Climate change crises, economic disparities, and geopolitical fragmentation create an increasingly more interconnected, global crisis that requires international actors to rethink their approaches to collaboration—which is true for diplomacy and policymaking as well. A key challenge here is to ensure that multilateral systems remain responsive and inclusive, particularly in engaging voices from diverse regions and communities.

The cooperation between Germany’s Federal Foreign Office and the GDL on a corresponding research task to advise actual policy-making was an unusual collaboration despite their institutional ties. At its core, the project sought to answer how a huge political entity could modernize its international partnerships to navigate a multipolar world effectively—preferring networked solutions to institutional or hierarchical ones.

Building on more inclusive, regional perspectives

The initiative examined the potential for change along three strategically important countries from the Global South, each representing different regional challenges and opportunities. The countries were also selected to explore perspectives that are often missed by established western policymaking—a gap the project sought to bridge by fostering a better understanding of the perspectives and needs of these specific countries by sourcing insights from civil society.

The GFFO selection of the three was based on key factors such as geopolitical interests and existing diplomatic relations to ensure alignment with the broader international strategy; feasibility of piloting projects which led to prioritization of stable regions with an enabling environment for cooperation; representation of active network members in those countries to facilitate the implementation of GDL formats and methodologies.

The selected countries were:

• Colombia: The country’s trajectory toward peace and stability after over 50 years of civil war requires addressing the inclusion of marginalized groups, particularly indigenous and rural communities, in decision-making processes. At the same time, Colombia’s emerging leadership in the green transition offers an opportunity to foster environmentally sustainable partnerships that strengthen local communities and reinforce shared values of inclusivity and equity.
• Kenya: Pressing challenges for the country include high youth unemployment, limited access to specialized vocational training, and underdeveloped entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, the country’s dynamic and youthful population, coupled with its potential for economic diversification, positions Kenya as a regional leader.
• Morocco: Intensifying drought conditions and water scarcity in Morocco are widening rural-urban divides and threatening the country’s social and economic stability. Simultaneously, relevant technology transfer in line with regional adaptation mechanisms offer a way to mitigate these conditions.

A key component of the project was the use of the GDL’s Lab methodology—a structured yet flexible approach designed to engage diverse perspectives and evaluate multi-dimensional challenges. In these Labs, co-creation processes take place as part of an interdisciplinary and intercultural undertaking in which participants interact in person and where new insights and networks are formed.

Actionable results for policymaking

In all three countries, specific Labs were organized by members of the network with local stakeholders that eventually led to a substantive final report called “Rethinking Global Partnerships: Navigating Multipolar Contexts” which outlines strategic opportunities to strengthen Germany’s partnerships with Colombia, Kenya, and Morocco.

The recommendations focused on core areas with concrete actions:

1. Driving inclusive climate and energy partnerships
2. Empowering youth through skill-building and entrepreneurship
3. Strengthening dialogue and governance systems

The benefits of implementing the proposed actions would enable Germany to better address shared global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and unemployment in a way that is both context-specific and locally driven and these partnerships would engage diverse stakeholders—including marginalized communities and youth—to create scalable, inclusive solutions that align with frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This project demonstrates that even within traditionally hierarchical fields like diplomacy and policymaking, networked and participatory approaches can unlock new and more inclusive pathways for meaningful and lasting international cooperation. It underscores the importance of:

• Context-specific solutions: Policies and partnerships must be shaped by those directly affected rather than imposed from the outside.
• Flexible, adaptive collaboration: Traditional diplomatic frameworks often struggle to incorporate non-state actors and decentralized networks. More fluid, responsive structures are needed.
• The power of unlikely platforms: Engaging with unconventional partners such as grassroots movements, local entrepreneurs, and civil society organizations can offer fresh perspectives and more sustainable impact.

Marking the end of a remarkable ten-year public-private partnership, the Secretariat of the Global Diplomacy Lab was concluded at the end of 2024. This extraordinary collaboration fostered a vibrant community of global experts committed to creating inclusive spaces for open dialogue on urgent local and global challenges. iac Berlin has proudly served as the GDL’s implementing partner since 2018. We extend our deepest gratitude to all members of the GDL and to our partners—the German Federal Foreign Office, the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the BMW Foundation, the German-American Fulbright Commission, Stiftung Mercator, and the Global Leadership Academy of GIZ—for their vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment.

This article is based on the report "Rethinking Global Partnerships: Navigating Multipolar Contexts" which is available in full here.

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This interview has been taken from our Activity Report 2024. You can download the entire publication here: