Study Trip

Click here for the full report and a photo gallery.

Day 1: Monday, March 25, 2024

Our study trip started on Monday, March 25, which we mostly spent on the UN Geneva Campus (UNOG). We started off at the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), where we had enriching discussions which helped us grasp the responsibilities and functions of OCHA.

Next, we visited the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). We discussed the potential of various items, from insulation to infrastructure, to have an impact on both economic and environmental wellbeing. As the ECE is credited for the clear water in Geneva's rivers and lake, it was eye-opening to hear about the ECE's important work in areas that are so often overlooked.

After lunch in the UNOG cafeteria, we received an introduction to the Human Rights Council which is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights by monitoring and addressing violations. One of the main works done is the Universal Periodic Review. We had the chance to watch and listen in on discussions during such a session.

The last station of the day was the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Here, we covered topics such as the challenges of the organization, those of working in the field and learned about career opportunities.

Overall, it was an insightful first day, during which we learned about the internal structure of the UN and the ICRC, and an inspiring start to the trip due to being at the UN headquarters.

Day 2: Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Our second day entailed a full agenda with diverse focus fields. We had the honor of visiting the World Trade Organization (WTO) and gaining an understanding of the organization’s operations. We learned how the WTO analyzes data which provides insights on trade policies and agreements. This helps the WTO provide policy makers with recommendations and promote a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding global trade policies. Then we received a captivating presentation on crucial environmental issues such as CO2 emissions in both emerging and developed nations.

Consequently, our cohort was warmly welcomed at the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations. His Excellency Mr. Cristian Espinosa Cañizares imparted Ecuador’s position in the UN and how he endeavors to represent the perspective of his country in the international arena. With him and First Secretary Mr. Walter Schuldt, we talked about initiatives supported by Ecuador on key issue areas such as the pandemic, migration and biodiversity.

We ended the day at Interpeace, where we met the president, Mr. Kakoma, and his colleagues. We had the chance to hear about the personal journeys and visions of many of the staff members who emphasized the importance of peacebuilding, positive peace, and sustainable solutions. They underlined that even though the duration of peacebuilding processes is often criticized, it is the only right way to achieve global peace.

Overall, the second day of our study trip provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in global trade with an emphasis on environmental aspects; modern diplomacy, and peacebuilding activities of non-state actors. It was a day filled with learning and meaningful interactions and we believe that we benefitted from each organization’s distinct perspectives on similar topics.

Day 3: Wednesday, March 27, 2024

We started our third day with an inspiring and powerful presentation of the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining which offers policy support to states that are unable to begin the process of humanitarian demining on their own.

Then we visited the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) headquarters and had a discussion based on their work around the emergency policy and coordination in the crises that concern the various groups of displaced persons. We learned about the existing challenges of reaching remote areas, funding the institution, and equipping the staff.

Afterwards, we went to the World Health Organization (WHO), where we had a discussion on Health Emergencies Communications, mostly concerning how the COVID-19 pandemic was dealt with, both at the level of states and of international institutions. Next, we had a short but enriching session with a WHO Health Emergency Officer and Incident Manager, which was packed with valuable insights on major global health challenges such as the Gaza conflict.

Lastly, we had the privilege to visit the WHO’s Emergency Operation Center which houses the emergency operations team, the organization's disaster response team, and the epidemic alert and response team. It was very exciting to gain an insight into the processes and data of current crisis regions. We rounded off our day and trip with a lovely group dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant.

Conclusion

Overall, the study trip to Geneva proved to be a fruitful and invaluable experience, offering profound insights into the functioning of various IOs, NGOs, UN bodies and a permanent representation. The presentations highlighted the complexities of coordinating efforts on global issues such as human rights, humanitarian aid, and sustainable development. Further, it was inspiring to be in a city with so many opportunities to work in our field and talking about career opportunities with our interlocutors. On top of this, it helped us students to reflect on the reality of our chosen field. The variety of profiles with whom we interacted gave us food for thought on the positives and negatives of global governance. It was an excellent reminder of the complexity of the system and the need to be open minded to different approaches.

We all profited greatly from this experience for our studies and careers. We are most thankful to all the efforts by the speakers and our Professor, Mr. Kreuder-Sonnen.

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This study trip was only made possible by the generous contributions of our friends and partners, Ernst Abbe FoundationExternal link, City of JenaExternal link, and the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

Click here for the full report and a photo gallery.

Day 1: Sunday, April 2nd, 2023

On our travel day, Professor Christian Kreuder-Sonnen led our 3rd cohort of the IOCM program on our journey from Jena to the city of Geneva, Switzerland. Upon our arrival, with a sense of anticipation, we rested and prepared ourselves for the busy days to come.

