Masoumeh Sahami holds a Masters in
Business Administration and has 30 years of service with the United Nations. As the
Secretary of the Trade and Development
Board she also served as Secretary of the
13th UNCTAD Ministerial Conference in Doha in 2012. She has a varied experience
in the work of UNCTAD, not least, technical cooperation in collaboration with bilateral donors and Bretton Woods Institutions (BWIs) and all inter-governmental matters.
She has participated in extensive technical
assistance activities in a wide range of
developing countries, covering areas from trade facilitation to mainstreaming gender
in development strategies, microfinance, trade and poverty. She has also worked with the WTO, UNDP, ITC and BWIs, in connection with Aid for Trade, as a board
member of the Enhanced Integrated
Framework.
Ambassador Shola Omoregie is founder and
Chief Operating Officer of the Africa Peace
Support, LLC. A former career diplomat at the United Nations, Ambassador Omoregie is an expert on the UN Security Council and peace operations having had a dedicated and distinguished service at the United Nations spanning over three decades. From October 2006 - December 2008, he served as the Representative of the United Nations
Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau and Head
of United Nations Peace-building Support
office in Guinea-Bissau. As a member of the
UN Task Force on Assistance to the African Union (from 2003 – 2005), he assisted the African Union in the establishment of the modalities for the operation of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), including the drafting of the rules of procedure of the PSC
and preparation of the working methods of the Council. He was educated at the
University of Lagos, Nigera.
Jean-Marc Boulgaris is a senior UNITAR
consultant and a former Ambassador and
Permanent Representative of Switzerland to
the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. He started his career in the diplomatic service in 1968 and has held many postings, including as Deputy
Permanent Observer of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York, Political Director
of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador to Denmark and Colombia. He
also represented Switzerland in meetings of
the GATT, EFTA, OECD and the International Energy Agency. In 2003-2004, Ambassador
Boulgaris was Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
He served as Member of the UNITAR Board of Trustees and is a Member of the Board
of the Friends of the Conference of NGOs accredited to the Economic and Social
Alice Hecht
Jerome L’Host
Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu
TRAINER IN UNITED NATIONS PROTOCOL
TRAINER IN LEADERSHIP TRAINER IN CLIMATE CHANGE
Ms. Alice Hecht is currently Adviser to UNITAR on protocol in multilateral organizations and their impact in the conduct of negotiations. Prior to heading
the Office of Protocol of the United Nations, 2006 to 2009, Ms. Hecht was the Director of
Administration of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (2003 to 2005) in charge of the direction of the administration of some 7,000 civilian and uniformed personnel and the implementation of an annual budget of $270 million. From 1992 to 2003, Ms. Hecht served as Chief Administrative
Officer of the United Special Commission on Iraq and directed the financial, human
resources and logistics services required for the implementation of the United
Nations mandates. Ms. Hecht was born and educated in Belgium. She holds a Licence
en Sciences Sociales and a Candidature en Sciences Sociales from Université Libre de
Bruxelles/Belgium. Mr. Jérôme L’host is a dedicated Senior
Consultant based in Geneva and Moscow, working internationally with both the Private and the Public Sectors. Mr. L’host attended the University of Savoie where he
studied Public Administration & Economics (AES). He later specialized in Marketing at
the Plus-Values Institute in Paris. Mr. L’host is a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Coach, a UN-certified Coach and Trainer, as well as a Synaps-certified, and
LSA (Leadership Style Analysis) Coach. Over the last sixteen years, he has performed numerous presentations and motivational speeches for HEC Geneva, EPFL Chair of Entrepreneurship, Nestlé, Association pour le Progrès du Management and the
Swiss-French Chamber of Commerce. Mr. L’host has managed more than 40
large-scale international projects in more than 30 different countries. He is the Founder and General Manager of The November Company, a Training & Consulting Group.
Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, a Congolese national, is a senior negotiator for the UNCCC. For
seven years, he has worked for the Ministry
of Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Formerly, he served as a National REDD+ coordinator, Chair of the African Group for UNFCCC, Counsellor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation and as a World Bank
consultant. Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu has more
than fifteen years of experience in the fields
of diplomacy, economic development, climate change, energy and sustainable
development. He holds a Master’s degree
in European Studies and International Relations from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and has completed the International Advanced Training Course
at the Ecole nationale d’administration in Strasbourg, France. He also holds a MBA
in Finance and Investments from George Washington University in Washington DC.
The trainers and resource persons selected by UNITAR are
experts in the fields of international relations, diplomatic
practice and international law from academic and
international circles, including practitioners from both
within and outside the UN system.
Training design
Language
Training Material
Methodology Participants
All training activities can be delivered in any of the six official UN languages. It is important that participants have a good working knowledge of the primary language of the workshop or training in order to participate meaningfully in group
discussions, exercises and simulations. Simultaneous interpretation may also be provided upon request.
UNITAR usually provides a set of training material, prepared in close cooperation with partners and resource persons,
consisting of copies of presentations, selected readings, instructions for the interactive exercises and discussion group
assignments, relevant publications, etc. The material, enabling trainees to participate in a well informed, effective and prepared way, can also be shared with colleagues who have not benefited from the training.
The delivery format of all trainings devotes particular attention to:
• Interactivity: In the courses participants will be actively involved with discussions, feedback rounds and group exercises • Applicability: The courses use a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach where participants learn how to apply theories to real-life
situations, either through case studies, role plays or simulation exercises
• Experience Sharing: The courses build upon the experience, knowledge and personal resources of the participants UNITAR’s customized training activities in multilateral diplomacy target:
• Junior to senior level diplomats and other government officials or experts acting as representatives of their
governments at the United Nations or in international conferences
• Government officers from specialized Ministries working on international issues (environment, security, trade…), university professors, academics, lawyers and staff of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Participants should come from the same country or the same region or sub-region. To optimize training, groups for face-to-face activities are usually limited to 30 participants, groups for e-learning courses to 40 participants. Increasingly our target audience is expanded to other often non-state constituencies:
• private sector • civil society • academia • youth • indigenous communities • media • trade unions • think tanks
• mass membership organisations
• parlamentarians
Duration
Training Venue
Financing
Training Costs
Since the content, methods and structure of a course are tailored to the specific needs of the participants and defined in close consultation with the beneficiary/ partner organization, the duration usually varies from training to training.
If the training takes place in-country our partner should provide the following facilities:
• A room with tables and chairs to accommodate approximately 30 participants and one or more trainer(s) and UNITAR
staff
• Audio/visual equipment
• Other equipment (to be determined on a case-by-case basis)
Training activities organized at the request of UN Member States or organizations are financed entirely through
extra-budgetary sources. In most cases, the activity is funded either entirely or partially by a bilateral or multilateral donor agency in the form of a special purpose grant and Member States or organizations requesting the training contribute in-kind, such as providing training facilities and covering logistical/hospitality expenses for the participants. In some cases, costs may even
be shared with neighbouring countries by organizing the training activity at the sub-regional or regional level. There is no need to wait until the full project budget has been secured before contacting UNITAR. While it remains the responsibility
of the requesting entity to secure full funding, UNITAR is often able to assist in the fundraising process. When submitting a request, it is thus important to identify possible sources of funding and indicate if contact has already been made.
Training costs vary from event to event, but generally cover the following elements:
• Content development, including expertise to develop, revise, or customize pedagogical material to the needs of the requesting Member State or organization
• Assessment of training needs of the targeted beneficiaries
• Facilitation and supervision expertise during the implementation of the activity
• Travel and accommodation of experts, UNITAR staff (and participants for regional/sub-regional activities)
• Purchase and reproduction of training material and supplies
• Communication and shipment of training material
United Nations System and Conference
Diplomacy
Being familiar with the United Nations system and conference diplomacy is a prerequisite for working effectively in
this multilateral environment. Our courses in this topic cover introductions to the UN, its principal organs and their functioning, conference diplomacy, UN Protocol, and many more.
Introduction to the United Nations System
Conference Diplomacy and Multilateral Negotiation Chairing Multilateral Conferences
Rules of Procedure of United Nations Conferences United Nations Protocol
Working Efficiently with UN Budget Documents
Structure, Drafting and Adoption of United Nations Resolutions Diplomatic Report Writing
Introduction to the United Nations System
In an increasingly globalized world, where the importance of multilateral dialogues and cooperation is ever growing, the UN remains a central forum for progressing
ideas and a platform for action. In order to achieve their objectives and advance their interests representatives of governments, international and non-governmental
organizations must understand the structure and the working system of UN
agencies.
