Currently, a group of Indonesian Mid-Career Diplomats is participating in a diplomatic training course at the Clingendael Academy. The programme offers a dynamic mix of lectures, working visits, excursions and skills trainings. During all sessions, the diplomats are invited to actively engage in group discussions. Consequently, lecturers and trainers will also benefit from the experience and knowledge the participants bring into these discussions. During a four-week training, the group focusses on a variety of issues, such as economic diplomacy, food and nutrition security, regional integration and water diplomacy.  

A serious game

In the second week of their training programme, the diplomats played a ‘serious game’ (a simulation) on Water Management. During this game, the participants negotiated on policy decisions to protect the population, villages and farming land from floods as well as droughts. They had to take into account the support of the local population, budget cuts, the economic interests of the area and unexpected natural disasters which might occur. They were stimulated to prepare for an uncertain future.

This simulation game is developed by Deltares.

The group stays at the Institute for two more weeks, during which they will work on their personal development as a diplomat through skills trainings, such as negotiation, interdepartmental coordination, presentation, trustworthy management, and interest representation. Also, the group will be trained in intercultural communication skills, together with a group of diplomats from the Caucasus.

More information

More information about the Clingendael Academy’s training programmes can be found on this page. For more information on training programmes in water diplomacy, please contact Mariska Heijs.