Diplo US

February online courses
2021-02-22 | Online
DiploFoundation’s course on AI mapped the different challenges AI entails in fundamental rights, the socio-economic and geopolitical fields. The structured discussions among the participants helped consider inclusive governance and policy solutions. This online course was a very interesting and useful experience.
Isabelle Dochy, Government Affairs and Public Policy Professional, Brussels, Belgium (July 2019)

Start the new year with one of our most popular online courses:

Artificial Intelligence: Technology, Governance, and Policy Frameworks
Diplomatic Theory and Practice
Introduction to Internet Governance
Public Diplomacy

Courses start on 22 February 2021. Apply by 21 December 2020 for University of Malta accredited courses, and by 18 January 2021 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.
Thanks to support from the government of Malta, partial scholarships are available for applicants from developing countries to attend upcoming Diplo online courses. Please contact us for more details.
Who should apply?
Working diplomats, professionals involved in international relations, and others who wish to learn about new topics in the field of diplomacy or expand and refresh their knowledge of more traditional topics.
How much study time will I need?
Ten weeks of part-time study, around seven to ten hours per week.
How does the online course work?
You will work through study materials provided in the online classroom together with other participants, following a weekly cycle. Each week, you read lecture texts, adding questions and comments and responding to those added by other participants and the lecturer(s). Other weekly activities may include self-assessment quizzes, short assignments, discussion forum topics and group tasks. At the end of the weekly cycle, you will meet with other participants and lecturers in an online chat room to discuss the topic for the week.
For more information on studying online and to apply, please visit Diplo’s courses website or contact admissions@diplomacy.edu
Register here

Capacity Development online course
2021-02-22
This online course is a good combination of different methods including reading the simple but good-quality materials with further references, the chat room session to reflect and share practical examples, and explanation of topics by experienced facilitators and moderators. I really learned a lot from the course starting from assessment of the capacity needs until measuring the results of the CD interventions. The course helped me to consolidate my existing knowledge on CD. I will include some of the things I learned from the course into my work where possible such as designing of CD interventions (setting goals, objectives and indictors), choosing a good fit of interventions and measuring the results of CD.
Phai Lim, Program Development Specialist, VBNK, Cambodia (April 2018)

Capacity development has been emerging as a central approach within development for more than two decades. This approach has gradually shifted the focus of development practice from simple financial aid and technical cooperation towards a complex new paradigm that encourages and demands active involvement and ownership from the people and communities involved in aid programmes. The approach takes into account the broader political, social, and economic environment in which change takes place. Capacity development co-exists and is supported by older forms of development practice, and is a continuously shifting paradigm as experience informs policy, practice and theory.
To help you better understand and master this complex paradigm, this course introduces the key concepts, principles and values of capacity development. The main focus is on building practical skills for better design, planning, implementation and assessment of capacity development initiatives.
Course materials are based on the Learning Network on Capacity Development (LenCD) Learning Package on Capacity Development, and were developed with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), LenCD, and Learn4Dev.
Visit the course webpage to read more and apply by 18 January 2021.
Register

Online Diploma Course in Humanitarian Diplomacy
2021-02-22
It was great to work together with the course lecturers and the participants in the course, as they all had unique contributions to make, and I learned from all of them. The course material is rich, and can benefit people with varied levels of professional experience and backgrounds. I am already putting what I learned at good use, and hope I will have more opportunities to use it in the coming years.
Dana Truhlarova Cristescu, Senior Cash and Markets Advisor, UNICEF / CashCap (June 2020)

Humanitarian diplomacy is persuading decision makers and opinion leaders to act at all times in the interests of vulnerable people, and with full respect for fundamental humanitarian principles.
The rapid expansion of the number of humanitarian actors in recent years, working for or with governments at all levels and often in complex situations, makes humanitarian diplomacy increasingly important.
Humanitarian diplomacy aims to mobilise public and governmental support and resources for humanitarian operations and programmes, and to facilitate effective partnerships for responding to the needs of vulnerable people. Humanitarian diplomacy includes advocacy, negotiation, communication, formal agreements, and other measures. It is a field with many players, including governments, international organisations, NGOs, the private sector, and individuals.
The online diploma course in humanitarian diplomacy is offered by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in partnership with DiploFoundation. Course faculty draws on leading experts from around the world, as resource people and guest lecturers.
This course is currently offered in English, however participants who are more comfortable with French or Spanish will have the option to write and submit some course assignments and the final research paper in either of those languages.
The application deadline is 18 January 2020.
For more information on studying online and to appy, please visit Diplo’s courses website or contact admissions@diplomacy.edu.
Register

6th Annual Geneva Engage
2021-02-18 07:00 - 08:00 (America/New_York)
The annual Geneva Engage Awards recognise International Geneva actors in their social media outreach and online engagement. Geneva Engage examines links between International Geneva and communities from around the world that are affected by the policies discussed and negotiated in Geneva in areas such as development, human rights, digital and similar issues. The three categories of the Geneva Engage Awards are: International Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and Associations, and Permanent Representations to the United Nations in Geneva. In 2020, a new award was introduced for online meetings.
Registrations are open
Register×Our experts involved
Executive Director
Jovan KurbalijaFollowing the tradition introduced in 2020, this year, a new Geneva Engage award will be given for innovative and effective approaches to conducting remote meetings. This new award aims to encourage new developments for the effective interplay between traditional and online meetings.
Registrations are open! For more information and to register, visit the dedicate website.
Register

