International Relations in the 21st century and multi-directional diplomacy: Sant’Anna School training program in Yaoundé for young diplomats from Central Africa Republic and Cameroon
Sant’Anna School continues to play an important role in providing training for diplomats working in sub-Sahara Africa. The Central African Republic's National Plan aims to foster a number of key reforms: peace and security, economic recovery and the provision of essential services, such as health and education. In the 21st century, new kinds of challenges resulting mainly from globalization have a major impact on the conduct of diplomacy.
In February 2017, six senior diplomats from the Central African Republic attended a training course in Pisa on protection and promotion of human rights through a "training of trainers" (ToT) program. On 8 May 2017, in Yaoundé (Cameroon), fifteen young diplomats from the Central African Republic (CAR) and Cameroon will be involved in two month training program designed by Sant’Anna School in partnership with the “Institut des Relations Internationales du Cameroun” (IRIC).
To ensure the respect of rights throughout the Central African Republic, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will continue to work with the Central African Republic and its people to promote human rights and to foster the rule of law. This will require the full range of diplomatic, advocacy and other tools at both bilateral and multilateral level. The Sant’Anna School training initiative wants to contribute to revitalization and development of the CAR diplomatic staff so that they can tackle today's challenges and deliver successful programs in negotiation, security and defense matters.
Andrea de Guttry, professor of international law and director of the Institute Dirpolis (Law, Politics, Development) at Sant'Anna School, will give his lessons together with Italian lecturers and international experts. Keynote speakers include Cameroon diplomats and senior State officials.
"This pilot project - said Professor Andrea de Guttry – is funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to provide diplomatic training courses for new embassy staff exercising upper management roles. Once again, Sant’Anna School offers high quality education and the training offered provides a great opportunity to further develop a model of peace education in the process of the stabilization, reconciliation and reconstruction of the country”.
“The institutional-human capacity building and the observance of human rights are essential elements to rebuild divided societies. The restoration of the basic functions of the government can make a reconstruction process durable and sustainable” said Samuela Isopi, Ambassador of Italy to Cameroon.
The cooperation between the Central African authorities and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation aim to contribute to the stabilization process. The CAR authorities requested the support from the World Bank, the United Nations and the European Union to design a strategy to tackle recovery and peacebuilding. The project was announced by Mario Giro, Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister, during his visit to Bangui in October 2016.
Cover photo: Yaoundé (photo courtesy of Italian Embassy in Yaoundé)
