For one intensive week in June, 25 high-level professionals and leaders from 21 countries gathered at Kämpasten outside Sigtuna to take part in the Masterclass of the Executive Programme in International Politics and Diplomacy for Health, jointly run by Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics. The programme equips professionals with the skills and tools needed to navigate complex political processes for health at the global and regional levels.
The in-person Masterclass is a key component of the programme, which also includes five online workshops."It was an incredibly rewarding week, with inspiring discussions and a genuine sense of exchange between participants and faculty," says Anders Nordström, the programme co-director. "The commitment, diversity and experience in the room created a truly unique learning environment."
Navigating health in political contexts
Rather than traditional lectures, the programme is built around a practitioner-to-practitioner learning model. The faculty, which included experienced diplomats, politicians, and global health leaders, shared their experiences and reflections with focus on "how". .
How do you put health on the political agenda, how do you build relationships, and how do you ensure that people are at the center of your work? The faculty included, among others:
- Christian Danielsson, State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for EU Affairs
- Elhadj As Sy, Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation and former Secretary General of the International Red Cross Federation
- Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
- Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance and former Minister of Health, Botswana
- Magda Robalo, President of The Institute for Global Health and Development and former Minister of Health, Guinea-Bissau
- Mark Dybul, Professor at Georgetown University and former Executive Director of the Global Fund
Turning insight into action
The Executive Programme in International Politics and Diplomacy for Health is structured around six thematic areas: how decisions are made - formally and informally; how to build networks and trust; how to lead with courage and seize the right moment; how to engage with the private sector; how to deal with failure and uncertainty; and how to communicate effectively in the political arena.
Throughout the week, these themes came to life through personal stories, peer dialogue and open conversations. As one participant put it: "Making a decision is the most important decision." Another reflected: "I didn't have the experience - but I still did it." A third shared: "Ground your actions in your values - especially when challenges arise."
A global community
The Executive Programme is part of the broader Health Diplomacy Initiative, which includes a network of over 30 institutions worldwide and a research component at the intersection of political science, international relations and public health.
The initiative is supported by the Gates Foundation, the Institute of Philanthropy, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