[WebDebate #45] Visual storytelling for diplomatic practice
2021-02-02 08:00 - 08:45
Diplomacy is often thought of as a practice centering on language. Yet, the visual image of diplomatic practice is increasingly important in a world in which images proliferate and videoconferencing has replaced face-to-face meetings. Diplomats need to be aware of the power of images, and need to have a sense of best practices and potential pitfalls when it comes to visual storytelling.
Registrations are open
Register×
There is no better example of the increasing importance of images and visual storytelling than the 2020 high-level segment of the UN General Assembly. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, heads of states and governments were unable to travel to New York for the opening of the assembly. Instead, each country sent a video message that was displayed in the assembly hall.
What can we learn from these images? Which pitfalls are best avoided? What best practices can we identify when we take a visual and digital-driven pespective? In turn, how can we incorporate perspectives on storytelling and ‘storyshowing’ in digital diplomatic practices?
In order to address these questions, we are joined by Ms Stéphanie Fillion, a journalist working on UN affairs who recently wrote the article ‘The Dos and Don’ts of Digital Diplomacy in the Covid-19 World’, and Dr Massimiliano Fusari, an academic and consultant on digital media as a visual storytelling means.
Join us on Tuesday, 2nd February, at 8am EST (13:00 UTC | 14:00 CET | 21:00 CST) for 45 minutes of discussion and Q&A with our experts.

RegisterSpeakers
Ms Stéphanie Fillion is a Canadian reporter specialising in international affairs, and based at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. She is a regular contributor to PassBlue, an independent media covering the UN, and she co-hosts UN-Scripted, a podcast on the UN. Fillion also covers the UN for Asahi Shimbun and is a contributor to Forbes, Radio-Canada, and Foreign Policy. She is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School in New York and McGill University in Montreal, and was awarded the Canada–EU young journalist award in 2015. She is fluent in French, English, and Italian.
Dr Massimiliano Fusari researches and produces digital media as visual storytelling for the strategic communication of social topics and international affairs. He is a recognised academic scholar and results-driven consultant with 30 years of established education and professional experience. As associate professor at the University of Westminster (UK), he runs the Digital and Interactive Storytelling LAB and lectures in the analysis and production of visual literacy, digital creativity, and cross-platform storytelling. He is currently reshuffling his online lab, The Visual Storytelling Academy, to incorporate the production of his mobile app –The Meta-Image. Read more on LinkedIn.
Moderator: Dr Katharina Höne, Director of Research, DiploFoundation
About our WebDebates
Our WebDebates on the future of diplomacy are live-streamed on the first Tuesday of every month. They are organised by DiploFoundation within the framework of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT). Learn more about our series of WebDebates.

[Diplomacy & technology: A historical journey] #1 An introduction
2021-01-28 08:00 - 09:00
A masterclass with Jovan Kurbalija

The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.
Winston Churchill

The series Diplomacy and technology: A historical journey is a set of open monthly Zoom discussions on the evolution of diplomacy and technology, led by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, an expert, with an academic background in international law, diplomacy, and digital technology.
Registrations are open
Register×Our experts involved
Executive Director
Jovan KurbalijaAs we move through history, our aim will be to discover how civilizations dealt with ‘new’ technologies, from simple writing to telegraph, and nowadays the internet.
On 28 January we will set the stage for our learning journey through history, by focusing on:

the interplay between continuity and change in the evolution of diplomacy and technology
information and communication (two core pillars of diplomacy)
the impact of technology on the political environment in which diplomats operated at the time, the issues they tried to solve, and the tools they used in diplomatic practice

On this journey, we hope to understand underlying patterns in tech-society interplays, and get some hints on how to deal with current challenges, and those ahead of us.
Join us for the first episode on Thursday, 28th January, at 8am EST (13:00 UTC | 14:00 CET | 21:00 CST).
Register

[Briefing #71] Internet governance in January 2021
2021-01-26 08:00 - 09:00
Which keywords dominated the year 2020 from an internet governance perspective? And what can we expect in 2021? Join us for our next monthly briefing on Tuesday, 26th January, at 8am EST, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
Registrations are open
Register×
You receive hundreds of pieces of information on digital politics.
We receive them, too.
We decode, contextualise, and analyse them.
Then we summarise them for you.

Every last Tuesday of the month, the Internet governance briefings provide a ‘zoomed-out’ update of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
The Internet governance in January 2021 briefing takes place on Tuesday, 26th January, at 8am EST. Join us online; fill in the registration form below to reserve your place.
The monthly Internet governance briefings are organised by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), a Swiss initiative run by DiploFoundation. Learn more about our monthly briefings and local hubs. To keep up-to-date with GIP events, subscribe to our mailing list. More information at gip@diplomacy.edu.
Registrations are open:
Register

Online Meetings and Conferences: How to Run Effective and Secure Events
2021-01-22
It is amazing how an online course could encompass all these teaching methods: text to read, lively discussions, critique, team work, staff mentorship, and hands-on practice. We could learn in a cozy, enjoyable atmosphere, yet powerful and demanding. As with all Diplo courses I would say e-learning with Diplo is immersive, innovative. It is addictive!!!
– Yasir Elsanousi, Deputy Director, Elsabil Charitable Health Center, Sudan

Online meetings and conferences are now a necessity for most organisations.
In this highly interactive, practice-based course participants learn how to plan, manage, and run successful online events: choosing and using an appropriate technical platform, planning the entire process from the initial idea to follow up, and effectively moderating interaction in an online environment.
The application deadline is 8 January 2020.
For more information on studying online and to appy, please visit Diplo’s courses website or contact admissions@diplomacy.edu.

