Chapter eight INTERNATIONAL SESSION
International Training Session
– Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Fact Sheet on the LEAD
International Session
Event
LEAD International Session
31 October – 6 November 2010
Title • Enhanced communication skills that inspire and
Leadership and Climate Change: Population,
Climate Change and Development
Venue
Summerstrand Hotel,
Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Telephone:+27(0)41 583 3131
Fax: +27(0)41 583 2505
Email: info@hotsummer.co.za
Website: www.summerstrandhotel.co.za
Aim sustainable and socially equitable use of the
The International Session aims to equip participants
with the skills and knowledge needed to begin
to address the issues surrounding sustainable
development, and further explore the challenges
that accompany them.
Objectives on global issues where the intercultural and
• To provide leaders from across the world, through
active learning, knowledge on key subject matters
affecting sustainable development, through the
use of a case study linked to climate change.
• To provide an opportunity to learn in cross-cultural
and cross-sectoral environments, thus facilitating
the understanding of issue interdependency and
the need for concerted and coordinated action
by government, civil society, business and other
stakeholders.
• To build and strengthen a network that links
individuals and institutions, and that supports the
sharing of experiences.
8.
Outputs
By the end of the international session participants
will have:
• Increased knowledge and awareness of
sustainable development and climate change
challenges and opportunities
engage people
• Increased self awareness and confidence to adapt
to different contexts, cultures, and challenges
• Increased ability to think differently while working
with others to generate innovative solutions
Background and Rationale
The goal of LEAD is to foster a global network of
future decision-makers with the knowledge, values
and skills to develop national and international
policies that emphasize the environmentally
earth’s resources. International Sessions provide a
unique opportunity for LEAD Associates to meet
and work with professionals from other countries
and to consider the international dimensions of
key sustainability and development issues. More
specifically, LEAD’s International Sessions focus
multi-national dimensions of the chosen topic are
explored, while seeking to ground the issue in the
domestic context of the host country.
Main Theme: Population, Climate Change and
Development
The objective of the Port Elisabeth LEAD
International Session is to introduce and explore
the concepts of population, climate change and
development as they inter-relate to one another.
This session will use global, regional (African),
national and local examples to illustrate the
interrelationships between population, climate
change and development, showing how changes in
the one, affect the other(s).
8.2 Chapter eight International Session
This International Session will also review issues
around international agreements and frameworks; in
particular, it will look at how issues such as political
will and leadership, stakeholder engagements,
negotiation powers and ethics determine or
influence the ratification and implementation of
Global Conventions and Programmes of Action
(PoA), e.g. Kyoto Protocols (1997) and Copenhagen
(2009).
Three key sub-themes will be developed through
the session, and be the focus of a set of Thematic
Panels, each with its own related topics. These
include:
Sub-theme 1: Climate change and development
• Ecosystems, global climate change and resource
utilisation
• Resource utilisation and industrial development
• Migration, urbanisation, land-use, human
settlements and transport
• Environment, health and pollution
Sub-Theme 2: Population and development
• Gender and development
• Reproductive health
• The social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS
Sub-theme 3: Population and Climate Change
• Food security
• Adaptation
• Disasters and vulnerability
LEAD International Sessions feature a number of
distinguished national and international speakers
on both the global theme of the Session and the
case studies introduced. These speakers deliver
their message using an interactive approach, which
encourages questioning and debate. Additional
Resource Persons for the Session are drawn
from the group of Fellows from LEAD Southern
and Eastern Africa, who will help to facilitate the
Working Groups and provide invaluable national
experience to Associates on the case studies and
cultural dynamics.
Site Visit Case Studies
As a part of their learning, LEAD Associates will
attend one of a set of site visit case studies such
as: St. Francis Bay and Zanemvula to explore
human settlements in fragile ecosystems; Addo
National Elephant Park to explore biodiversity and
conservation; and Coega and PetroSA to engage on
industrial development. The group looking at food
security will visit Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s
Emmanuel Havel Hydroponics Project, and in
Uitenhage the Kwanobuhle Farm, as well as local
fishermen. Another group engaged in the culture,
heritage and the indigenous knowledge systems
case will visit Bethelsdorp and Red Location. Finally
a site visit group will look at transport by visiting the
Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system and Volkswagen.
These full day site visits, undertaken in small
groups, will provide each group a piece of the PED
Nexus “puzzle” which they will bring back to the
larger group for wider discussion and eventual
presentation of learning to the whole group of
Associates attending.
Skill-building modules
Leadership skills training will both precede and
follow the site visits and will include modules on:
• Getting Your Message Across
(Communication);
• Ethical Decision-making: Dealing with
Dilemmas for Communities Affected by
Climate Change;
• Systems Thinking;
• Stakeholder Engagement: Tools for
Identifying and Engaging diverse
Communities;
• There will be a special cross-cutting Team
Development component.
Skills modules are focused on practical how-to skills
which are practiced both in the skills module and
also within the context of the International Session.

