Thu 23 Jun 2016
Client: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Programme: BiH Fellowship: One-week Programme
(Delivered in London, UK, 2016)
The Client
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) promotes the United Kingdom's interests overseas, supporting its citizens and businesses around the globe. The FCO has a worldwide network of embassies and consulates, employing over 14,000 people in nearly 270 diplomatic offices. The FCO works with international organisations to promote UK interests and global security, including the EU, NATO, the United Nations, the UN Security Council and the Commonwealth.
The problem
The FCO was looking for a supplier to assume management and delivery of its Bosnia and Herzegovina Fellowship Programme. The Programme seeks to facilitate participants’ exposure to UK best practice in the policy and governance world, understand how practices could be developed to the BiH context and help create a body of professionals who will become future leaders.
Our actions
Following the award of contract, the first priority was to design and develop the pilot programme. Delivered in July 2016, the pilot one-week Programme, had an extensive reach in terms of content. It was important to incorporate all elements of interest to the Fellows whilst guaranteeing that each day linked appropriately to the rest of the week to provide continuity and ensure a cohesive Programme.
The Programme was logistically complicated and required strategic planning. Using existing Dods networks and conducting site visits, the international team sought accommodation, transport and venues that would ensure delegates maximised their experience in London without compromising budgetary constraints.
We consulted with a range of experts to design and shape the Programme and worked closely with the client to ensure it was tailored to meet the needs of the Fellows. Day one was delivered by a former civil servant and covered the UK Parliament and Government structure, workings and current priorities. Day two incorporated two visits to the Foreign Office and Parliament. In the morning delegates heard from guest speakers and had the opportunity to meet and network with FCO officials from across the Balkans desks. Having undertaken a short orientation visit of Whitehall and Westminster, the group visited Parliament, taking time to view activity in both chambers and meeting with a member of the Public Accounts Committee. Day three focused on working with the media and gave delegates the opportunity to undertake practical media training including camera work. Day four focused on policy-making in the UK and featured guest speaker sessions and practical exercises. The final day focused on Britain’s multi-ethnic heritage and included sessions on political parties and campaigning.
The week provided exposure to different learning methods including a combination of lecture-style learning, guest speaker presentations and Q&A, group work, case study practice, interactive sessions including role play and study visits.
Conclusions
The Programme was very well-received and delegates were particularly impressed by the calibre of speakers and logistical coordination as well as the sheer volume of material covered during the week. We are currently working closely with the client to pilot the three-week delivery in the autumn.
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