IGF 2020 Debrief
2020-12-16 11:00 - 12:15
Annual IGF Debrief for 2020
Hosted by the Internet Governance Forum USA (IGF–USA) and the Greater Washington DC Chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC–DC), the annual event provides an overview of takeaways from the IGF 2020, including the work of the National and Regional IGF initiatives (NRIs), as well as each of this year’s themes.
The event will be held on Wednesday, 16th December, at 11:00 EST (17:00 CET | 16:00 UTC).
DiploFoundation’s Ms Pavlina Ittelson will be speaking at this event.
The IGF 2020 Debrief will be followed by a special memorial event for Ms Marilyn Cade, described as a ‘force within the Internet governance community, pouring her energy into the IGF and the NRI community, including the IGF-USA.’
More information and registration

#MeetingTomorrow: Digital Geneva 2040
2020-12-07 11:00 - 12:00
Geneva has been at the center stage of the global debate on internet governance ever since the invention of the World Wide Web at CERN in 1989. Today, the city hosts a wide range of international organizations, academic institutions, and non-profit initiatives pushing the needle on critical digital issues, as shown by a number of recent studies, including Geneva Digital Atlas and a report by the Graduate Institute.

How can Geneva not only maintain but increase its relevance on the digital stage in the years to come? What steps does it need to take today to keep attracting stakeholders, conferences, and initiatives tomorrow? How can it work with other science and technology hubs around the world?
To kick off this conversation, join us for a panel discussion with three leading figures in the fields of internet governance and technology policy:

Jovan Kurbalija, Founding Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform
Micheal Nelson, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Georgetown University
David Eaves, Lecturer on Technology and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School

Jointly presented by swissnex Boston and DiploFoundation, this event is part of the swissnex Network’s 20th-anniversary campaign nex20 to imagine the future of Switzerland.
For more information and to register, go to the official event page.

International Water Law and Transboundary Cooperation
2020-12-03 08:00 - 09:00
[Update] Registrations are now closed. You can follow the event on the YouTube live stream.
The Platform for International Water Law of the Geneva Water Hub (GWH) and DiploFoundation are pleased to invite you to the webinar on “International Water Law and Transboundary Cooperation”. This webinar is organised in the framework of the 2020 edition of the Distance Learning Course on “International Water Law & The Law of Transboundary Aquifers” delivered through the Continuing Education and e-Learning Centre of the University of Geneva
Join us on Thursday, 3rd December, at 14:00 CET (13:00 UTC)
Our experts involved
Executive Director
Jovan KurbalijaApproximately 280 transboundary watercourses serve almost 40 per cent of the world’s population. Of these, 180 feed 2 States, while the others feed 3 States and more. The continent of Africa has 63 transboundary watercourses, of which 11 affect 4 or more riparian States (including 11 States for the Nile and 9 for the Congo). In South America, the Amazon serves 7 States, and 6 Asian States share the Mekong. As for the Danube, its watershed is divided among no less than 17 States. Moreover, more than 500 aquifers are shared between two or more States. These few figures show how much surface and groundwater management require effective cooperation and harmonization of regulations among States, taking into account the rights and obligations of non-State actors.
The entry into force of the 1997 Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses in 2014 and the global opening of the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Uses of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) in 2016 to all UN members States mark a fundamental step in the evolution of universal principles and rules in international water law and transboundary cooperation. These instruments, together with agreements at the regional and basin levels, support the overall architecture of the management and protection of shared water resources.
The webinar will examine the role of international water law in enhancing transboundary cooperation. It will also emphasize how the Implementation Committee of the UNECE Water Convention is used as a mechanism to support cooperation between riparian States.
PROGRAMME
14:00 – 15:00
Chair: Prof. Jovan Kurbalija – Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform
International water law: an effective tool for transboundary cooperation?
Dr Mara Tignino – Reader, Faculty of Law and Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva; Lead Legal Specialist, Platform for International Water Law, Geneva Water Hub
The global opening of the Convention on the Protection and Uses of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes and its role in strengthening transboundary cooperation
Dr Komlan Sangbana – Legal Officer, Secretariat of the Water Convention, UNECE
The Implementation Committee of the Water Convention and the promotion of transboundary cooperation: some successful achievements
Dr Dinara Zinganshina – Deputy Director, Scientific Information Center of Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in Central Asia; Member of the Implementation Committee of the Water Convention, UNECE
14:30-15:00 – Q & A
—
Registrations are now closed. You can follow the event on the YouTube live stream.

