For one intensive week in mid-June, a cohort of 25 senior professionals and policymakers from 21 countries gathered at Kämpasten, a serene retreat outside Sigtuna, Sweden, to participate in the in-person masterclass of the Executive Programme in International Politics and Diplomacy for Health. Jointly organized by Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics, this flagship programme equips health leaders with the political acumen and negotiation skills required to influence complex decision-making processes at both global and regional levels.
Programme Overview
The Executive Programme in International Politics and Diplomacy for Health combines rigorous online learning modules with a one-week residential masterclass. The online component comprises five interactive workshops covering core concepts in global health governance, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication. The capstone residential week draws participants away from their day-to-day responsibilities into an immersive environment where theory meets practice. Rather than relying on traditional lectures, the curriculum employs a practitioner-to-practitioner learning model, enabling participants to learn directly from seasoned diplomats, ministers, and international health experts.
“We intentionally structured the programme to move beyond theory, focusing on the ‘how’ of health diplomacy,” explains Professor Anders Nordström, programme co-director and former head of global health at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. “Our goal is to empower participants to navigate political realities, build coalitions, and ultimately place health at the core of policy agendas.”
Distinguished Faculty Line-Up
This year’s masterclass featured an extraordinary faculty whose combined experience spans international organizations, national governments, and academic research:
Christian Danielsson
State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and former Ambassador to the European Union, brings deep insight into EU health policymaking and multilateral negotiations.
Elhadj As Sy
Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation and former Secretary General of the International Red Cross Federation, provided candid reflections on humanitarian diplomacy and crisis-driven advocacy.
Johan Rockström
Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, shared his pioneering work on the health impacts of climate change and strategies for mobilizing political will.
Joy Phumaphi
Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance and former Minister of Health for Botswana, discussed regional cooperation models in fighting infectious diseases.
Magda Robalo
President of The Institute for Global Health and Development and former Minister of Health for Guinea-Bissau, recounted lessons from health system rebuilding in post-conflict settings.
Mark Dybul
Professor at Georgetown University and former Executive Director of the Global Fund, explored public–private partnerships and financing mechanisms for large-scale health programmes.
Navigating Health in Political Contexts
Underpinning the week’s activities was a set of six thematic pillars designed to address the multifaceted challenges of health diplomacy:
How Decisions Are Made, Formally and Informally
Participants analyzed decision-making structures within the UN system, national parliaments, and informal diplomatic channels. Case studies highlighted how health priorities can be advanced through both official treaty negotiations and back-channel consensus building.
Building Networks and Trust
Experts facilitated exercises in relationship mapping and stakeholder analysis. Role-plays enabled participants to practice outreach to non-state actors, including civil society groups, philanthropic foundations, and private sector firms.
Leading with Courage and Seizing the Right Moment
Drawing on historical examples—from the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty to the 2005 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control—faculty illustrated how opportunistic timing, narrative framing, and moral leadership combine to create policy breakthroughs. Participants debated the merits of public statements versus quiet diplomacy.
Engaging with the Private Sector
Given the growing influence of pharmaceutical companies, technology firms, and health-insurance corporations, sessions delved into the ethical dimensions and practical modalities of collaboration. Participants negotiated mock memoranda of understanding to address vaccine equity and data sharing.
Dealing with Failure and Uncertainty
In breakout discussions, participants shared personal experiences of stalled negotiations and programmatic setbacks. Faculty emphasized resilience strategies, including adaptive management and the use of contingency plans when political environments shift.
Communicating Effectively in the Political Arena
Public speaking coaches and media trainers led drills on concise messaging, handling hostile questioning, and leveraging social media channels. Participants honed “elevator pitches” for complex health issues, from antimicrobial resistance to mental-health stigma.
Participant Experiences and Peer Learning
One participant from Latin America reflected, “Before this week, I understood global health policy only through the abstracts of reports. Now I appreciate the subtle art of reading the room—when to push for commitments and when to step back.” Another delegate from Southeast Asia commented, “I had technical expertise in health financing, but I lacked the confidence to engage at ministerial tables. The role-plays and feedback helped me discover my voice.”
Perhaps the most common refrain was that “making a decision is the most important decision”—a phrase coined by a senior health attaché during a plenary debate on emergency responses to disease outbreaks. Another poignant insight emerged when a newcomer admitted, “I didn’t have the experience—but I still did it,” underscoring the programme’s ethos of experiential risk-taking.
The global Health Diplomacy Initiative
The Executive Programme forms a core pillar of the wider Health Diplomacy Initiative, a consortium of over 30 institutions spanning North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Alongside training, the Initiative supports collaborative research at the nexus of political science, international relations, and public health. Recent journal publications have examined the geopolitics of pandemic preparedness, the role of digital health in diplomatic engagement, and the intersection of trade policy with health rights.
Strategic Funding and Partnerships
The programme and Initiative receive generous support from leading philanthropic and governmental sources, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Institute of Philanthropy, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. This diversified funding model ensures both long-term sustainability and the flexibility to pilot innovative curricular elements.
Looking Ahead: Actionable Takeaways
As the masterclass concluded, participants drafted individual action plans to implement back home. Proposed initiatives ranged from launching multi-sectoral health task forces, to integrating health clauses into climate-change negotiations, to forging new alliances with non-health ministries such as finance and trade. A follow-up webinar series is planned for late 2025 to track progress and share lessons learned across regions.
“The real measure of our success will be whether these leaders return to their countries and actually change decision-making processes—to put health on par with other policy priorities,” says Professor Nordström. “If even half of them deliver on their plans, we will have moved the needle on global health governance.”
Conclusion
In an era of pandemics, climate change, and geopolitical trauma, effective health diplomacy has never been more essential. By assembling a diverse cohort of senior professionals and exposing them to the hard-won insights of seasoned practitioners, the Executive Programme in International Politics and Diplomacy for Health aims to fortify the next generation of health leaders. As weeklong masterclasses draw to a close, real work begins: translating inspiration into policy, networks into coalitions, and vision into tangible improvements in population health worldwide.
For more information on the programme and how to apply, visit the Health Diplomacy Initiative website at
READ MORE: US Joins Israel in Strikes on Iran: A New Chapter of Geopolitical Impunity
