Training and advice for LDC climate negotiators

Situation: While the climate crisis becomes increasingly noticeable in Western Europe, LDC countries, such as in the Sahel region, are already experiencing the dire consequences of climate change, which will only worsen in the coming years. In the Sahel, for example, climate change affects not only peoples’ daily livelihoods but the broader economic, human rights, and security context for the region. It is thus all the more pressing that those negotiators from the Sahel have the tools, support, and expertise necessary to successfully advocate for their countries in international climate negotiations within the UNFCCC. However, the high complexity of the negotiations and often limited staff resources can complicate these negotiators’ opportunities to do so. 

Objective: Considering this situation, the project would provide customized negotiation training and support to climate negotiators from LDC countries in the Sahel region, to facilitate their work within the UNFCCC. 

Intended outcome: The program will be specifically designed for national delegations from Sahel countries to the UNFCCC negotiations, with all levels of experience taking part. It can be adapted to include both online and in-person elements and aims to equip Sahel climate negotiators with: (1) a robust understanding of the structure and dynamics of the UNFCCC negotiation process, (2) framework for systematically analysing the climate negotiations they are involved in and (3) tailor-made advice for these countries’ specific situations and insight into how they can achieve better outcomes through hands-on skill-building, strategizing, and consulting. Moreover, it provides key negotiation tools of the Harvard-Concept through simulation and systematic de-briefing, outlines core theory and specifics of the UNFCCC negotiations, and supports their application in individual strategies.