[WebDebate #44] Diplomacy in times of COVID-19: The experience of developing countries
2020-12-01 08:00 - 11:00
[Update] Registrations are now closed. You can follow the event on the YouTube live stream.
The COVID-19 pandemic demanded adaptations across the diplomatic profession. Most importantly, the need for social distancing has led to changes in how diplomacy is practised: meetings were cancelled, postponed, or moved online.
While the COVID-19 pandemic demanded adaptation across the diplomatic profession, small and developing countries faced an additional set of obstacles. Demands on already over-stretched diplomats based at multilateral hubs increased in many cases. Internet connectivity and lack of in-house cybersecurity expertise remain challenges.
Looking ahead, diplomats of small and developing countries, especially those posted at multilateral hubs, are likely to face an additional crisis in 2021 as increasing budget constraints and delays in replacing key personnel will create additional challenges. At the same time, some issues on the multilateral agenda have been postponed to 2021, thus leading to a backlog of agenda items and meetings.
Dedicated efforts are needed in order to avoid an increasingly uneven diplomatic playing field. This begins by closely listening to the experiences of practitioners.
In preparation of this event and for further details, please feel free to consult our new report The future of (multilateral) diplomacy? Changes in response to COVID-19 and beyond. The report and this event are supported by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Join us on Tuesday, 1st December, at 13:00 UTC (08:00 EST | 14:00 CET | 21:00 CST).
Speakers
Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila is the Director for Digital Policy at DiploFoundation, and the Editor of the GIP Digital Watch observatory. In 2018-2019, she served as Diplo’s Interim Director and Head of Geneva Internet Platform, replacing Founding Director Dr Jovan Kurbalija during his one-year position as co-Executive Director of the Secretariat of the United Nations High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation. She holds a Doctorate in Law (LL.D.), a Master’s in Contemporary Diplomacy, and two law-related diplomas from the University of Malta, and her special areas of interest include legal issues in digital policy, human rights, and e-diplomacy. She holds a warrant to practice as a Notary Public in Malta, and is a former journalist with The Sunday Times of Malta.
Ms Asha DeSuza is Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of St Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations in New York. She is responsible for social, humanitarian, cultural, and other issues covered by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. As a legal adviser, she additionally covers issues from the Sixth Committee (Legal), the Oceans and Law of the Sea, as well as health and migration, also under the remit of the General Assembly. Since her appointment in 2017, she has led several regional coordination efforts, and served as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) negotiator for the Political Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases, as well as the CARICOM coordinator during the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Having completed five DiploFoundation courses, including Capacity Development in Multilateral Diplomacy for the Caribbean, she considers herself part of the Diplo family.
Ms Maricela Muñoz is Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations in Geneva. She has more than 20 years of experience in multilateral diplomacy, working with governments, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society organisations, particularly in the areas of climate change, disarmament and non-proliferation, and the advancement of more peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. She is particularly interested in areas such as digital diplomacy, information and communications technologies (ICTs), frontier technologies, including the Internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), nature-based solutions, and blended finance for regenerative development, among others.
Mr Moctar Yedaly is in charge of the Information Society Division within the department of Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission. He is a telecom, satellite, and computer engineer with an MBA in International Business. He graduated from George Washington University, Amity University, and the Institute of Informatics. He has more than 20 years of international experience in the field communication and networks management, resources evaluation, and policy preparation. He is a former staff member of Intelsat in the USA and RASCOM in the Ivory Coast.
Moderator: Dr Katharina Höne, Director of Research, DiploFoundation
About our WebDebates
Our WebDebates on the future of diplomacy are live-streamed on the first Tuesday of every month. They are organised by DiploFoundation within the framework of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT). Learn more about our series of WebDebates.
If you belong to a dynamic circle of practitioners in your community, we encourage you to establish a diplomatic hub to follow the WebDebates and to facilitate discussions. For more information and assistance, please contact Diplo’s Ms Mina Mudric.
Registrations are now closed. You can follow the event on YouTube live stream.

Launch of the Geneva Digital Atlas
2020-11-30 05:00 - 06:00
[Update] Access the Geneva Digital Atlas, and the recording of the launch.
What is the Geneva Digital Atlas?
The Geneva Digital Atlas is a comprehensive mapping of the digital policy and Internet governance scene in International Geneva. The Atlas provides an in-depth coverage of the activities of almost 40 actors, including the analysis of policy processes and cataloguing of core instruments and featured events.

The Geneva Digital Atlas features digital governance tours combining virtual and physical experiences in dealing with standardisation, data, cybersecurity and other pressing issues of our times.
We invite you to join us for this event on Monday, 30 November at 11:00 CET (10:00 UTC).
Registrations are now closed. You can follow the event on YouTube live stream.

Digital Security and Economic Recovery
2020-11-26 02:30 - 04:30
[Update] The recording of this event is now available.

The online high-level event ‘Digital Security and Economic Recovery: Boosting Confidence and Productivity through Secure Digital Technology’ is organised by DiploFoundation and the Swiss Confederation as part of the Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace. The event will be opened with a keynote address by Swiss Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer. A dialogue, moderated by Mr Jovan Kurbalija (DiploFoundation), will follow with high-level officials from leading global companies: Ms Sabine Keller-Busse (UBS), Mr Eugene Kaspersky (Kaspersky), Mr Jeremy Thompson (Huawei), and Mr Casper Klynge (Microsoft).

Malicious activities in cyberspace are a significant drag on the global economy. A 2018 assessment by the US government estimated that cyber incidents are likely to have cost the US economy up to USD$106 billion in 2016, amounting to about 0.5% of GDP. Furthermore, cyber-attacks and security deficiencies in digital products undermine trust in digital technologies. As a result, delays in employing productivity-enhancing technologies throughout the economy are often an unfortunate, but regular occurrence. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the need to adopt digital solutions and their crucial value for the global economy all the more clear. As highlighted by the UN Secretary General in his Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, issues of trust and security need to be addressed in order to reap the benefits of the digital transformation and for reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is a fundamental discussion to be held among all stakeholders, but one of particular importance to private sector investors, without whose confidence the global digital agenda will face significant hurdles.