Day 2: Monday, April 3rd, 2023

The first full day of our trip took place at the famous Palais des Nations. We started at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) speaking to Nisha Manjooran and her colleagues working in the Office of the Director within the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization division. After a thorough overview of OCHA’s role in the UN’s humanitarian aid ecosystem, we discussed OCHA’s work in the context of the earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria in February 2023. We then enjoyed a tour of the grounds and the history of the Palais des Nations.

The next item on our agenda was a visit to the United National Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) where we met with Iva Brkic, an Economic Affairs Officer within the Sustainable Energy Division. Ms Brkic explained that despite its name, the UNECE not only covers countries in Europe, but also serves member states in North America and Asia. After a short briefing, we enjoyed a robust conversation on the future of sustainable energy in Europe and the role that international organisations (IOs) can (and should) play in it.

The final event of the day was a meeting at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) where we met with Clara D. Buehlhoff who is working at the Humanitarian Operations & Security Management division of the ICRC. In addition, we were joined by members of the ICRC Talent Acquisitions staff who were able to give us a clear picture of what working at the ICRC as young professionals could look like.

Day 3: Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Day two of our trip began with a visit to the World Trade Organization (WTO). In our first meeting with Victor Stolzenburg (Economic Research and Statistics), we learned about his and the WTO’s work more broadly, which included evidence-based recommendations and insights to assist in the formulation of trade policies, as well as challenges like member state contestation.

Next, Daniel Ramos from the Trade and Environment Division focused on the WTO’s shift towards environmentally friendly trade agreements. He described how the WTO engages in discussions on trade-related aspects of climate change, such as the trade of environmental goods and services or the reduction of trade barriers for clean technologies. We concluded our visit to the WTO with a tour of the facilities, including impressive mural rooms overlooking Lake Geneva.

That afternoon, we met Paul Dillon, Director, Media and Communications Division at the International Organization for Migration (IOM). There, we talked about fields of crisis management beyond the external crises in the field, instead focusing on internal crises in International Organizations with special regard to communication. We left with a broadened understanding of crisis management and valuable insights to the decision-making processes inside of IOs.

On our final visit of the day at the World Health Organization (WHO), Teresa Zakaria, Technical Officer of the Health Emergencies Program with a background in medicine, guided us through the objectives of the WHO and its crisis response mechanisms in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hearing from an expert within the WHO about her perspectives and experiences was fascinating and gave us critical insights into global health governance. We then met Hans Willmann, the Team Leader of Talent Acquisition and Management, who encouraged us to apply for internships and pursue careers at the WHO.

Day 4: Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

Starting off the third day of our trip, we met Matthias Junge at the NGO “Switzerland for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)”. He told us about his role in fundraising and provided a general overview of UNHCR’s work across the globe. He highlighted modern humanitarian challenges, particularly in funding humanitarian aid efforts, refugee resettlement, and the problems associated with refugee camps.

In the afternoon, we visited the German Mission to the United Nations and met the director of the political division together with desk officers on human rights and humanitarian affairs. In particular, we discussed current developments in the Human Rights Council as well as the diplomatic interaction with Russia in various UN organs.

Later on, we completed our overview of the types of organisations in Geneva by visiting the Geneva International Centre for Justice, an NGO focusing on human rights advocacy. Meeting the director, Naji Haraj, we learned how NGOs raise awareness for their causes, contribute to Human Rights Council proceedings, and coordinate to speak with one voice. Our session concluded with an opportunity to network with current interns at the GICJ, which was really helpful for us considering our own mandatory internships.

Concluding our final day in Geneva, we went for a group dinner at “Little Ethiopia”. Besides wine, beer, water and sodas, the menu offered a variety of meats, vegetables and sauces, all to be had with Injera bread. Besides the great food, it was time to recap the past days, exchange thoughts, and enjoy a nice conclusion to our study trip.

Day 5: Thursday, April 6th, 2023

On the morning of April 6th, we grabbed plenty of snacks and began our long journey back to Jena. We arrived smoothly to start the new semester with new insights into the world of international organisations and a fresh outlook on our studies.

This study trip was only made possible by the generous contributions of our friends and partners, Ernst Abbe FoundationExternal link, PROMOSExternal link, and the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

Click here for the full report and a photo gallery.

On Monday morning, June 27, 2022, we, the 2^nd IOCM cohort, gathered at the train station in Jena West to travel together to Geneva, Switzerland, accompanied by Christian Kreuder-Sonnen and Franziska Sandt of the Chair of International Organizations. After check-in and dinner, we cooled off at Bains des Pâquis at Lake Geneva and prepared for the first day with a packed agenda.

Day 1

The first visit on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, took us to the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). During our visit to the ICRC, we had the opportunity to talk to Benno Kocher, Operations Coordinator. The conversation was based on a question and answer session where we touched upon the ICRC's action in Ukraine, the purpose of field missions, the enforcement of principles of Humanitarian Aid and Kocher's personal experience as a humanitarian. We also had the opportunity to talk to Dominik Stillhart, outgoing Director of Operations, who also spoke to us about his experience and work at the ICRC. We were drawn in particular to the ICRC's approach to negotiations under challenging circumstances, such as with Russian diplomats on the issue of humanitarian access in Ukraine or the evacuation of civilians from combat. At the end of our visit, we were guided into the ICRC building to look at the Nobel Prices, medals and other awards received by the organization.

