Study Trip to Bonn for the GEGPA Students

For the first time, our Joint Master in Global Economic Governance and Public Affairs (GEGPA) students travelled to Bonn for a three-day study trip to the United Nations Campus and IDOS.

After a visit to the Haus der Geschichte, the students spent a day on the United Nations Bonn Campus, visiting the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

They were welcomed by Johns Muleso Kharika, Chief of Science, Technology and Innovation at the UN, Barron Joseph Orr, Chief Scientist at UNCCD, Paul Desanker, Manager at the Adaptation Division of the Secretariat, UNFCCC, Tibor Lindovsky, Climate Transparency and Capacity-Building Support Specialist at the UN, and Houtan Bassiri, Innovative Financing and Partnership Manager. Matthias Waechter, Director General of CIFE and Arnaud Leconte, Programme Director of the Joint Masters, accompanied the students.

The speakers introduced the students to the UNCCD's and UNFCCC's work in coordinating and driving global cooperation for sustainable development. The students learnt more about the science-policy nexus at the intersection of research and policy, translating climate finance into actions and how climate change challenges such as sustainable land management are addressed. During the lunch break on the rooftop of Bonn's second tallest building, the students enjoyed a fantastic panorama view of the Rhine valley. 

The trip came to an end with a visit and discussion at German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), where the students exchanged with Eva-Maria Lynders discovering how the organisation provides policy advice in the dynamic field of global governance. 

We would like to express our gratitude to our hosts for their generous welcome and their insightful lectures. Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation of this successful first GEGPA study trip!