The majority of cyber-attacks exploit vulnerabilities in digital products and services. Although there is a lively international debate about the responsibility of governments to establish baseline requirements for cybersecurity, and for manufacturers and service suppliers to apply the available standards, there is currently no consensus about these issues. Hence, there is a risk that governments set widely different requirements, while businesses pursue divergent industry practices.
In this context, the Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behavior in Cyberspace has been discussing industry roles and responsibilities throughout 2020, with the aim to establish globally shared best practices and baseline requirements for the security of digital products and services. An output document, which includes definitions of key concepts and a collection of good corporate practices about threat modelling, supply chain security, secure development, vulnerability management, and transforming internal processes to embrace security by design, has been published for comments.
This high-level event will discuss how the fragmented regulatory environment impacts the security of digital products and services, including those in supply chains. It aims to clarify possible collaborative responses from both industry and governments on how to facilitate financial and economic recovery through trusted digital technologies.
The online event will take place on Thursday, 26th November 2020, 7:30–9:00am UTC / 08:30–10:00am CET
Speakers:

Introduction: Keynote speech by Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer, Head of the Federal Department of Finance FDF, Switzerland
Panel discussion:

Ms Sabine Keller-Busse, Member of the Group Executive Board, UBS AG
Mr Eugene Kaspersky, CEO, Kaspersky
Mr Jeremy Thompson, Executive Vice President, Huawei Western European Region
Mr Casper Klynge, Vice President, European Government Affairs, Microsoft Corporation

Moderator: Mr Jovan Kurbalija, DiploFoundation

RightOn #14: Our Future, Our Voice
2020-11-25 09:00 - 10:30
[Update] The registrations for this event are closed. You can follow the event via Facebook or on YouTube live streams.
The struggle for climate justice and for environmental protection and conservation is a struggle for human rights. This point, together with the reverse point – that the full enjoyment of human rights supports more effective and sustainable environmental and climate policies – has been repeatedly recognised in Human Rights Council resolutions and international environmental/climate agreements. Nevertheless, around the world, 93% of children live in environments where air pollution exceeds WHO guidelines. According to the UN, the deaths of 1.7 million children under the age of five each year are due to environmental factors – notably air and water pollution and exposure to toxic substances. The impacts of environmental harm fall particularly hard on the youngest children, as well as on indigenous children and those from low-income and marginalised communities.

In order to raise awareness on climate change, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, and thereby to protect their own rights and those of their communities, young people in particular have been at the forefront of the worldwide movements: marching peacefully and persistently; engaging in strategic litigation; helping to devise climate solutions; overturning obstacles and overcoming threats.
To find out more about children’s rights in the context of environment, international efforts and youth engagement tune in on Wednesday 25 November at 14 UTC (15 CET).

[Briefing] Internet governance in November 2020
2020-11-24 07:00 - 08:00
What were the main Internet governance updates in November? How will recent updates influence the developments in upcoming months? Join us for our next monthly briefing on Tuesday, 24th November, at 7 am EST, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
Registrations are open
Register×
You receive hundreds of pieces of information on digital politics.We receive them, too.We decode, contextualise, and analyse them.Then we summarise them for you.
Every last Tuesday of the month, the Internet governance briefings provide a ‘zoomed-out’ update of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
The Internet governance in November 2020 briefing takes place on Tuesday, 24th November, at 7 am EST. Join us online; fill in the registration form to reserve your place.
The monthly Internet governance briefings are organised by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), a Swiss initiative run by DiploFoundation. Learn more about our monthly briefings and local hubs. To keep up-to-date with GIP events, subscribe to our mailing list. More information at gip@diplomacy.edu.
Registrations are open:

Register

[Briefing] Internet governance in October 2020
2020-10-27 08:00 - 09:00
What were the main Internet governance updates in October? How will recent updates influence the developments in upcoming months? Join us for our next monthly briefing on Tuesday, 27th October, at 8 am EDT, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
Registrations are open
Register×
You receive hundreds of pieces of information on digital politics.We receive them, too.We decode, contextualise, and analyse them.Then we summarise them for you.
Every last Tuesday of the month, the Internet governance briefings provide a ‘zoomed-out’ update of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
The Internet governance in October briefing takes place on Tuesday, 27th October, at 8 am EDT. Join us online; fill in the registration form to reserve your place.
The monthly Internet governance briefings are organised by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), a Swiss initiative run by DiploFoundation. Learn more about our monthly briefings and local hubs. To keep up-to-date with GIP events, subscribe to our mailing list. More information at gip@diplomacy.edu.
Registrations are open:

Register

[Briefing] Internet governance in September 2020
2020-09-29 07:00 - 08:00
What were the main Internet governance updates in September? How will recent updates influence the developments in upcoming months? Join us for our next monthly briefing on Tuesday, 29th September, at 7 am EDT, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
Registrations are open
Register×
You receive hundreds of pieces of information on digital politics.We receive them, too.We decode, contextualise, and analyse them.Then we summarise them for you.
Every last Tuesday of the month, the Internet governance briefings provide a ‘zoomed-out’ update of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
The Internet governance in September 2020 briefing takes place on Tuesday, 29th September, at 7 am EDT. Join us online; fill in the registration form to reserve your place.
The monthly Internet governance briefings are organised by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), a Swiss initiative run by DiploFoundation. Learn more about our monthly briefings and local hubs. To keep up-to-date with GIP events, subscribe to our mailing list. More information at gip@diplomacy.edu.
Registrations are open:

