Our Projects

Multilateralism is being stress-tested by overlapping crises, geopolitical fragmentation, and institutions that often struggle to keep pace with events. This policy brief sets out a pragmatic agenda for reimagining fit-for-purpose multilateralism in 2026: protecting the legitimacy and inclusiveness of universal institutions while enabling faster delivery through complementary coalitions and problem-specific partnerships. It highlights where the UN system remains essential, where mini-lateral formats can add speed and impact, and how the Global South&mdash;especially Africa&mdash;is increasingly shaping reform and outcomes. The Centre for Multilateral Negotiations (CEMUNE) will convene discussions on this theme throughout the year and invite interest from event and content partners.
 For further information, contact Kate Helfenstein at kate.helfenstein@cemune.org
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Policy Brief 01/2026: Faster, Fairer, Fit for Purpose: Rewiring Multilateralism in a Fragmented Era

Business coalitions are becoming indispensable in shaping the future of climate governance. Our new report shows how companies, through strategic collaboration and negotiation, can accelerate ambitious climate policy, even amid geopolitical fragmentation and ESG backlash.
Based on 27 expert interviews and a network analysis of major sustainability coalitions, we identify seven key findings that reveal both the opportunities and challenges for collective business action.
<ol>
<li>🎯Clear positioning on climate objectives can attract supportive members.</li>
<li>🤝Managing internal multi-stakeholder negotiations is crucial, as the member-base strongly influences actions and narratives of coalitions.</li>
<li>🌍Geographical fragmentation of climate policy is testing business coalitions&rsquo; ability to adapt their strategic focus, allocate resources and coordinate multi-stakeholder management.</li>
<li>⚙️Flexible and solution-oriented forms of (ad-hoc) collaboration create opportunities to solve sector-specific (and regional) challenges.&nbsp;</li>
<li>🔄Creating more options for agreement&nbsp; can improve coalitions&rsquo; role as intermediaries for diverse societal actors.&nbsp;</li>
<li>🚀Support in internal negotiations and scaling of innovation enhances coalitions&rsquo; transformative role for members</li>
<li>🛡️Business coalitions are challenged to balance shielding member interests and providing platforms for positive policy engagement&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
If you would like to discuss the findings or explore collaboration opportunities, please reach out to our colleague and project lead, Bj&ouml;rn Knoop (bjoern.knoop@cemune.org).&nbsp;

Business4Climate (B4C) Report 2025: “How to Move Business for Ambitious Climate Action: The Future Role of Business Coalitions.”

CEMUNE is proud to continue its tradition of supporting UNFCCC COP Presidencies by providing strategic guidance and advisory support to the Brazilian Presidency team for UNFCCC COP30. Our role is to share strategic insights, best practices and proven approaches for hosting a successful and ambitious COP, ensuring that the Presidency is well-prepared to deliver the outcomes needed in Bel&eacute;m.
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These are uncertain times, marked by geopolitical shifts, economic pressures, and escalating climate impacts&mdash;all of which will test the resilience and effectiveness of the multilateral system. Equipping the Presidency team with the tools, insights, and strategies needed to navigate the complexity of the negotiations enables the team to effectively respond to these uncertainties.
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Through this partnership, we are committed to strengthening the Presidency&rsquo;s leadership capacity, allowing them not only to manage the process effectively but also to shape it with vision and ambition. By fostering confidence, coordination, and clarity of purpose, we believe this collaboration can empower the Brazilian team to leave the COP process stronger, more resilient, and better positioned to respond to the interlinked crises the world is facing today.

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2025

CEMUNE is providing the COP30 Leadership Team with Negotiation Support on the Road to Belém

CEMUNE recently embarked on an exciting journey to Istanbul, Turkey, where we spent two incredible days with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) focal points of French and English-speaking African countries. The focus of this trip was to facilitate advanced multilateral negotiation training, which was designed to equip participants with the necessary tools to engage in successful negotiations as parties to the UNCCD.
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At the heart of the training were several critical aspects of negotiation that participants were taken through. One such area was negotiation dynamics. Negotiations can be tricky, and there are various factors that come into play, such as power dynamics, cultural differences, and even personality traits. Participants were taught how to navigate these complex dynamics, which can make all the difference in successful negotiations.
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Another critical area of the training was leveraging like-minded stakeholders for great success. Participants were shown how to identify potential allies and how to work with them to achieve their goals. This approach is a key strategy in multilateral negotiations, where parties come from different backgrounds and have different interests.
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The success of this training would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the participants and trainers. CEMUNE would like to extend its congratulations and gratitude to all who made this trip a success. Special thanks go to the incredible trainers, Dr. Kai Monheim, Antonius von Borcke, and H&eacute;l&eacute;na Cerovic, who poured their expertise and energy into making this training a success.
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Overall, the training in Istanbul was a huge success, and CEMUNE is thrilled to have been a part of it. The skills learned by the participants will be invaluable in their work as parties to the UNCCD, and we look forward to hearing about their future successes. We remain committed to providing high-quality training and support to our partners, and we can't wait to see what the future holds.
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CEMUNE recently embarked on an exciting journey to Istanbul, Turkey, where we spent two incredible days with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) focal points of French and English-speaking African countries. The focus of this trip was to facilitate advanced multilateral negotiation training, which was designed to equip participants with the necessary tools to engage in successful negotiations as parties to the UNCCD.

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Empowering UNCCD Parties: CEMUNE Hosts Advanced Negotiation Training in Istanbul

CEMUNE facilitated a half-day workshop with the Government of Egypt on the foundational steps needed to facilitate a successful negotiation at the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP27). Held in Bonn, Germany, on 3 June 2022, key members of the Egyptian team gathered to hear about the power of the negotiation process and how this can lay the groundwork for a good outcome. The workshop was warmly welcomed by our Egyptian partners and experts present.

CEMUNE facilitated a half-day workshop with the Government of Egypt on the foundational steps needed to facilitate a successful negotiation at the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP27). Held in Bonn, Germany, on 3 June 2022, key members of the Egyptian team gathered to hear about the power of the negotiation process and how this can lay the groundwork for a good outcome. The workshop was warmly welcomed by our Egyptian partners and experts present.

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June 2022

CEMUNE provided the COP27 Presidency negotiation process management support on the road to Sharm el-Sheikh

Over the course of 11 days, delegates navigated their way through a packed agenda addressing financing for adaptation, loss and damage, mitigation, and technology and capacity building.

In November 2021, 39,509 people from around the globe descended on Glasgow, Scotland to attend the UN Climate Negotiations. Over the course of 11 days, delegates navigated their way through a packed agenda addressing financing for adaptation, loss and damage, mitigation, and technology and capacity building. All of this was guided by the UK Presidency team, and COP26 President Alok Sharma, with the aim of achieving a successful outcome.
 In light of this, CEMUNE organised a 1.5-day workshop from 14-15 October 2021, on negotiation management to support the incoming UK Presidency at COP26. The workshop convened experts and officials from previous COP Presidencies, including Denmark, France, Germany, Peru, and South Africa. Officials from the UNFCCC Secretariat and the World Trade Organization were also invited. They shared valuable insights and advice for the UK team, who included COP 26 President Alok Sharma, and lead negotiator, Archie Young.
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Over the course of the 2 days, participants addressed issues in a series of roundtables based on the 7 dimensions for consideration when trying to ensure successful of negotiation management, as defined by CEMUNE. Roundtables under consideration included:
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&bull; Trust, legitimacy and efficiency &bull; Engagement of non-party stakeholders &bull; Teamwork and governance &bull; Convergence strategies and tools for the COP endgame.
 Expert speakers made opening remarks at the start of each session, followed by a discussion among experts who drew on their own expertise to provide advice on how the incoming Presidency could address the challenges faced by every COP Presidency. They also addressed specific challenges related to COP26, such as how to navigate non-party stakeholders when they hold protests or deal with setting the agenda. Informal discussions between experts and the participants from the UK carved out specific options with possible next steps. These sessions were moderated by the Centre for Multilateral Negotiations.
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The success of COP26 as well as the positive feedback from workshop participants has highlighted how the workshop provides an excellent opportunity for incoming presidencies to sit down and craft concrete facilitation options for their COP Presidency in concert with the experts present in the session.
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<h2>THOUGHTS AND RESPONSES TO THE WORKSHOP</h2>

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CEMUNE organised a 1.5-day workshop from 14-15 October 2021, on negotiation management to support the incoming UK Presidency at COP26. The workshop convened experts and officials from previous COP Presidencies, including Denmark, France, Germany, Peru, and South Africa. Officials from the UNFCCC Secretariat and the World Trade Organization were also invited. They shared valuable insights and advice for the UK team, who included COP 26 President Alok Sharma, and lead negotiator, Archie Young.

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Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim

Like the proverb that says, prevention is better than cure! CEMUNE made a great response by organizing the informal workshop previous to the COP26 in Glasgow. I felt personally the application of some key recommendations of the workshop during the course of the COP26. If I may, I can ad-vise all the upcoming COP Presidency to go through this box to arrived surly prepared

Conservation International Senior Fellow

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Advisory Workshop for COP26 Presidency Team

We had the pleasure of working with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna, which, being established in 1754, counts as the oldest diplomatic learning institution still active in the world. CEMUNE temporarily joined their Women Leaders Libya Programme, an online format which seeks to strengthen female leadership in the public service sector of Libya.
In the company of 20 outstandingly engaged female public officials from the Libyan government, ministries, NGOs, and universities, we spent two days giving an advanced online training, discussing and practicing Harvard-Concept&reg; tools and theories. Whether the maximisation of value through cooperation or the BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) method, not much was left untouched upon.
Naturally, a particular light was shone onto the aspect of gender in negotiation, and despite the at times challenging internet connection, both the participants and our trainers learned a great deal from one another. We are looking forward to the next cooperation with the DA Vienna!

