The GDL is advancing its project “Rethinking Global Partnerships: Navigating in Multipolar Contexts”, commissioned by the German Federal Foreign Office. Led by GDL Member Elizabeth Maloba, this project aims to enhance Germany’s bilateral relations with Colombia, Kenya, and Morocco by identifying new opportunities for cooperation and addressing emerging global challenges. This pilot project runs from June-December 2024.

Following a successful Kick-Off Meeting on September 25, 2024, where key stakeholders gathered to offer their insights on potential risks and challenges as well as opportunities of collaboration, the project is now moving into the Horizon Scanning Phase. This phase utilizes several analytical tools, e.g. a Delphi study, to identify trends and challenges that will shape future international cooperation.

The insights gathered during this phase will inform strategic recommendations for strengthening bilateral relations between the selected countries and will be tested during mini-Labs in November.

The Delphi Study is engaging a select group of experts whose contributions are vital in shaping the project’s outcomes. These insights will be pivotal for the next major milestone: the Sensemaking Workshop, to be held from October 22 to 24, 2024, at the Federal Foreign Office. The workshop will bring together insights from the Delphi Study and other analyses to refine strategies for international collaboration.

In November, the mini-Labs will be held in Kenya, Colombia, and Morocco, allowing local stakeholders to validate the findings and ensure that recommendations are context-specific and actionable.

This project represents a crucial effort in adapting Germany’s international partnerships to the complexities of a multipolar world, aiming to provide forward-looking, actionable recommendations for policymakers.

Project contact persons: Audrey Namdiero-Walsh (audrey.namdiero-walsh@global-diplomacy-lab.org) and Elizabeth S. Maloba (elizabethsmaloba@gmail.com)