Register

[WebDebate] The UN at 75: Evolution or revolution?
2020-09-01 08:00 - 12:00
This year is the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, and we are marking the occasion with a Webdebate on the past and the future of the organisation.
By looking back at the past 75 years of the world organisation, we will try to answer an important question: Are we seeing an evolution or a revolution in some of the key UN topics and how they are addressed?
The past 75 years vs the last 7.5 months: The need to respond to COVID-19 and the tremendous impact the crisis had on almost all aspects of life around the world, highlighted the crucial importance of the UN. To what extent are the past 75 years reflected in the past 7.5 months?
Our discussion will focus on three core pillars of the UN: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. We will also explore how these three pillars are increasingly connected via the emerging theme of digital co-operation.
Questions around peace and security, and human rights, have been with the organisation from its inception, while sustainable development and digital co-operation are more recent topics on the UN’s agenda. In each case, we look back at past developments in order to reflect on future ones. Are we witnessing an evolution or a revolution, and how have the past 7.5 months further shaped these topics?
Join us on Tuesday, 1st September, at 12:00 UTC (08:00 EDT | 14:00 CEST | 20:00 CST). To attend, please register below.
Registrations are open
Register×Speakers
Dr Jovan Kurbalija – Executive Director, DiploFoundation | Head, Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) | former Executive Director of the Secretariat of the UN High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation (2018-19)
Mr Marc Limon – Executive Director, Universal Rights Group (URG) | diplomat at the UN Human Rights Council between (2006 – 2012)
Ambassador Asoke Mukerji – India’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN in New York from 2013 to 2015
Ms Irena Zubčević – Chief, Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch, Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Moderator
Dr Katharina Höne – Senior Researcher and Lecturer, DiploFoundation
About our WebDebates
Our WebDebates on the future of diplomacy are live streamed on the first Tuesday of every month. They are organised by DiploFoundation within the framework of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT). Learn more about our series of WebDebates.
If you form part of a dynamic circle of practitioners in your community, we encourage you to establish a diplomatic hub to follow the WebDebates and to facilitate discussions. For more information, contact Diplo’s Ms Mina Mudrić.
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[Briefing] Internet governance in July & August 2020
2020-08-25 07:00 - 08:00
What were the main Internet governance updates in July & August? How will recent updates influence the developments in upcoming months? Join us for our next monthly briefing on Tuesday, 25th August, at 7 am EDT, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
Registrations are open
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You receive hundreds of pieces of information on digital politics.We receive them, too.We decode, contextualise, and analyse them.Then we summarise them for you.
Every last Tuesday of the month, the Internet governance briefings provide a ‘zoomed-out’ update of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
The Internet governance in July & August 2020 briefing takes place on Tuesday, 25th August, at 7 am EDT. Join us online; fill in the registration form to reserve your place.
The monthly Internet governance briefings are organised by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), a Swiss initiative run by DiploFoundation. Learn more about our monthly briefings and local hubs. To keep up-to-date with GIP events, subscribe to our mailing list. More information at gip@diplomacy.edu.
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July 2020 online courses
2020-07-20
The course on Multilateral Diplomacy was comprehensive, insightful, and innovative. The issues covered were timely and relevant, and the online chat sessions allowed for knowledge sharing by a wide cross-section of officials, including the facilitators working in the field.
Roshelle Henry (Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica), September 2017
Registrations are open
Register×DiploFoundation offers four interactive postgraduate-level online courses, starting the week of 20 July 2020:

21st Century Diplomacy
Diplomatic Law: Privileges and Immunities
Internet Technology and Policy: Challenges and Solutions
Multilateral Diplomacy

For more information on each course please click the course title above.
Who should apply?
Working diplomats, professionals involved in international relations, and others who wish to learn about new topics in the field of diplomacy, or expand and refresh their knowledge of more traditional topics.
How much study time will I need?
Ten weeks of part-time study, with a minimum of five to seven hours per week.
How does the online course work?
You will work through study materials provided in the online classroom together with other participants, following a weekly cycle. Each week, you read and discuss lecture texts, adding questions and comments, and responding to those added by other participants and the lecturer(s). Other weekly activities may include self-assessment quizzes, short assignments, discussion forum topics, and group tasks. At the end of the weekly cycle, you will meet with other participants and lecturers in an online chat room to discuss the topic of the week.
For more information on studying online and to apply, please visit the Diplo Course Catalogue or contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu.
You can register for the July 2020 courses via the registration button below.
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[Briefing] Internet governance in June 2020
2020-06-30 07:00 - 08:00
What were the main Internet governance updates in June? How will recent updates influence the developments in upcoming months? Join us for our next monthly briefing on Tuesday, 30th June, at 7 am EDT, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
Registrations are open
Register×
You receive hundreds of pieces of information on digital politics.We receive them, too.We decode, contextualise, and analyse them.Then we summarise them for you.
Every last Tuesday of the month, the Internet governance briefings provide a ‘zoomed-out’ update of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
The Internet governance in June 2020 briefing takes place on Tuesday, 30th June, at 7 am EDT. Join us online; fill in the registration form to reserve your place.
The monthly Internet governance briefings are organised by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), a Swiss initiative run by DiploFoundation. Learn more about our monthly briefings and local hubs. To keep up-to-date with GIP events, subscribe to our mailing list. More information at gip@diplomacy.edu.
Registrations are open:

Register

Geneva Talks: Charting International Collaboration in the Digital Age
2020-06-26 11:00 - 12:15
This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) in a time of turmoil and uncertainty. After the Second World War, countries across the World have signed the UN Charter in San Francisco in agreement to collectively work on a multilateral future. This year, the global pandemic not only reminds us that we are all interconnected, but also challenges us in upholding the principles that stand at the core of the UN Charter. The unprecedented crisis highlights the need for cooperation across countries, sectors, and generations. It is also a time of deep reflections about past, present, and what is ahead. Science and technology are the nexus of discussions ranging from finding a vaccine against COVID-19 to foresight for the future impact of AI and robotics on our lives and society.
For more information and to register, visit the
Dedicated webpage×In the light of the UN’s 75th anniversary, swissnex San Francisco and the Consulate General of Switzerland in partnership with ICRC, DiploFoundation, and ICT4peace are hosting a two-part digital conversation aimed at bridging the dialogue between Geneva, the world’s capital for humanitarian and diplomatic affairs, and Silicon Valley, the epicenter of tech innovation. We will explore the challenges and opportunities that new technologies are introducing to the multilateral and humanitarian sector by bringing the technology industry into a conversation with actors from the multilateral and humanitarian sector.
Inspired by the conviction that technology is key to the future of humanity, the Geneva Talks series explores the symbiotic relationship between technology and humanity. The current global health pandemic highlights how central technology has become to address international crisis, and touches on the core values of the UN Charter. The future of the UN and multilateral governance, housed in Geneva, will be inextricably linked to technological progress sparked in Silicon Valley.
Our experts involved

