2. duction
Involved in e-diplomacy since 1992 (as part of the Mediterranean
Academy of Diplomatic Studies)
Established as an independent foundation by the governments of Malta and
Switzerland in 2002
Offices in Malta, Geneva, and Belgrade
20 full-time and 40 part-time staff
UN ECOSOC special consultative status
Alumni of 2300 diplomats & officials from 189 countries
Selected among the Top 100 non-governmental organisations in 2012
www.diplomacy.edu
10. General awareness building:
• preparing materials (short movie, posters,
comics, booklets)
• disseminating materials
Political awareness training:
• half-day in-situ training
• top decision-makers and high level officials
• introducing basic terminology, political relevance,
international relations
DiploFoundation
Awareness Building
11. Training workshops:
• 1-4 days long intensive in-situ training
• mid- and high-level officials
• understanding the main concepts
• improving communication and international
relations skills
DiploFoundation
Training Courses
12. Online courses
Foundation Course
- Ensures basic understanding and shared context
- Guides participants with varied backgrounds
- Creates an initial community and shares knowledge
Advanced Courses
- Explore important issues in depth
- Provide multiple perspectives
- Engage participants experience and views
Policy research
Research of the national and regional challenges and status, and
impact of relevant policies
DiploFoundation
Training Courses
16. Training of 1200+ professionals from over
140 countries worldwide over the last 8 years
Establishment of National, Regional and
Global Expert Communities
Continuous communication after the training
DiploFoundation
Does it work?
DiploFoundation (Diplo) is a non-profit organisation created in November 2002 by the governments of Malta and Switzerland. Diplo developed out of a project to introduce information and communication technologies into the practice of diplomacy, initiated in 1992 at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta. Diplo works to address the gap between the limited capacities and the growing needs of small and developing states, as well as marginalised groups, for meaningful participation in global policy processes. It offers online courses in diplomacy, and capacity development programmes which combine high quality online and face-to-face courses and seminars, policy research in real contexts, and policy immersion (e.g. internships). Diplo also develops online tools for distance learning, knowledge sharing, and e-participation. Diplo has received wide recognition for its work, including consultative status with the United Nations, the World E-democracy award 2009 and the hosting of the 2010 annual meeting of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training (the forum of directors of diplomatic academies and institutes). Dr Jovan Kurbalija is the founding director of DiploFoundation. He is a former diplomat with a professional and academic background in international law, diplomacy and information technology. In 1992 he established the Unit for IT and Diplomacy at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta. In 2002, after 10 years of success in education, research and publishing, the unit evolved into DiploFoundation. Dr Kurbalija currently directs online learning courses on ICT and diplomacy and lectures in academic and training institutions in Switzerland, the United States, Austria, Belgium the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Malta. His main areas of research are diplomacy and Internet governance, e-diplomacy, online negotiations, and diplomatic law.
Challenges Issues: Mutlidisciplinary fast-changing environment Actors: Multistakeholder global fora Lack of institutional capacities to follow meaningfully Lack of dialogue and knowledge-share among professional groups
e-learning
AWARENESS-BUILDING Audience: busy policy-makers including ministers, high officials, parliamentarians and corporate leaders. Delivery: in situ; 3-5 hours; short, focused an animated sessions; the main focus is on anchoring particular policy issues in the national policy context (high awareness of political sensitivities, priorities, implicit concerns, etc.). UNDERSTANDING MAIN CONCEPTS Audience: the high/middle officials of government departments and other actors. Delivery: in situ; 3-5 days; for example, in the field of Internet governance, “understanding phase” covers more than 40 policy issues organized in the five baskets: technological, legal, economic, development and socio-cultural. IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE Audience: junior officialsDelivery: online; 8-10 weeks; in-depth coverage of a particular policy area (e.g. Internet governance); include analysis, research and academic approach; some courses have academic accreditation.
