OADD 2415 - Advocacy, influence, and impact: the role of NGOs in shaping global environmental policies

This course explores how international NGOs shape global, regional, and national environmental policies through advocacy, campaigning, diplomacy, and strategic communication.

It will explore the mechanisms and tools available to NGOs, their role in multilateralism and international negotiations, and their interactions with governments, corporations, and civil societies.

With real case studies and practical exercises, the course provides an insider’s view of how environmental advocacy is elaborated, implemented, and evaluated in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Analyze the role of NGOs in shaping environmental policies across different governance levels.
• Understand and evaluate advocacy strategies used in multilateral negotiations and policy processes.
• Master interactions between NGOs, governments, corporations, and civil society actors.
• Critically assess the effectiveness and limitations of NGO influence
• Understanding stakeholders and multiculturalism

Professional Skills:

• NGO’s advocacy strategy building
• Teamwork and negotiation
• Critical and creative thinking

Introductory knowledge of international relations or public policy is recommended but not required.

Feedback is provided through written individual comments after assignments and collective debriefings following simulations. Additional individual feedback can be offered upon request.

Written individual assessment:

• elaborate an advocacy strategy framework for an international NGO dedicated to environmental issues (could be on climate, biodiversity, oceans or forest) – 50% of the final grade, to be done for the end of the semester, with an intermediate review of the topic and framing during session 6.

Oral assessment:

• play an active, persuasive and game-changing role during a climate negotiation mini-simulation – 40% of the final grade, during the last 3 sessions of the semester

Participation:

• attend the sessions and be active during the discussions – 10% of the final grade

• Attendance: 2 hours a week
• Online learning activities: 1 hour a week
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 3 hours a week
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 2 hours a week
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 2 hours a week
• Other: Climate simulation preparation: 1 hour a week