Impact and Results

Some results of our capacity development programmes:

1. Contributions to Internet governance: Diplo has contributed significantly to Internet governance (IG) over the last 20 years. As one of the key players in the WSIS process, Diplo has been providing capacity building, training, and research on digital policy issues, and working in groups such as WGIG, IGC, IGF, MAG, and others. Through the Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme (IGCBP), and Internet Governance courses run with partners such as ISOC, GSMA, Hivos, the NEPAD Agency, and the University of Malta (Master in Contemporary Diplomacy with an Internet Governance specialisation), we have trained well over 2000 professionals from more than 160 countries worldwide. Our contributions to the global IGF, WSIS, the IGC, and global policy processes have assisted individuals and organisations in expanding their outreach in global debates. Our activities have also included interactions with other international groups – the UN, ITU, ISOC – and national regulators and governments. Through the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), we are particularly involved with digital policy stakeholders in Geneva. Our online observatory, GIP Digital Watch, enables the global community to stay up-to-date about developments in digital policy. Read more about Diplo's contributions to IG.
2. Participation: Officials from developing countries now play a greater role in creating IG policy. Several members of the IGF’s Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) are alumni of Diplo’s IG programmes.
3. Community: Alumni from our IG programmes work together via our IG community platform in a growing number of self-reliant communities and discussion groups (in 2016, there were over 1600 members, and about 50 active groups).
4. Policy change: In 2006, Diplo supported an alumni member in leading community discussion on the ICT Bill for Kenya by providing a platform and facilitation for online discussion, enabling the community to influence the national ICT legislation. In 2010, Roma rights organisations across Europe were working together towards the creation of an EU Roma policy. This co-ordinated push was initiated, in part, by graduates of our 2005/2006 Roma diplomacy programme. Read more about our Roma diplomacy initiative.
5. Influence: In June 2006, Diplo was granted Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Although not an advocacy group per se, Diplo featured in the World e-Democracy Forum’s list of ‘Top 10 who are changing the world of Internet and Politics’ in 2009. In 2012 and again in 2015, Diplo was selected as one of the ‘Top 100 NGOs’ based on our impact, innovation, and sustainability.
6. Innovative participation: Diplo assisted alumni members to initiate and run 'remote hubs' for participation at IGF meetings in Hyderabad (2008), Sharm el Sheikh (2009), Vilnius (2010), and Nairobi (2011), allowing many interested individuals and groups who could not travel due to cost or other reasons to contribute actively and influence the outcome of these meetings. Since then, the IGF has continued to facilitate remote particiation during it's annual meetings. Currently, Diplo is further developing methods and tools for more inclusive and innovative events and online participation through numerous online events as well as the Geneva Engage initiative.

Some examples of the impact of our training courses:

1. Diplo is a unique institution with almost global coverage: diplomats and officials from 208 countries and territories have attended our courses since 1994.
2. Due to physical remoteness and limited human resources, small island states find Diplo's online training particularly useful. Diplo has become the unofficial 'diplomatic academy of small island states'. Learn more about our Capacity Development Programme in Multilateral Diplomacy (CD Multi).

3. We have a large and far-reaching network of alumni that forms a truly global community: currently 5,108 people from 208 countries.

   See our alumni map to learn more.

4. Many of our alumni have returned to their countries and made a real difference. Here are some examples – click to read more:

After more than ten years immersed in the multilateral side of the practice of diplomacy and international relations, the Bilateral Diplomacy Course provided me with an invaluable complement to my experience. Though challenging and intense, Ambassador Rana guided us in a manner that allowed us to exchange and discuss the topics and generate ideas, as well as to apply what was learnt to our real-life situations. I was particularly drawn to the myriad theories and aspects of cultural diplomacy, and the role it plays in the successful practice of diplomacy and negotiations, which provided me with new skills that are useful to my work.

- Myrna Huggins, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications, Trinidad and Tobago

I was particularly impressed by the lecture texts. They are thought provoking, insightful and of the highest quality. My knowledge and ability to apply diplomatic law has been immeasurably boosted.

- Charles Lidon, Legal Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana

I’m really glad I did the course and have found it very valuable for my day to day work, particularly as, working for a small National Society, I’m the only person here focusing on advocacy. It was a great way to build networks of people doing similar things – I visited British Red Cross when I was in London recently and also spoke to my counterpart at NorCross which was incredibly helpful for a similar humanitarian diplomacy campaign we are doing here.

- Rachel Banfield, Advocacy, Policy and Research Advisor, New Zealand Red Cross

This course is very important for any diplomat: from negotiating to public speaking, listening, and skills needed for press conferences, the course covers all the essentials needed to become a formidable diplomat. Skills learnt in this course have helped me in my everyday professional work and made me skilful at diplomatic communications.

- Miruza Mohamed, Director, Environment Department, Maldives Ministry of Environment and Energy

The IG route in the MA Contemporary Diplomacy Programme has enabled me to situate the focus of my work on Internet Governance in Africa in a space that is directly relevant to the mandate of the NEPAD Agency.

- Towela Nyirenda-Jere, Programme Manager, e-Africa Programme, NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency

I found in DiploFoundation more than a pragmatic solution; I discovered a community of people with the same interests and commitment with international affairs. The interaction within the group is enriching and it stimulates the respect of each other. Public Diplomacy used to be for me a vague concept and the course changed my point of view. Indeed I´ve adopted some ideas in my daily work.

- María Victoria Stöger Rodriguez, Deputy Consul of Argentina in Bonn, Germany