Dr Tereza Horejsova
Project Development Director
Originally from the Czech Republic, Dr Tereza Horejsova is currently based in Washington DC. Joining Diplo in 2012, Tereza has had an international career in academia and the non-governmental sector in the Czech Republic, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland. During her stay in Geneva (2012‒2016), she coordinated the activities of the Geneva Internet Platform. She holds an MA in International Area Studies and a PhD in European Studies, both from the Charles University in Prague.

Dr Jovan Kurbalija
Executive Director
Dr Jovan Kurbalija is the Executive Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP). He was a member of the UN Working Group on Internet Governance (2004‒2005), special advisor to the Chairman of the UN Internet Governance Forum (2006‒2010), and a member of the High Level Multistakeholder Committee for NETmundial (2013‒2014). In 2018-2019, he served as co-Executive Director of the Secretariat of the United Nations (UN) High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation.
A former diplomat, Jovan has a professional and academic background in international law, diplomacy, and information technology. He has been a pioneer in the field of cyber diplomacy since 1992 when he established the Unit for Information Technology and Diplomacy at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta, and later, DiploFoundation.
Since 1997, Jovan’s research and articles on cyber diplomacy have shaped research and policy discussion on the impact of the Internet on diplomacy and international relations. His book, An Introduction to Internet Governance, has been translated into 9 languages and is used as a textbook for academic courses worldwide. He lectures on e-diplomacy and Internet governance in academic and training institutions in many countries, including Austria (Diplomatic Academy of Vienna), Belgium (College of Europe), Switzerland (University of St Gallen), Malta (University of Malta), and the United States (University of Southern California).
His publishes regular articles on DiploFoundation’s blog, and the Huffington Post.
Join us on Friday, 26th June, 08:00 – 09:15 PDT / 11:00 – 12:15 EDT
Registrations are open:
Dedicated webpage

[Briefing] Internet governance in May 2020
2020-05-26 07:00 - 08:00
What were the main Internet governance updates in May? How will recent updates influence the developments in upcoming months? Join us for our next monthly briefing on Tuesday, 26th May, at 7 am EDT, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
Registrations are open
Register×
You receive hundreds of pieces of information on digital politics.We receive them, too.We decode, contextualise, and analyse them.Then we summarise them for you.
Every last Tuesday of the month, the Internet governance briefings provide a ‘zoomed-out’ update of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
The Internet governance in April 2020 briefing takes place on Tuesday, 26th May, at 7 am EDT. Join us online; fill in the registration form to reserve your place.
The monthly Internet governance briefings are organised by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), a Swiss initiative run by DiploFoundation. Learn more about our monthly briefings and local hubs. To keep up-to-date with GIP events, subscribe to our mailing list. More information at gip@diplomacy.edu.
Registrations are open:

Register

Security in Cyberspace: Dynamics, limits, and opportunities
2020-05-14 09:30 - 16:30
The event, organised by the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, will discuss the North and South perspectives on how cyberspace can bring challenges and solutions for interstate relations.
Security in Cyberspace: Dynamics, limits and opportunities will take place on 14 May 2020 at 09:30 – 16:30 EDT
The panel includes DiploFoundation’s Marília Maciel (Digital Policy Senior Researcher).
For more information about the event and to register, visit the dedicated webpage.

The Future of Meetings - online conference
2020-05-12 09:00 - 12:00
The Coronavirus crisis is changing how we meet and interact, ushering in new ways of organising conferences and other events. Hybrid meetings, which combine virtual and face-to-face interaction, will become the norm.
The Future of Meetings conference will address the emerging practices in organising and running meetings. Can we fit online and onsite events into the same policy process? How can we moderate online sessions effectively? Can we integrate corridor chats into formal virtual meetings? What will the future bring for diplomatic protocol and procedures?
We invite you to join the discussion, organised within 20 sessions and 5 parallel tracks (technology, security, moderation, behaviour, and diplomacy).
This innovative online conference builds on Diplo’s 20-year-long experience in online meetings, teaching, intensive research, and running online events. (visit the Conference Tech Lab).
The ways in which we meet, consult, and negotiate will shape the future of diplomacy, governance, and our society as a whole.
Join us for this timely discussion!
For more information and to register, visit the dedicated page!

