During a visit at the Department of International Relations and International Cooperation of South Africa (DIRCO) from 22 till 26 September, Clingendael's Academy Director Ron Ton provided a training on negotiation and conflict management skills. The relationship between the Clingendael Institute, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the South African MFA reflects more than 20 years of cooperation. In this longstanding partnership, Clingendael and the Diplomatic Academy at DIRCO are regularly exchanging lecturers and trainers. Seminars and courses are organised in both The Hague and Pretoria. Earlier this year Ron Ton contributed to DIRCO's mediation programme for African officials in Pretoria.

Alumni

During the visit, Mr Ron Ton met with two of Clingendael's alumni, who both attended a diplomatic training at Clingendael in The Hague back in 1993. These alumni were part of the African National Congress (ANC), which was integrated 1994 in the new diplomatic service of South Africa in 1994, after Nelson Mandela had become the first president of a democratic South Africa.

Mr. Ron Ton with Clingendael Alumni Ashraf Suliman (left) and Ebrahim Saley (right)

Blue Diplomacy

This year, the Clingendael Academy will welcome another group of South African diplomats for a training in "Blue Diplomacy". This is a new training programme that will focus on the role of South African diplomats in promoting the Blue Economy and Sustainability. The Blue Economy introduces a philosophy to establish a new economy, in which we do more with the same.  

The training programme includes elements of Blue Economy, Diplomacy, and Trends in Global Development. Evenly important in this programme is skills training, needed to effectively communicate and to negotiate new ideas. Several trainers will enhance the participants’ skills in intercultural communication, negotiation, leadership and effective influencing; thereby emphasizing diplomatic skills development and innovation.