After a short walk through the diplomatic quarter of Geneva, we were welcomed at the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations by Minister Plenipotentiary Álvaro Ayala Meléndez, Counselor Garrido Restrepo and Counselor Arango Blanco. The session started with input about the Mission's work in Geneva and the critical role UN agencies played in successfully negotiating and implementing the Colombian peace process. At the end of the discussion, the focus was placed on the Mission's human rights efforts within the UN system and the human rights environment in Colombia. In addition, the current situation regarding Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Colombia was highlighted.

The final visit on our first day took us to the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations Office and other international organizations, where we had a chance to participate in an hour-long discussion with Fridtjof Dunkel, First Secretary of the Human Rights Section of the German Mission. The discussion centred on the theoretical and practical aspects of the work of the UN Human Rights Council, the role of NGOs, the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, as well as on Mr Dunkel's professional experience in negotiating and drafting official UN HRC documents. On another note, the most recent developments regarding Germany's membership at the UN HRC and the termination of Russia's membership in the Council were discussed. The day concluded with a group photo.

Day 2

Our second full day took us to the headquarters of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). We had the chance to, first of all, learn more about the organization and its role and then engage in a meaningful Q&A session with Julian J. Pfäfflin, Senior Policy Specialist and Spokesperson Safa Msehli on topics such as IOM's funding scheme, its projectization model, the organization's mandate and presence in regions such as Libya, Haiti, Indonesia, Spain and Ukraine; its relation with donors and member states and how it can (or not) affect its neutrality; and lastly IOM's position and work on detention camps and voluntary returns. IOCM students interested in migration issues were provided with information materials and textbooks after the meeting.

Back on the grounds of the Palais des Nations, we were hosted in the newly completed building H by Nisha Manjooran, who serves in the Office of the Director of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division, Florent Mehaule, Desk Officer for the Syria Crisis at OCHA, and Sergio da Silva, Civil-Military Coordination Officer at OCHA. The session in a space previously used as OCHA's situation room as the humanitarian situation in Ukraine developed began with a presentation of OCHA's working method, their current engagement in Ukraine and an overview of OCHA's activities at the headquarters in Geneva. The speakers then opened the floor for questions and shared a lively dialogue with the IOCM students on topics such as; the challenges of coordination in complex emergencies, OCHA's cluster approach, funding mechanisms, the role of gender in humanitarian affairs, humanitarian access, advocacy and humanitarian aid, the aid-development nexus and counter-measures against aid dependency. The speakers touched upon their field experience and career pathways, and the meeting ended with a detailed overview of OCHA's current activities in Ukraine and their challenges.

Day 3

On Thursday, our last full day in Geneva, we first paid a visit to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and spoke with Fernando Puchol, Communications Officer with the WTO, about the work of the organization, the historic building overlooking Lake Geneva, and some of the ground floor premises, whose design still hinted at its past as the headquarters of the International Labor Organization (ILO). A thematic focus of the discussion was the recently concluded MC12, the 12^th ministerial conference of the WTO, which lasted from 12-16 June 2022. It ended with an unexpected negotiation success and the adoption of the Geneva package. Victor Stolzenburg, Research Economist in the Economic Research and Statistics Division, then discussed career entry and internship opportunities at the WTO with us and shared valuable tips and insights.

The final part of our study trip was a successful visit to the World Health Organization (WHO). We were welcomed by high-ranking officials, including Catharina Boehme, Chef de Cabinet of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – Director General at WHO, Carmen Dolea, Head of International Health Regulations (IHR) Secretariat at WHO, and Munjoo Park, Technical Officer at the Office of the Director General. After a gratefully received sandwich lunch, the three experts devoted their time to us and, in a short presentation, outlined the current challenges WHO is facing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and how a reorientation and adaptation can be accomplished to better face future pandemics. The subsequent talk had to be extended in time so that the many questions of the students could be answered in detail. Among other things, possible reforms of the International Health Regulations, the plans for the so-called Pandemic Treaty and the strengths and weaknesses of the institutional structure of the WHO were discussed extensively. The WHO representatives were impressed by the students' level of expertise and asked for further collaboration with the cohort to discuss possible approaches to optimize the organization's operation.

In the evening, the cohort came together once again to have dinner in the old town of Geneva to conclude the excursion and to toast the successful trip together. On the following Friday, the cohort returned to Thuringia.

The excursion was only made possible by the generous contributions of our friends and partners, the City of JenaExternal link, the Ernst Abbe FoundationExternal link, the United Nations Association of Germany (Deutsche Gesellschaft für die Vereinten Nationen – DGVN)External link, PROMOSExternal link, and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena.