In Nairobi, Young Delegates Get Ready for Green Fund Diplomacy
- Kennedy Karanja
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
After a postponed simulation and some hard lessons, a group of East African students returned to the drawing board in Nairobi, not with frustration, but with renewed purpose. On 26 July 2025, the Young World Federalists East Africa (YWF EA), in collaboration with the Strathmore Environmental Sustainability Community (SESC), hosted an intensive skills‑building workshop—this time, with a clear emphasis on preparing informed global citizens equipped to engage in inclusive and participatory global governance.
The original plan had been far more ambitious. Back in April, organisers hoped to simulate a full Global Green Fund negotiation—mock press briefings, all‑night drafting sessions, 60 delegates representing states and civil society showcasing youth as emerging actors in world‑citizen diplomacy. But days before the event, the simulation had to be postponed. Only 14 participants had confirmed; many withdrew, overwhelmed by a 400‑page budget annexe they did not feel ready to tackle.
YWF EA chose to listen rather than press on. A candid survey revealed something vital: interest alone was not enough. Over 70 per cent of registrants reported feeling intimidated by budget documents; more than half had never participated in any UN environmental negotiation, even virtually. These results pointed to a gap in capacity, not commitment.
Instead of shelving the idea, organisers pivoted to build capability. They introduced a one‑day crash course: Diplomatic Simulations 101: From Local Council to COP Plenary. Its goal was not just to rehearse a simulation, but to cultivate empowered global citizens—youth who understand how to navigate, shape and democratise multilateral decision‑making.
The workshop brought together 26 participants from Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. It opened with a keynote from Professor Pierluigi Bozzi, who reminded the group that multilateralism is not idealism but survival. He presented concrete entry points for youth in global forums—UNEA‑7, COP‑30, and CBD COP‑16—framing them not as distant opportunities, but as venues where young people can contribute meaningfully to democratic world governance.
In a practical masterclass, Clive Donnely broke down negotiation processes into scoping, drafting, adoption and accountable follow‑through—aligning closely with YWF’s principles of subsidiarity, transparency and participatory governance. Participants then practised allocating a fictional US$10 million between environmental projects, pitching their decisions and embodying principles of collaborative decision making and shared responsibility.
Over lunch, funded from a previous YWF event’s surplus, participants exchanged ideas about carving out spaces for youth voices in global governance. Someone asked: How do you secure a speaking slot at UNEA? The answer: “Arrive early, and bring a power bank.” It was a small moment, but one rooted in practical civic knowledge and solidarity across borders.
The afternoon session dramatised the leap from local to global governance through two role‑plays. One simulated a county climate budget—fast‑moving, familiar, grounded in local priorities. The second-place participants in the seat of global delegates negotiating a replenishment fund with dense documentation and competing interests. The deadlock that ensued, cheerfully dubbed “beautiful chaos,” highlighted the complexity of multilevel governance—and underscored why world federalist ideals of cooperation, clear rules and vertical subsidiarity matter more than ever.
By day’s end, the group emerged with three tangible outcomes: a shared drive of annotated templates and concept resources; a WhatsApp group buzzing with UNEA‑7 links; and a commitment to reconvene the full simulation end of August, contingent on quiz results—a concrete step toward building a community of capable global citizens.
As one YWF organiser reflected, “You cannot role‑play a COP if you have never opened a budget annexe.” Importantly, the workshop reframed preparation not as rehearsal, but as capacity‑building—embedding principles of inclusive, democratic, and globally minded governance.
Twenty‑six young East Africans are now more than interested. They are equipped, connected and ready to step into the world citizen role. Whether they are ready for the full simulation next month, only time will tell. But one thing is certain, they are not walking in alone.
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