What does Impact on Diplomacy actually mean? In this special episode of GDL member Khaldun Al Saadi’s coffee break podcast, members Katarzyna Hanula Bobbitt and Mahmoud Javadi share their thoughts.

The newly established GDL Impact Task Team focuses on assessing the impact and influence of different programmes using a unique approach called the Impact Tree. This approach aims to engage a wide range of stakeholders and rights holders involved in GDL activities, including people from different backgrounds such as civil servants, professionals and diplomats who have different skills and expertise. By promoting critical thinking and collaborative problem solving, the Impact Tree seeks to address pressing issues and challenges from a multi-stakeholder perspective. It strives to include all relevant stakeholders while addressing the comprehensive range of current challenges within its framework and content.

Katarzyna Hanula Bobbitt is an experienced political and social campaign strategist, championing various legislative and regulatory causes. She has a successful track record in designing and implementing policies at an international level, focusing on issues such as inequality and digitalisation. With a background in behavioural economics, she researches the application of this field to public policy design. Outside of her work, she is involved in educational initiatives and social enterprise projects for children’s financial and digital well-being.

Mahmoud Javadi is a research fellow at the European University Institute. Previously, he worked at the Institute of Political and International Studies and the Centre for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council of Iran. He has also been involved in independent think tanks in Iran and is co-host of the IRAN-DACH podcast. Mahmoud holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a Master’s degree in Regional Studies and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Transnational Governance at the European University Institute.

How the GDL successfully pursues a universal, forward-looking approach – all this and more in the special episode of GDL Coffee Break Podcast. Please make yourself a cup of coffee and listen to the new episode on Spotify!

About the authors:

Khaldun Al Saadi has been a member of the Junge Islam Konferenz (Young Islam Conference), the flagship project of Stiftung Mercator in immigration and integration.

Katarzyna Hanula Bobbitt  has experience with public policy strategies, in particular with running long-term, successful social impact campaigns and advocating for a wide range of legislative, regulatory and legal causes.

Mahmoud Javadi works as a Researcher for the European University Institute.

Published on June 26, 2023.

Visual credit: Julie August