Proposed activity: This course aims to provide an overview of the United Nations as well as a historical, political, and analytical framework for liaising more effectively with UN representatives and staff. Furthermore, the workshop will identify the various
reform proposals for the UN system, critically analyze the reform process, and cover
contemporary policy developments which take center stage in the UN system. This will be done by providing expert briefings and round tables for example on strategies
for achieving positive outcomes or strategic measures leading to the achievement
of the MDGs. With the help of interactive exercises, participants will finish the course with a concrete understanding of the UN system’s structure and functioning. At the end of the course, participants will be able to enumerate the UN’s principal
organs and map their development; explain the history of the UN system and its predecessors; and identify current and salient issues relevant to the UN.
Conference Diplomacy and Multilateral Negotiation
Our most sought after course with continuously increasing demand and
implementation. Due to its extensive experience in the development of workshops on conference diplomacy and multilateral negotiation UNITAR is always on top of the latest developments in the field. Governments and increasingly other actors such
as international and non-governmental organizations use multilateral conferences as a means to achieve important policy objectives. Conferences such as the Rio+20
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development have shown that the number of government officers and other stakeholders involved in conference processes has increased significantly. This type of training is crucial in empowering
participants to respond to the emerging challenges in multilateral diplomacy. Proposed activity: The training provides participants with an opportunity to review the challenges of contemporary conference diplomacy. The sessions will focus on establishing the environment in which multilateral conferences take place; examining
formal procedures, processes and tactics; and exploring the informal processes,
such as consultation and lobbying. In role-play exercises participants will learn to apply their new knowledge and skills and to transfer them to their workplaces. The training will conclude with a simulation exercise and its video analysis. At the end of the workshop participants will be able to more effectively analyze the dynamics
unfolding in multilateral diplomacy and negotiation; to improve preparation for and participation in negotiations; and appreciate the interplay of intercultural differences.
Rules of Procedure of United Nations Conferences
The United Nations, through its principal organs and more than 50 subsidiary bodies, programmes and specialized agencies, convenes more than 10,000 meetings every
year. One of the main tasks of diplomats, government officials and other individuals
is to actively represent their State, government or organization in such conferences.
However, their actions might be impeded by a sometimes complicated web of
procedural rules and requirements. Delegates preparing for multilateral conferences,
who know the rules of procedure, are the best equipped to follow and participate in
the different stages of these meetings, from their convening and agenda-setting to voting and substantive decision-making.
Proposed activity: The training will acquaint participants with the main procedural
aspects of United Nations meetings and conferences, and their implications for negotiations and decision-making in a multilateral setting. Through comparative
analysis, case studies and simulation exercises the participants will be empowered to influence and play a significant role in the processes of conferences. After this training they will be able to view the conduct of United Nations meetings in a more transparent way and thereby assist delegates in their work to enhance the
effectiveness of the United Nations.
Chairing Multilateral Conferences
The value of a course in chairing multilateral conferences and international decision-making processes is not only in providing information, skills and guidance
to delegates who may be appointed or elected to chair meetings, it is also important for all delegates to understand what the chairperson is doing, and why he or she is doing it. In short, successful conferences require strong and able
chairpersons to be effective, and in turn they need supportive and cooperative
delegates. This means that all delegates who wish to influence the outcomes of the conference need to understand what the chairperson is trying to do. If they want the conference to reach certain decisions, they need to work with and
through the chairperson.
Proposed activity: This training will focus on developing skills and knowledge to efficiently chair a meeting and to efficiently work together with a chairperson. Analysis of case studies drawn from international conferences will allow
participants to examine and evaluate the actions taken by chairpersons and the impact of their decisions on the negotiation process. At the conclusion of
the training, delegates will know how to prepare themselves if given the task of chairing a conference. They will be able to identify common mistakes made by chairpersons as well as best practices and strategies. Furthermore they will also be able to support and cooperate with a chairperson in order to advance their
United Nations Protocol
The United Nations and its related bodies, agencies and programmes convene
thousands of formal and informal, official and unofficial meetings and conferences each year. Representatives within the United Nations system as well as from
governments or international and non-governmental organizations must be able to
operate in a professional manner in such multilateral environments. The work within or in cooperation with the United Nations often requires an in-depth understanding of the various layers of protocol and formal rules of this Organization as well as the
multilateral system.