#SciDipTalks | Technology at the service of global health crises: Threats and opportunities
2020-05-11 12:00 - 13:00
SciTech DiploHub has partnered with other organisations to put forward 5 online sessions with leading world experts (#SciDipTalks) that will explore the role of international cooperation in the current crisis; the European response to COVID-19; the impact of cities, and particularly Barcelona, in global mitigation efforts; the responses to pandemics in Iberoamerica; and, the threats and opportunities of new technologies. This is the fifth event of the #SciDipTalks series. DiploFoundation’s Katharina Höne will be among the speakers.
About this webinar
Technology and data-driven solutions have been at the forefront of successful national responses to the current COVID-19 crisis. Furthermore, social media platforms have been instrumental in informing, and sometimes misinforming, the general public about the pandemic. This session will address the role of technology in advancing global health, with in-depth discussions about the potential impact of digital strategies on data privacy and human rights. It will also reflect upon the role technology plays during health crises, and the responsibility of digital platforms.
The event will take place on Monday, 11th May 2020 at 12:00 EDT, online.
Speakers for this event include:

Kathleen Carley (Professor in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University)
Xavier Ferràs (Associate Professor at ESADE Business School)
Katharina Höne (Senior Researcher in diplomacy and new technology at DiploFoundation)
Elizabeth M. Renieris (Fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University)
Moderator: Esther Paniagua (Science and Technology Journalist)

For more information about the event and to register, visit the dedicated webpage.

May online courses 2020
2020-05-04
As a diplomat of a small state, operating in a dynamic and rapidly changing international environment, I must sharpen my skills and be equipped with the right tools in order to be successful. I particularly enjoyed the rich, constructive exchange of views/ideas among participants. The opportunity to undertake a case study on one small state was truly enlightening. The bonus was the flexibility of studying at my own convenience from the comfort of my home or office and receiving certification, without leaving my country.
Nicholette Williams, Assistant Director/Foreign Service Officer IV, International Organisations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica (July 2015)
Registrations are open
Register×
Diplo offers four interactive postgraduate-level online courses starting the week of 4 May 2020

Bilateral Diplomacy
Diplomacy of Small States
E-diplomacy
Artificial Intelligence: Technology, Governance, and Policy Frameworks

For more information on each course please click on the titles above. These online courses are available as Diplo Certificate Courses (application deadline: 30 March 2020) and University of Malta Accredited Courses (application deadline: 2 March 2020)
Who should apply?
Working diplomats, professionals involved in international relations, and others who wish to learn about new topics in the field of diplomacy or expand and refresh their knowledge of more traditional topics.
How much study time will I need?
Ten weeks of part-time study, with a minimum of five to seven hours per week.
How does the online course work?
You will work through study materials provided in the online classroom together with other participants, following a weekly cycle. Each week, you read and discuss lecture texts, adding questions and comments and responding to those added by other participants and the lecturer(s). Other weekly activities may include self-assessment quizzes, short assignments, discussion forum topics and group tasks. At the end of the weekly cycle, you will meet with other participants and lecturers in an online chat room to discuss the topic for the week.
For more information on studying online and to apply, please visit Diplo’s courses website or contact admissions@diplomacy.edu

Register

[Briefing] Internet governance in April 2020
2020-04-28 07:00 - 08:00
What were the main Internet governance updates in April? How will recent updates influence the developments in upcoming months? Join us for our next monthly briefing on Tuesday, 28th April, at 7 am EDT, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
Registrations are open
Register×You receive hundreds of pieces of information on digital politics.
We receive them, too.
We decode, contextualise, and analyse them.
Then we summarise them for you.
Every last Tuesday of the month, the Internet governance briefings provide a ‘zoomed-out’ update of the major global IG and digital policy developments.
The Internet governance in April 2020 briefing takes place on Tuesday, 28th April, at 7 am EDT. Join us online; fill in the registration form to reserve your place.
The monthly Internet governance briefings are organised by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), a Swiss initiative run by DiploFoundation. Learn more about our monthly briefings and local hubs. To keep up-to-date with GIP events, subscribe to our mailing list. More information at gip@diplomacy.edu.
Registrations are open:
Register

(Cyber)Security and the shift to online
2020-04-09 08:00 - 09:00
The rapid shift to online work makes us more dependent on the critical Internet infrastructure and digital services. While this infrastructure is already under a lot of pressure as a result of the recent surge in the use of online tools, DDoS attacks against health or e-learning platforms aggravate this strain. Our demand for more information on COVID-19 makes us easy victims for perpetrators of phishing schemes impersonating health institutions including the World Health Organization. Ransomware campaigns, which often lock down critical systems in hospitals and medical research centres, may now lead to more fatalities. In our next live discussion on COVID-19, on Thursday, 9th April 2020 at 8 am EDT, we will ask our experts: Is the COVID-19 crisis leading towards an increasingly insecure cyber-world?
Registrations are open
Register×
As our communications shifts online, confidentiality also becomes a major challenge. Numerous online meeting platforms and messenger apps have embedded encryption, yet only some services encrypt data between users and platform servers, and fewer encrypt data on their servers. As deepfake algorithms advance, the integrity of information and authenticity of interlocutors may also become an issue.
Do cybersecurity risks increase in times of crisis, or do they just change form? What are the specific roles (and responsibilities) of authorities, the private sector, and users and communities? What could be the post-COVID-19 consequences?
Join us to revisit cybersecurity challenges during the COVID-19 crisis. We welcome your active participation in our live discussion.
Expert:
Mr Vladimir (Vlada) Radunović is a lecturer in cybersecurity policy, Internet governance, and e-diplomacy on postgraduate and professional courses. He also serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) and as an expert with the Geneva Internet Platform. He served as a member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from 2012 to 2014. Vlada has been a lecturer, speaker, and resource person on a number of educational and training programmes and events worldwide, including within the WSIS and IGF processes. His professional and research focus is on Internet governance, broadband policy and net neutrality, cybersecurity and cyber-diplomacy, e-diplomacy, and capacity development. He holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Belgrade and a Master’s in Contemporary Diplomacy from the University of Malta. He is currently working on his PhD in cybersecurity. Vlada is currently member of the Board of Directors of Diplo US.
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