We had the pleasure of working with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna, which, being established in 1754, counts as the oldest diplomatic learning institution still active in the world. CEMUNE temporarily joined their Women Leaders Libya Programme, an online format which seeks to strengthen female leadership in the public service sector of Libya.

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We had the pleasure of working with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna. CEMUNE temporarily joined their Women Leaders Libya Programme, an online format which seeks to strengthen female leadership in the public service sector of Libya.

Online Training Programme for Strengthening Female Leadership in the Public Service

At the end of May, CEMUNE cooperated with the Slovenian Ministry for Spatial Planning and the Environment to deliver a two-day advanced negotiation workshop for the Slovenian Climate Change Team. The training had a twofold relevance: firstly considering Slovenia&rsquo;s upcoming EU council presidency and, secondly, the recurring challenges that come with filling such a position without the option of drawing on former presidencies&rsquo; learnings. We are excited to also have supported the Slovenian Climate Delegation with sight to the postponed COP26, in Glasgow, UK.
Together with the 15 participants, we spent two days online discussing and practicing key elements of our negotiation circle method such as trust-building in negotiations and extracting lessons from success factors of previous climate negotiations. We wish the Slovenian Climate Change Team all the best for their future negotiations!

CEMUNE cooperated with the Slovenian Ministry for Spatial Planning and the Environment to deliver a two-day advanced negotiation workshop for the Slovenian Climate Change Team.

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Andrej Vizjak

Your profound insights on success factors at previous climate negotiations was particularly welcomed and greatly appreciated. The support of and remarkable know-how of organisations such as CEMUNE play a key role in realising these goals.

Minister​ at Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning

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CEMUNE cooperated with the Slovenian Ministry for Spatial Planning and the Environment to deliver a two-day advanced negotiation workshop for the Slovenian Climate Change Team.

Workshop on negotiations with the Slovenian Climate Change Team

The Centre trained French speaking delegates from African countries involved in climate negotiations in multilateral settings.  

The Centre trained French speaking delegates from African countries involved in climate negotiations in multilateral settings. This training specifically followed the 31st Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol, which was organized by the GIZ, as a technical partner of the Green Cooling Initiative. The participants deepened their knowledge in advanced negotiation strategies by using simulations and foundations of the Harvard concept.&nbsp;

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The Centre trained French speaking delegates from African countries involved in climate negotiations in multilateral settings.  

Advanced multilateral negotiation course following the 31st Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol

We were happy to collaborate for the second time with the Danish Ministry of Food and Environment

In a two-day negotiation workshop with government officials, we worked on improving the participants negotiation skills and expertise, as well as strategies used in complex multilateral settings by using interactive exercises. Our approach included simulations such as negotiations on oil pricing and example cases, like the Harboco case, taken from the Harvard Program on Negotiation.

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Multilateral negotiation course with the Danish Ministry of Food and Environment

CEMUNE organised a two-day advisory workshop to support the UK&rsquo;s presidency of UNFCCC COP26. Using our knowledge about best practices in terms of negotiation management, drawn from the COP21 in Paris 2015 and COP16 in Canc&uacute;n, and focussing on preparatory dimensions of the facilitation process, like the importance of preparing the ground, building trust and teamwork, we were able to prepare the British host delegation with proven and applicable advice in the run-up for COP26.

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The Centre organised a two-day advisory workshop to support the UK’s presidency of UNFCCC COP26 in 2019

Negotiation management workshop preparing for COP26

The Centre facilitated a two-day workshop with the government of Kazakhstan and the WTO on strategic negotiation management in preparation of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, in June 2019.

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The Centre facilitated a two-day workshop with the government of Kazakhstan and the WTO on strategic negotiation management in preparation of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12).

Negotiation management workshop preparing for MC12

CEMUNE delivered a one-day training on multilateral negotiation management to the Mercator Foundation. Our approach focused on interactive exercises designed to improve the participants&rsquo; negotiation skills and convey strategies used in complex multilateral settings.

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 The Centre for Multilateral Negotiations delivered a one-day training on multilateral negotiation management to the Mercator Foundation. 

Course on multilateral negotiations for the Mercator Foundation in Brussels

CEMUNE delivered a two-day workshop for African Delegates to the Montreal Protocol, in preparation for the 30th Meeting of the Parties in Quito, Ecuador. Our training was sponsored by GIZ (Gesellschaft f&uuml;r Internationale Zusammenarbeit), acting as a technical partner for the Green Cooling Initiative.

CEMUNE delivered a two-day workshop for African Delegates to the Montreal Protocol, in preparation for the 30th Meeting of the Parties in Quito, Ecuador. Our training was sponsored by GIZ (Gesellschaft f&uuml;r Internationale Zusammenarbeit), acting as a technical partner for the Green Cooling Initiative.

Our projects

Policy Brief 01/2026: Faster, Fairer, Fit for Purpose: Rewiring Multilateralism in a Fragmented Era

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Project description