F1ES 4355 - Geopolitics and Global Governance of Sustainable Development

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading United Nations institution dedicated to sustainable development and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda. Through its global presence in 170 countries and territories – supported by its policy network which provides instrumental expertise in areas such as climate action, sustainable finance, digital technologies, and private sector mobilisation – UNDP plays a central role as a knowledge broker, capacity builder, innovator, and convener within the international development ecosystem.

This UNDP-led course aims to offer a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of sustainable development and its governance. Building on the experience of UNDP, it equips students with frontier knowledge on the evolution and mechanisms of international cooperation for development, global financing instruments, and the interplay between development and geopolitics with the business sector.

Adopting a professional and hands-on approach, the course combines conceptual lectures and practical components, including case studies, simulations of multilateral negotiations, and guest interventions by senior experts from UNDP and international partners.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the key concepts of sustainable development: Develop a deep understanding of sustainable development, the SDGs, and the role of international cooperation in achieving global development goals.
• Understand how multilateral processes function and evolve: Analyse the dynamics of global decision-making and negotiation within multilateral fora such as the UN, G7, G20 and OECD; evaluate how power, legitimacy and coordination shape the effectiveness of global governance for sustainable development.
• Explore the role of business and innovation in sustainability: Investigate the intersection of sustainable development and the private sector, including the roles of green and digital transitions in fostering innovation and partnerships.
• Critically assess global development challenges: Engage with contemporary global development challenges, including geopolitical and economic dynamics that shape sustainable development efforts.

Professional Skills

• Develop practical knowledge of sustainable development mechanisms: Gain insight into sustainable finance instruments, international treaties and negotiations, and the practical project management skills required to implement them.
• Enhance the students’ public speaking skills: Improve the students’ ability to speak in public to defend their position through practical exercises, presentations, debates, and case studies.
• Negotiate effectively within multilateral and policy environments: Strengthen strategic negotiation and coalition-building skills through simulations and role-play exercises reflecting real multilateral contexts (UN, G7/G20, OECD).

No prior knowledge is required to take this course. A background in public policy, global affairs and/or international relations is an asset. The course welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds and encourages them to share their own perspectives and insights on the topics discussed.

Pedagogical and feedback format

Continuous feedback will be provided during class discussions and simulation debriefs. Individual feedback on the final dissertation will be shared via email, with detailed comments on the students’ work and ways to improve it. Particular attention will be paid to the justification of the essay question, its relevance as regards the global context, and its feasibility.

Throughout the course, ad hoc feedback, either in person or remotely, will be offered upon request.

Assessment:

The final grade will be weighted as follows:

• 50%: final essay (approx. 3,000 words excluding bibliography) due at the end of the semester,
• 30%: negotiation simulation (including the prior writing of a short reflection paper, comments on the draft communiqué the day before the simulation, and a press release afterwards),
• 10%: presentation (at the beginning of each session),
• 10%: participation (throughout the course).

Course workload:

• In Class Presence: 4 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 8 hours a week / 48 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 8 hours a week / 48 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 5 hours a week / 30 hours a semester