Proposed activity: This course aims to provide an overview of United Nations and multilateral protocol practices to guide the protocol practitioners who operate within the United Nations Headquarters as well as in field offices. Thanks to the interactive guidance by our moderators, participants will get a concrete understanding of specific protocol-related situations. The course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and capacities to take the right decisions
and consider a broad spectrum of possible protocol-related arrangements. At the
end of this training participants will be able to avoid possible faux pas and organize
successful state visits, ceremonies and social events.
Working Efficiently with UN Budget Documents
Reading and understanding the budget plans of the United Nations Organization
Programmes and Funds, as well as its specialized agencies, can often be a challenging and overwhelming task for any diplomat or government official. However, the skills and knowledge required to do so effectively and efficiently are vital to the everyday work of these officials.
Proposed Activity: This course will provide participants with an understanding of the UN budgetary process, and the actors involved, as well as an appreciation of the broader context of their budget-related work, thus contributing to the efficiency of both their work, the work of their mission, and the United Nations as a whole. Participants will be given the opportunity, through case study discussions and simulation exercises to develop their skills in quickly and efficiently retrieving
Structure, Drafting and Adoption of United Nations
Resolutions
An average of 10,000 international meetings take place yearly, from summits of
Heads of State and Government to informal working groups, at the United Nations and other regional organizations. Newcomers to multilateral diplomacy may be overwhelmed by the volume of work and interaction during multilateral meetings,
and especially by the processes of drafting and negotiating conference outcomes.
To enable these delegates to become efficient more quickly, a clear and pragmatic
understanding of the procedures and practices for decision-making at the United Nations is vital.
Proposed activity: This course will familiarise participants with the structure and form of UN resolutions and improve their drafting skills. The participants will get to know the procedure and practices of decision-making at the United Nations and the steps that lead to the adoption of those decisions. They will be introduced to the structure and drafting of resolutions, speeches and interventions and will be
able to exercise their skills in practical drafting activities. At the end of this course
participants will have a comprehensive understanding of the drafting process of UN resolutions and other outcome documents and will be able to draft elaborate
resolutions, speeches and interventions.
Diplomatic Report Writing
Report writing is one of the immediate follow-up tasks of participation in
intergovernmental conferences, meetings and negotiations. This task is extremely
time-consuming even more so for the conference delegate who does not possess
appropriate tools or does not apply a comprehensive methodology. A successful
report depends firstly on the specific body of knowledge which the writer
possesses and secondly on specialized techniques which allow the written transfer of that knowledge to be as smooth and as effective as possible. Good and effective
reports leave no opportunity for the reader to miss or misunderstand any facts or arguments.
Proposed activity: During this training, the participants will learn how to
improve the recording and summarizing of results of international conferences/
meetings for national ministries/ departments /agencies who are interested in their outcomes. Interactive presentations and simulation exercises will strengthen the
skills needed to analyze internationally agreed instruments and required national
follow-up. At the end of the course the participants will be able to sustain the work
Inter-ministerial Coordination in Negotiation
Preparation and Follow-up
International Crisis Management
Many international conferences are linked in one way or another to other
international conferences. For instance, items on the agenda of environmental summits are not exclusively linked to nature conservation but also highlight
important questions linked to trade, agriculture, development, intellectual property, sovereignty, security and many more intrinsic interests of national governments.
Preparing for - and following-up - on such intergovernmental negotiations consume considerable time for government officials, many of whom are constrained with limited financial and human resources. The delegates designated to represent
the government at such a conference need to be able to pool the necessary information from all government departments involved (policies and technical,
legal, scientific expertise) and have a clear overview of issues at stake in order to have a “whole-of-government” attitude and to better advance national objectives.
Proposed activity: This training aims to improve the response to the
interconnected issues on policymaking agendas. The participants will appreciate the importance of coordination in conference preparation and will learn how
to design and manage inter-agency coordination mechanisms. To this end a
conceptual overview of inter-ministerial coordination will be provided. After the training the participants will be able to assist in rationalizing and managing human and knowledge resources of governments participating in international forums and will know how to address the increased importance of crosscutting issues affecting
multiple ministries.
The imperative for competencies in diplomatic crisis response has become increasingly acute as the global community faces different social crises, natural catastrophes and humanitarian disasters of unprecedented scale. Crises, in all their various forms, create highly complex and highly pressured negotiation situations
for diplomats and government officials, and hence present new challenges and
fresh opportunities for participation in decision-making processes. Effective performance in international negotiations during a crisis requires a broad and self-assured understanding of a number of policies and their interconnections, an
awareness of the forums and contexts of multilateral diplomacy and an ability to employ sophisticated negotiation techniques. Such knowledge and proficiencies are urgently required by officials working in foreign ministries and the sections of other departments concerned with the international aspects of development.
