Gender Equality In The Diplomatic Space

Empower & Promote Gender Equality In The Diplomatic Space

Client Background

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO ) is a government department responsible for the United Kingdom’s foreign affairs and international development. As an organisation, it plays a crucial role in promoting diplomatic relations, fostering international cooperation, and supporting global development initiatives. Recognizing the need to empower and promote gender equality in the diplomatic space, the FCDO initiated the European Women in Diplomacy programme.

Challenge

The challenge faced by the FCDO was to create a platform to support and uplift female diplomats across different European countries. The objective was to build a network of women leaders in diplomacy, providing them with opportunities for growth, collaboration, and mentorship. With 35 delegates from various diplomatic backgrounds spanning eight European countries, the programme required a strategic approach to address the unique challenges faced by female diplomats and help them advance their leadership capabilities.

Approach

To address the challenge, the FCDO implemented the European Women in Diplomacy programme, a 4-month leadership initiative comprising six modules. The programme adopted a blended learning approach, combining both face-to-face (F2F) and virtual sessions to cater to the diverse geographical locations of the participants.

The key elements of the programme approach were:

1. Four F2F workshops: With two workshops at the beginning and 2 at the end of the programme, Polaris brought together the delegates and built rapport/camaraderie while strengthening networks and created a safe learning space.
   
2. Two Virtual Workshops: Workshops were held at monthly intervals to build on the learning and explore topics specific/tailored to the needs of the cohort.
   
3. Action Learning Sets: Smaller group sessions of collaborative learning were conducted, where delegates bring challenges and issues to share and discuss, finding alternative solutions to put into action back in the workplace.
   
4. Peer Mentoring: Delegates were paired together with peer mentors to facilitate mutual support, knowledge sharing, and encouragement throughout the programme.
   
5. 1:1 Coaching: Individual coaching sessions were provided to each participant to address personal leadership development needs and provide personalised guidance.
   
6. External/Internal Speakers: The programme featured expert speakers from both external and internal sources, providing insights and perspectives on various aspects of diplomacy and leadership.
   
7. Online Community of Practice: An online community platform was established to enable ongoing engagement and collaboration among the delegates, facilitating continuous learning and knowledge exchange beyond the programme’s duration.

Outcome

The Women in Diplomacy programme yielded significant positive outcomes for the delegates and the broader diplomatic community.

The following results were observed:

1. Strengthened Female Diplomat Network: The programme successfully created a network of female diplomats across different European countries, fostering a supportive community that empowers women to excel in their diplomatic roles.
   
2. Enhanced Leadership Skills: The participants acquired valuable leadership skills and insights through the diverse modules, coaching, and mentorship, enabling them to lead effectively in the diplomatic space.
   
3. Increased Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: The establishment of the online community of practice encouraged continuous collaboration and knowledge sharing among the delegates, resulting in an enriched learning experience.
   
4. Empowered Women Leaders: The Women in Diplomacy programme contributed to empowering female diplomats to break barriers and achieve their leadership aspirations, advancing gender equality in the diplomatic sector.

Overall, the FCDO’s Women in Diplomacy programme demonstrated a commitment to fostering women’s leadership and advancing gender equality in the diplomatic space. Through its blended approach, mentorship, coaching, and online community, the programme has not only enriched the personal and professional lives of the participants but also strengthened the diplomatic community as a whole.

“Loved the programme content, and appreciated the frank, professional but friendly discussions across the evolution of the programme. Feedback from the group indicated that you brought a real depth and breadth of experience which the participants appreciated.”

Director FCDO

Quotes from participants (European female diplomats) on what they valued most from the Women in Diplomacy Programme 2022-23:

“Great learning activities. Powerful network building in a supportive environment. Physical and mental connections made.”

“Being aware of different leadership styles required for different work methods/group of people was something I don’t often think about but will do so moving forward!”

“Individual coaching, networking and theory related to values, confidence and psychological safety. Meeting other women and talking about our experiences.”

“Self-awareness regarding work goals, style, values – more awareness of individual approaches to leadership”

“The coaches were great in guiding us through the different sessions and action learning activities. Thanks to their effective approach the sessions were always interactive which helped the participants to make the most out of the programme.”