Latest News And events

The second I-2DP diplomatic training programme for 2014 was held from 23 to 27 June, 2014 for Senior Diplomats and Officials who represent their governments or oganisations abroad as well as representatives from civil society organisations.The course was designed to improve the negotiating skills of participants; a fundamental requirement in all areas of diplomatic practice. It also aimed at updating participants’ knowledge in international economic relations, particularly, international development cooperation with emphasis on the Post 2015 Development Agenda. The importance of private sector involvement in the realisation of Africa’s 2063 agenda as well as effects of migration on African economies and the recent efforts to address them within the context of AU’s Partnerships with other regions were also highlighted with recommendations on alternate approaches. Other subjects such as Security Threats in Africa, Tools for Conflict Resolution; Recent Trends in Migration Flows within and out of Africa; Conference Preparation; Public-speaking and Speech-writing were also addressed.

I-2DP has, over the past three years, received much encouragement from the international community to redouble its capacity building efforts in diplomacy and international development cooperation.

With renewed vigour, therefore, the first of I-2DP’s 2014 training programmes was held from 17th to 21st February and was geared towards upgrading the knowledge and skills of mid-career African practitioners in the art of negotiation. Particular emphasis were placed on contract negotiations as well as conflict resolution processes in order to address participants’ lack of skills in negotiating in ways that maximize chances of coming out with agreements that best serve the interests of their respective countries or organizations. Matters related to International Development Cooperation, International Trade Talks, Financial Markets as well as Security Concerns in Africa were also addressed.

I-2DP commenced its 2014 activities with participation as an observer in the AU Summit held in January, 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Executive Director, Ambassador N B Kumi and the Head of the Development Policies Section of the I-2DP Faculty, Mr Alexander Archine represented the institute. Extensive networking was undertaken and a number of meetings were held with UNDP and AU Officials with a view to strengthening existing ties.

In October, 2013, upon invitation from the European Group of Think Tanks, I-2DP, represented by its Executive Director, Ambassador Nana Bema Kumi, participated in a meeting held in Brussels as part of the preparations for the forthcoming Africa/EU Summit scheduled to take place in April, 2014, in Brussels.

A training programme was organized by the Institute of Diplomatic Practice and Development Policies { I – 2DP } for junior diplomats and other officials at the Nyansapo House in, Accra, from 19th to 24th May,2013.

Nine Ghanaian participants, who were from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Ministry of Trade and Industries as well as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning were joined by two participants from the European Centre for Development Policy Management, {ECDPM} in Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Lectures on Diplomatic History, Diplomatic Correspondence and Protocol, International Development Cooperation with emphasis on the need for a more aggressive economic integration in Africa, in line with the AU focus on an emerging African Renaissance which outlines New Approaches to Development Policies and Economic Diplomacy; Multilateralism and the related subject of The United Nations at Work as well as International Law in Diplomatic Practice,  The Art of Negotiations reinforced with a lecture on The Importance of Research and Data in Negotiations, Economic Diplomacy, Understanding Financial Markets, and Challenges of World Trade were well received. These were marinated with interactions in class and Group Work Presentations.