Proposed activity: This professional development workshop on diplomacy in crisis situations is aimed at mid-level foreign affairs or other government officials. Due to the increased policy linkages we offer a large spectrum of thematic areas:
human security in crisis situations, climate change and humanitarian crisis
situations, women in crisis situations, communication and coordination (of NGO, IGO and Member States) in crisis situations, relation of financial and food crises, and financial and labor crisis management. By the end of the week-long training programme, the participants will be equipped with skills to perform effectively in
Skills Development
Steadily developing your skills is necessary to find new and innovative solutions to different challenges. We offer courses
in chairing conferences, public speeking, negotiation, and communication.
Skills Assessment and Management Development Negotiation Skills and Techniques
Leadership and Diplomacy
Public Speaking and Media Relations Positivity Skills
Leadership and Diplomacy
Leadership is fundamental to effective and efficient diplomacy. The success of
international leaders rely upon their capacities to take initiative, lead others in and through challenging circumstances, and thus maximize opportunities and strengthen the positions, objectives and achievements of parties and groups. Proposed Activity: This training will enhance participants’ understanding and appreciation of the definition of leadership and the qualities of a strong leader, the theories of leadership and how each can be evaluated against one’s own skills, the
differing styles of leadership particularly in a cultural context, the importance and practice of effective communication skills, and techniques and strategies to practice strong leadership in times of crisis, decision making and risk management.
Skills Assessment and Management Development
Human capital is an essential element of any dynamic and successful enterprise. Investment in human capital through capacity building is critical to the prosperity of any international organization or multinational cooperate management
strategy. Building on the extensive experience of UNITAR in training the international diplomatic community, it is now delivering courses for decision makers and executives working in both the public and private sectors.
Proposed activity: In cooperation with partnering international organizations, corporations and agencies, UNITAR is working to assess the skills and potential of
executives and high level decision makers, to provide coaching and development programmes to enhance human capital resources. The objective of these trainings is to build human capital to enhance the achievement of key organizational objectives.
Negotiation Skills and Techniques
Negotiation is an ongoing challenge and requires practice and continuous
theoretical and practical reflection in order to be undertaken effectively, efficiently and with real, positive results. This course will form a crucial part of any training
programme designed to support those involved in negotiation and/or decision making.
Proposed Activity: This course is designed for practitioners, for whom negotiation is a fundamental pillar of their work and an essential skill. The course will support participants in the development of their knowledge of negotiation as well as their personal and professional skills, whether their objective is to negotiate one or several issues, between two parties or many. Participants will learn to define the key elements and theories in international negotiations, will acquire and have the opportunity to practice new skills and strategies in negotiation, will
develop an appreciation of the appropriate procedures involved in negotiation/
arbitration proceedings, and will emerge confident to guide and advice colleagues in their organizations as to best measures and practices in dealing with complex negotiations. The course will be structured and led through practical exercises,
case studies, group discussions and simulations to ensure maximum opportunity for
practicing new skills and engaging participants in interactive and dynamic manners
Public Speaking and Media Relations
Communication skills are vital to a delegates’ capacity to promote the interests of
his or her country or organization. Delegates engaged in multilateral conferences are often called on to speak in many different contexts such as in public, in UN bodies, in international meetings, in informal discussions. This personalized training
will enable participants to identify their individual speaking style and to improve
their communication skills.
Proposed activity: The first part of this training will focus on public speaking
techniques including the essential elements of preparation, structure and delivery
through a mixture of trainer input and practical activities. Participants will have to deal with simulated situations of public speaking and receive feedback from the group and the trainer. The second part of this training will focus on media relations and will allow the participants to find their own “comfort zone” when dealing with
the media, encouraging them to project personality and communication skills
naturally and confidently. It will include sessions on preparing for an interview; the process and the pitfalls of an interview; dealing with destabilizing questions; reaction to crisis situations; and maintaining good relationships with the media.
Positivity Skills
Governments as well as international and non-governmental organizations need to
ensure a positive spirit and mind, so as to motivate others (e.g. staff, colleagues, partners, and external sponsors). A positive attitude and skills are essential to
guarantee for harmonious and productive working relation- ships. Positivity Skills
can motivate, inspire and encourage people to do their best, and more, and to
create positive work-ing environment.
Proposed Activity: This workshop will help diplomats, or senior managers/
leaders, to enhance their Positivity Skills, and as a result contribute to the overall
effectiveness and atmosphere of professional relationships. The course will enhance participants’ understanding of concrete tools and tips to be more positive and to spread positivity in the workplace, to encourage and inspire others, to tackle challenges with a positive attitude and to create positive energy within teams and/ or delegations or working groups.
Training of Trainers
UNITAR provides Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops focusing on teaching
techniques, methodology, learning theory, and monitoring and evaluation.
Training of Trainers workshops enhance the capacities of trainers to transform knowledge and understanding into material, tools and exercises tailored to the
learning needs of their diplomatic academy or training institution and using appropriate methodological and pedagogical tools.
Proposed Activity: After the training participants are able to develop training modules, adapt their presentations to their target audience and evaluate the
effectiveness of a learning module. Training of Trainers workshops include an interactive component where participants make short presentations and receive
You have to take ownership
and leadership of tomorrow.
For that to be possible, you
have to
strengthen your
capacity and widen your
vision
as a global citizen.
UN SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
Environmental Diplomacy
Building agreement on solutions to international environmental problems is one of the greatest diplomatic challenges of this century. Our courses in this thematic area introduce the specialized knowledge and skills needed to address these
challenges.
Climate Change Diplomacy Green Diplomacy
Negotiating Climate Change Finance Negotiating Water Resources
Climate Change Diplomacy
Green Diplomacy
UNITAR is committed to working in the field of Climate Change Diplomacy to strengthen the knowledge, awareness and skills-base of government and civil society representatives in the developing world. It is UNITARs goal to facilitate
enhanced participation, particularly of developing countries, in multilateral forums
such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Proposed activity: The training aims to engage participants in the active
consideration of the complexities and challenges encountered when organizing and/or participating in climate change negotiations. The training will include a variety of pedagogical tools to provide participants with a thorough understanding of the dynamics of climate change negotiations. The training will blend sessions on conference diplomacy and multilateral negotiations with the development of substantive knowledge in the field of climate change. It will also cover the multilateral negotiation framework and climate change conference agenda to increase participants’ awareness of the legal and political structures that exist when addressing climate change issues. The workshop will focus on the dynamics of
climate change negotiations through simulation and case study exercises in order to
enhance participants’ ability to engage constructively in negotiation and
consensus-building.
Multilateral diplomacy is undergoing a fundamental transformation. All spheres of diplomacy, from disarmament, to human rights, trade, nuclear non-proliferation,
macro-economics and development cooperation, now have to adapt to the new generation of global environmental sustainability challenges. This course will
address the challenges and opportunities for elevating environmental concerns
into the key spheres of multilateral diplomacy. Specifically it will examine the
environmental implications in multilateral negotiations and policy processes related to human rights and humanitarian affairs, peace and security, trade and investment, global economic recovery, and development cooperation.
Proposed activity: The training aims to strengthen and support the overall integration of environmental considerations into key diplomacy tracks. Participants
will get to know the gaps in existing policy frameworks and the deadlocks in ongoing multilateral negotiations. Participants will be equipped with concrete tools
and resources to advance their environmental priorities in these respective
decision-making processes. After this course participants will have acquired a practical understanding of the dynamics unfolding in multilateral negotiations. They will have refined their skills and know-how to improve their preparation for, and participation
in, such negotiations. Subjects covered in this training include negotiation dynamics,
strategies and tactics, language associated with climate change negotiations,
preparation for environmental negotiations, delegation leadership, capacity
Negotiating Climate Change Finance
Negotiating Water Resources
The ever evolving architecture of financial frameworks, mechanisms, and institutions to answer the growing global needs in response to climate change are a crucial
part of any contemporary sustainability or environmental policy or green economy dialogue.Fast evolving, their implementation relies on a thorough understanding of their structure and associated commitments.
Proposed Activity: This course aims to enable those working in relation to climate finance, with respect to diplomatic engagement, public and/ or private
sector policy making and/or civil service to understand the international climate
finance framework and negotiations to date under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).The course will focus on the key
mechanisms and tools for financing climate change adaptation and mitigation, the existing multilateral and bilateral funds for leveraging finance under the UNFCCC,
and the current and future means for mobilizing private sector funds. The course
will also critically assess the challenges with respect to climate finance in taking the next steps forward in multilateral climate change negotiations under the United
Nations.
