Myanmar is currently undergoing rapid changes to its political and economic systems .The three-week training course brings together 20-25 selected persons from Myanmar’s administration, parliament, political parties and civil society organisations, to explore key issues in democratization and international relations. It promotes a vision of strong democratic institutions and support for the rule of law and human rights.
Mr Merkelbach is a Senior Programme Advisor to the Leadership, Crisis and Conflict Management Programme at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.
GCSP
The Geneva Centre for Security Policy is an inter-national foundation with 45 member states from across the globe that provides forward- thinking and innovative solutions for leaders and policymakers concerned with international affairs and security in today’s complex, globalised world.
Course Director
3 weekprogramme
MYANMAR TRAINING COURSE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
TRAINING COURSE 10 APRIL-2 MAY 2015
Managing International Relations and Democratization
Myanmar is currently undergoing rapid changes to its political and economic systems .The three-week training course brings together 20-25 selected persons from Myanmar’s administration, parliament, political parties and civil society organisations, to explore key issues in democratization and international relations. It promotes a vision of strong democratic institutions and support for the rule of law and human rights.
Key benefits for you
Participating professionals and leaders from Myanmar will:
• Gainup-to-dateknowledgeandcurrent experience gained in an international environment
• Increaseknowledgeintheareasof international relations, governance, human security and public participation
• Developpersonalskillsandcollaborative tools needed for effective participation in the policy-making process
• Meet,oftenforthefirsttime,fellow citizens and international professionals from other sectors such as civil society, government and security forces
• Createnetworksamongactorsworking towards peace and stability both in Myanmar and abroad
Support
This is the third edition of the course, and is funded by the Swiss Federal DepartmentofForeignAffairs.ItfollowsFederalCouncillorDidierBurkhalter’svisit to Myanmar in November 2012, and honours the commitment made to President Thein Sein to offer training courses in democratization and international relations to Myanmar participants.
Hosting 35 international organisations, more than 250 non-governmental organisations, and 173 diplomatic missions, representations and delegations, Geneva represents one of the world’s richest networks in international affairs.
Admission
For further details about the course, please contact:
Language requirements: The course will be held in English. No translation will be provided.
Venue: GCSP Maison de la paix CheminEugène-Rigot2D P.O.Box1295 CH-1211 Geneva 1
www.gcsp.ch
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Course profile
The course includes lectures by GCSP faculty and some 40 external experts. Conceptual inputs are complemented by intensive interactive sessions and workshops as well as visits to organisations in International Geneva.
Course focus
Myanmar is currently undergoing rapid changes to its political and economic systems. The country is opening up to the international community and the government is trying to move towards more democratic institutions and practices while also negotiating peace agreements with ethnic groups.
The rapid changes taking place in Myanmar create a major need for professional training and building ties with other countries, both of which
elements have been absent for the past decades. At the same time the influx of massive development aid as well as the arrival of many NGOs, IOs and private companies is creating new governance challenges for Myanmar. In this context, it is important to help develop knowledge and skills at all levels of society.
Partnership
The course is run in partnership with the GenevaCentrefortheDemocraticControlofArmedForces(DCAF).
Participation
Participants are selected by authorities in Myanmar in collaboration with the Swiss Federal department of Foreign Affairs. External applications are not accepted.
Course design
Three main principles underpin the course programme.Thefirstisadeliberatechoicenot to make the programme Myanmar-specific.WhiletheissuestobecoveredareclearlysignificantforMyanmar,sessionspresent broad principles or guidelines, and use case studies from elsewhere, in order to encourage the participants to reflect themselves on the relevance for Myanmar. The second principle is to make the course interactive where appropriate and possible. Thethirdprincipleistobuildinsufficienttime for the participants to network informally, during sessions and breaks but notably also during social events and free time
Field trips and exposure to policy-makers and practitioners will broaden the perspectives of participants and give them new insights and best practices to take home with them. The exchange between participants as well as with experts delivering programme sessions allows them furthermore to expand and enrich their network of professionals
which can be – and experience shows, indeed is – maintained once back in their home country and posting. The creation ofenduringrelationshipsisasignificantongoing contribution to their capacity to perform their professional tasks.
