Climate change is recognized as a major challenge for the 21st century. New awareness, knowledge and competencies are needed across societies to be able to effectively address associated issues and negative effects. In order to enhance the knowledge and practical skills of Kenyan diplomats, government officials and civil society representatives, the Foreign Service Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Climate Change Directorate, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and The One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn) joined forces to organize an Online Training Programme on Climate Change Diplomacy from 13 November to 8 December 2020
This training, designed in the lead-up to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) scheduled in November 2021 in Glasgow (United Kingdom), aimed to provide the 35 selected participants with knowledge on climate change and climate diplomacy. It also built practical and in-depth understanding of negotiation skills and dynamics in the context of United Nations conferences and the UNFCCC process.
The official opening ceremony of the high-level segment of COP 25/CMP
The training was officially launched during an online Introductory Session held on 13 November 2020. This event featured interventions from H. E. Amb. Galma M. Boru, Director of the Foreign Service Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Pacifica Ogola, Director of the Climate Change Directorate, Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Mr. Angus Mackay, Head of the UN CC:Learn Secretariat. It also provided an opportunity for participants to receive more detailed information about the programme and meet each other.
Participants were then invited to complete a Climate Change Diplomacy E-learning Course, consisting of approximately 13 hours of flexible, self-paced study time distributed over a period of 3 weeks, from 16 November to 6 December 2020. The course included 7 modules, each including quizzes and interactive exercises, providing an introduction to climate change, its key issues and possible response measures, followed by more specific information on climate diplomacy, including the structure and functioning of the UNFCCC, the history of negotiations to date as well as current discussion areas.
The programme concluded with an 8-hour hands-on Climate Change Diplomacy e-Workshop held on 7 and 8 December 2020. The workshop, delivered by a multilateral negotiation expert, included interactive sessions on negotiation skills, exercises, and simulations.
A follow-up survey will be distributed to participants in 2021 to assess the use and application of the knowledge.
This training programme was organized thanks to the support provided by the Government of Sweden. It contributes to the UN CC:Learn project in Kenya, which supports the development and implementation of the National Climate Change Learning Strategy.