Water as a resource poses many challenges internationally, particularly when it becomes subject to negotiation: it is unequally distributed, not always safe to drink, subject to worldwide pressures, yet it is nonetheless absolutely vital for any living species on this planet. Dramatic global population growth, booming developing
economies and the unprecedented effects of climate change on our environment
are straining water resources like never before. The challenge for “water security” is at the heart of a complex relationship between individuals and their surrounding environments, often resulting in heightened risks of conflict as a result of water scarcity. Science or policy-making alone are not sufficient to defuse such frictions which affect so many people on the ground. Hence, the role of the diplomat
is crucial in order to mediate, build effective policy and negotiate fundamental resources.
Proposed Activity: This course aims to strengthen participants’ understanding
of the challenges existent, emerging, and ahead, and to emphasize and practice
new skills, languages and models for effective diplomacy in order to best negotiate
essential resources and strengthen their effective international management and governance.
Now, more than ever, we
need to
connect the dots
between climate, poverty,
energy, food and water.
These issues cannot be
addressed in isolation.
Human Rights Diplomacy
Human Rights remain a crucial part of multilateral negotiations. Our courses will familiarize you with the UN concept of Human Rights and show you how to strengthen your skills and capacities on international human rights.
International Human Rights Protection
UNITAR and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
have a long history of cooperation. Experts and practitioners from the OHCHR act as resource persons in the context of UNITAR training activities in Geneva
and elsewhere. UNITAR also upholds the key principles of Vienna’s declaration on
human rights by mainstreaming human rights into its capacity-building and training activities. This has translated in recent years into the development of joint projects
focusing on “enhancing the application of human rights standards”.
Proposed activity: The training activities in the field of human rights include orientation and briefing sessions, professional skills development workshops, e-Learning training, awareness-raising on contemporary policies and issues, and
the development and dissemination of diplomacy training tools. In cooperation
with Ministries of Foreign Affairs and other Ministries, UNITAR delivers training programmes to support and enhance the work of diplomats and government officials involved in human rights negotiations. Those trainings provide the diplomats with an overview of the normative framework and institutions that are
designed to protect human rights and offer tools to help implement and strengthen national strategies on human rights issues.
Other popular courses
In an ever changing world, new diplomatic topics have risen to prominance on the international stage. Our courses will aim to provide you with the latest knowledge on the most pressing issues.
Public Diplomacy
Introduction to Water Diplomacy Cultural Diplomacy
Contemporary Multilateral Challenges: Cyber Crimes and Cyber Security Commercial Diplomacy
Public Diplomacy
Introduction to Water Diplomacy
Public diplomacy, and its sister concept, soft power, dominate much of the current
academic debate about 21st century diplomacy. A major challenge for governments
is how to develop effective public diplomacy, and optimize the use of their soft power, in a rapidly changing global environment.
Proposed Activity: This course aims to help participants understand what public diplomacy is, how its practice has evolved over time and how the current challenges are being addressed. It will also examine a range of tools and techniques available to
public diplomacy practitioners.
Water is and will remain at the heart of international peace and security, the
defense of human rights and the imperative for sustainable development paths. An increasingly strong and coordinated response is therefore expected from the
international community in order to raise awareness, mitigate conflict, and build cooperation from the growing challenges posed by water between sovereign states.
Proposed Activity: The purpose of this course will first be to raise awareness on the current state of freshwater resources worldwide and the need for adequate diplomatic solutions to stimulate cooperation around the way the resource is managed. It will provide knowledge resources, circumstantial experiences, and a cadre of tools to water-relevant stakeholders so as to enhance their ability to assess, prevent, and respond to the tensions arising from situations of water scarcity and mismanagement worldwide. This approach will be relevant to the great water stressors of our time and will serve to promote both short and longer term cooperation through shared benefits, inclusive multi-stakeholder agreements, and
sustainable transboundary institution building.
Contemporary diplomacy requires awareness of the unfolding dynamics within
domestic and foreign audiences, the appreciation of the role of the United Nations as a catalyst of cultural diplomacy in multilateralism, and the use of skills and techniques to apply effective cultural diplomacy in practice.
