SUMMARY

This Special report explores the potential for networked multilateralism to facilitate a more inclusive system of global governance through building networked policy exchanges and policy making between Addis Ababa and Geneva, two major global policy hubs. In response to shifting global power dynamics and complex challenges, it argues for a more connected, flexible, and inclusive multilateral system that leverages and draws on the role of multilateral diplomatic hubs and centres of decision-making in different parts of the world. Addis Ababa, as Africa’s diplomatic capital, excels in diplomatic negotiation for consensus-building and advancing regional priorities and global solidarity for a fairer global system, while Geneva offers a dense ecosystem of international organizations and technical expertise. Closer collaboration between the two diplomatic hubs could enable both to leverage their strengths, thereby becoming the example in practicing and organising networked multilateralism. Addis Ababa could access Geneva’s science diplomacy, data governance, and urban planning expertise, while Geneva could benefit from Addis’s experience in political negotiation, youth and gender inclusion, and Africa’s role as a major centre where current policy issues around energy transition and critical minerals and understanding African interests. Structured exchanges, joint research, and dedicated liaison platforms are recommended to operationalize this partnership. By moving beyond fragmented interactions, a structured and dynamic Addis-Geneva nexus can enhance collective action, better reflect African priorities in global forums, and model innovative approaches to global governance challenges.