International Issues, International Solutions?

International Issues, International Solutions?

Promoting the Sustainable Development Agenda through Multilateral Systems

Overview and Objectives

Schedules

This second training session of the LEAD Europe Fellows Training Programme, hosted by IUCN (The World Conservation Union), took place in and around Geneva, home of the United Nations in Europe.

Under the training theme of “International Issues, International Solutions?” 20 LEAD Associates representing 14 nationalities explored the ways in which sustainable development is promoted through multilateral systems. Weight was given to discussion of global environmental management as one of the pillars of sustainable development that is receiving increasing attention at the international level.

Keynote speaker Janos Pasztor, Director of the UN Environment Management Group, opened the session with an excellent overview of the history and complexity of sustainable development action in multilateral systems, and introduced some of the key questions and debates around the roles of global governance stakeholders and the trends developing in decision-making at the international level. He also commented on the need for energetic and responsible leadership from organisations and governments influencing global governance.

"I find it always most interesting to engage with groups like this. Based on the questions and the discussions we had, I would say you have a pretty good group of LEADers coming through your pipeline.” Janos Pasztor - Keynote Speaker

This introduction set the scene for a challenging week exploring multilateral systems through a range of activities:

• Simulation of a UN style negotiation on sustainable forestry, building skills and understanding of complex issues and processes in an intense two-day session. Associates played the role of negotiators representing the interests of unfamiliar countries. More...
• Leadership panel where representatives from IUCN, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), and the World Trade Organisation, shared their personal approaches to leadership and discussed what skills they felt were key to being a successful leader. More...

• Associates and panelists then engaged in dynamic small group discussions around questions of leadership and sustainable development. This world-cafe style exercise brought out valuable insights on different leadership styles, and provided the opportunity for more intimate discussion between Associates and speakers. More...
• Tour of the United Nations Palais to learn about the role of the particular role of the Geneva Office (UNOG) and meet with representatives from UNEP and UNDP. Jean Fabre of UNDP stressed the urgent need for action, and cited strong personal values and vision as the keys to effective leadership in a rapidly changing world where difficult decisions are frequently faced.
• Visits to Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Geneva. Each Associate met with a representative of their national Mission to discuss their country's priorities on sustainable development and the ways these are negotiated in the international arena. More...
• Skills building and personal development through sessions on core leadership skills, peer feedback and one-to-one coaching.

“The feedback we have received so far is kind of overwhelming – “It’s been fantastic” “I felt really inspired and motivated” “great hosts, great atmosphere” “knockout – better than the first week but the first week was incredible” “I loved it” and along with that I know that individually you have been doing some serious reflecting, and have begun to make connections between the programme and both your work and your personal lives. I’ve heard the word ‘change’ more than once in one to one conversations.” Edward Kellow – LEAD trainer