Proposed Activity: This course will provide an introduction to politico-cultural challenges, theoretical concepts behind cultural sensitivity, and the use of soft power in modern diplomacy. The course will include practical and theoretical training to enhance participants’ understanding and discussion of the basic concepts of culture,
and their appreciation of the evolution of cultural, public and citizen diplomacy.
The course will be dynamic and interactive and will equip participants with the
contemporary skills to express and communicate culture, and discuss the role of culture during political transitions and peace building processes. The importance of
the United Nations will also be considered as to its role in mainstreaming soft power in a multilateral world.
Contemporary Multilateral Challenges:
Cyber Crimes and Cyber Security
The Internet community has one of the fastest growing crime rates in the world. In recent years several countries were victims of cyber attacks of different kinds, ranging from data spying to malware attacks capable of disrupting entire communication systems. Given the growing use of the internet in our daily lives, risks
associated to cyber attacks are becoming greater and more costly. Risk prevention,
mitigation efforts and awareness must be strengthened in line with this inflation of
risk.
Proposed activity: The training will give an overview of existing cooperation in the fields of information and communication technology issues, crime prevention and law enforcement – focusing on investigations of cybercrimes. A simulation exercise will outline strategies to achieve multilateral solutions for this truly transnational challenge. Participants will learn how to assess risk scenarios in the field of cyber security and identify processes of cooperation between Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) and Internet Service Providers (ISP).At the end of this course, participants will be able to identify and apply institutional and legal frameworks related to cyber security. Among others they will appreciate the frameworks established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC).
Commercial Diplomacy
The links between the public and private sectors are becoming increasingly
important and essential to the diplomatic and government relations, policy and stability. Speaking the language of the private sector is therefore a vital skill for diplomats and vice versa, to ensure effective and productive communication and coordination.
Proposed Activity: This course will examine the interlinkages between the public
and private sector, and the role of the diplomat in attracting commercial interest
from outside one’s country borders. The course will aim to build the skills of contemporary diplomats and government officials, to enhance their negotiation, communication and facilitation skills and substantive knowledge to face commercial
Agricultural Diplomacy
Agricultural Diplomacy is imperative to ensuring food security in a changing climate.
The number of food insecure countries around the world continues to increase as the world’s population grows. This situation has intensified the need for international
cooperation. International cooperation in agriculture promotes the sharing of best
practices, helps to introduce and implement new technologies as well as new farm management methods which can help to increase the rate of development in the
agricultural sector.
Proposed activity: The course will aim to equip participants with the conceptual knowledge and practical tools to understand the importance of international
cooperation in addressing the food security and climate change challenge.
Participants will be able to identify current challenges and opportunities for achieving food security; understand the relationship between agriculture, food security and climate change; understand the relationship between international trade and climate
change; identify innovative methods to address the food security, climate change nexus; appreciate the role that international negotiation platforms and international organizations and regional cooperation play in agricultural diplomacy.
Advisory Service
In addition to its diplomatic training MDP offers Advisory Services for Diplomatic Academies or Ministries of Foreign
Affairs. The Advisory Service consists of a wide range of services. With its unique experience in the field of diplomatic
training MDP is frequently asked for assistance in the establishment/strengthening of national Diplomatic Academies. This assistance includes supporting Academies in the development of their annual diplomatic training curricula and the preparation of course designs and teaching materials. Often MDP also supports the recruitment and development of
human capital by developing skills analysis tools, by identifying international experts in a specific fields of interest, or
by delivering Training of Trainers for the instructors of the Academy. The advisory service also includes support in the
promotion of national interests and in the establishment of goodwill and partnerships with the international community and regional fora, constituencies and networks.
Credits
Page 7: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas | page 8: UN Photo/Mark Garten; UN Photo/John McIlwaine | page 9: UN Photo/Mark Garten; UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe |page10: UN Photo/Marco Castro; UN Photo/JC McIlwaine |page 11: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas; UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre | page 12: UN Photo/ Amanda Voisard; UN Photo/Mark Garten | page 14: UN Photo/John McIlwaine | page 15: UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre | page 17: UN Photo/Martine Perret | page 18: UN Photo/Mark Garten; UN Photo/Evan Schneider | page 19: UN Photo/Amanda Voisard; UN Photo/Martine Perret | page 21: UN Photo/ Jean-Marc Ferre | page 22: UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre | page 24: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe; UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre | page 27: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Multilateral Diplomacy Programme
+41 22 917 8526 [email protected]