Special Features
IS Footprint
This International Session will not be seen as
a single event, but one with a number of sub-
events before and after the session. These include
awareness raising sessions related to the theme,
as well as a process to stimulate formation of
strategic climate change plans by the province
where the session is being held, as well as beyond
the province. With this event Associates will have
the opportunity to contribute to a process that will
involve the immediate community and beyond.
Networking Fair
A Networking Fair will be held that will help
introduce and engage Associates and their work
with each other. External partners and contacts with
LEAD will also be invited to attend this event. LAPs
will be featured and be the foundation of the Fair.
At this International Session, the best LAPs will be
selected for display and exchange also through a
published document, showcasing good examples
of LEAD Associates project work. Guidelines for
presentation will be sent closer to the time of the
International Session.
Leadership Panel
A Leadership Panel of esteemed international
leaders will provide both a formal and informal
learning opportunity for Associates to meet and
interact with some of the important sustainability
leaders of our time.
Chapter eight INTERNATIONAL SESSION 8.3
Session structure
The International Session includes a number of
different kinds of sessions, and groups with which
Associates can work and interact. This Session has
the following structure:
Day 1: Official Opening, Introduction to the Theme
and Thematic Panel 1, Introduction to the Working
Groups, Fellows Awards.
Day 2: Thematic Panel 2, Skills Modules
(Communicating Climate Change, Negotiation and
Problem-Solving, and Ethical Decision-making), and
Working Group Reflections.
Day 3: Thematic Panel 3 and 4, Skills Modules, and
Site Visit Briefing.
Day 4: Case Study Site Visits.
Day 5: Skills Module (Team Development), Working
Groups presentation preparation and visit, and
Networking Fair.
Day 6: Leadership Panel, Working Groups
presentation preparation.
Day 7: Working Group presentations, Working
Group reflections, Closing Session and Graduation,
Graduation dinner and cultural event.
8.4 Chapter eight INTERNATIONAL SESSION
SESSION PREPARATION
Attendance
Attendance at the International Session is limited
due to the global nature of the event and selected
on a merit-basis. More information on the selection
process for attendance will be provided in the First
and Second National Sessions.
Thematic Preparation:
On-line and Individual Work
For those attending, Associates should come to the
International Session with a good understanding of
some of the key Population, Climate Change and
Development issues in their own countries and be
prepared to share this with Associates from around
the world.
Associates will be able to contribute this information
through an online activity which will precede the
International Session.
The Online component will be facilitated by LEAD
International. Using a web-based environment,
Associates will be requested to:
1) Sign up and create a profile (if they do not already
have a profile on the site)
2) Conduct a short, focused research activity based
on the International Session themes to share and
discuss virtually prior to the event.
In addition to online exchange, Associates will
be able to use this background information in
their working groups, on the site visits with other
Associates and local stakeholders, and to their
Member Programme peers in debriefing and
learning application opportunities.
Networking Fair Preparation
The Networking Fair is designed to foster cross
cultural relations and has become something of a
LEAD tradition. Participants set-up stands decorated
with posters displaying info about their LEAD
Associate Projects (LAPs) alongside items and
materials that represent their country or region. The
Networking Fair provides an informal opportunity for
participants to learn about each other’s work, share
experiences, cultures and knowledge, and have fun
making new friends.
The Networking Fair is an excellent way to
feature Associates work, both to share with other
Associates, and also with a number of high profile
strategic partners, donors and Friends of LEAD who
will be invited to attend and meet Associates around
their work.
At the International Session, the best LAPs will
be selected for display, and will be included in
a publication project. As a result, guidelines will
be sent out prior to the International Session
with more information on the preparation – such
as the dimensions of the display space, poster
specifications, and outlines for the written
contributions.
Leadership Groups should prepare their LAP
learning as specified, and bring that documentation,
materials etc with them to the session. There will
be time built into the session for set-up, and some
materials will be provided for set-up and fixing
posters etc.
Practical Preparations
Each Member Programme will be allocated a stall
with a table and set of notice boards to decorate and
represent their region. In advance you should:
• Prepare a poster for your LEAD Associate Projects.
• Bring something typical of your region e.g.
fabrics, flags, small items/party favours to give to
visitors to your stall.
There is no need to be extravagant! We do not
expect you to spend a lot of money on these
displays – think creatively about what you can do.
You may also want to wear special/traditional clothes
at the networking fair or for your Cohort photo.
 Chapter eight INTERNATIONAL SESSION 8.5

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8.8 Chapter eight International Session

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