Public institutions today operate in a rapidly changing environment, characterized by technological advancements, evolving societal needs, new behaviors, new mindsets and complex global challenges. Among these challenges, climate change stands out as a particularly pressing issue, demanding urgent and sustained action. To address these multifaceted challenges, public organizations must develop future skills that encompass not only technical expertise but also strategic foresight and adaptive capacity. This involves fostering a culture of continuous improvement, resilience, and transformative change.

About this learning event

In this blended learning course, we will identify the future skills we need to develop to be ready to face the current and coming challenges. Amongst these, we will focus more specifically on two essential problem-solving methodologies: critical thinking and creative thinking. These transversal skills are vital for tackling complex problems and driving effective climate action.

Critical Thinking involves applying logic to assess statements, beliefs, data, or information while avoiding the many biases placed on our way. It focuses on conceptualizing and evaluating information to make informed decisions. This methodology is crucial for analyzing climate data, assessing risks, and developing evidence-based policies.

Creative Thinking is a mindset, an approach and an innovative process that involves generating new ideas or concepts or creating new associations between existing ones. It takes us away from our short-term view and narrow minds to help us drive innovation and growth within organizations by fostering new approaches to climate challenges. Creative thinking is essential for developing novel solutions, engaging stakeholders, and promoting sustainable practices.

Both concepts are much more than only tools or methodologies: they must be embedded in the culture of the organization and should drive actors towards new behaviors.

They are crucial for adapting to change and making progress in climate action.
In this course, participants will explore various examples and case studies of critical and creative thinking to address climate challenges effectively. The learning event will be interactive, encompassing theoretical and hands-on sessions where participants will apply critical and creative thinking to real challenges. They will have the opportunity to develop actionable plans to implement the skills learned and discuss their experiences with peers to learn from each other. The event will also be a nice opportunity to network with actors facing the same questions and challenges.

Course objectives:

Enhance problem-solving skills: Equip participants with critical and creative thinking skills to tackle complex problems.
Promote innovative solutions: Encourage the development of innovative approaches to climate action.
Foster collaborative learning: Create a platform for participants to share experiences and learn from each other.
Strengthen institutional capacity: Build the capacity of public organizations to respond effectively to climate change.
Increase organizational resilience: Greater ability to adapt to and recover from disruptions and challenges.
Contribute to cultural evolutions: Encourage the adoption of new ways of thinking and new behaviors and show the example internally.

Investing in the development of future skills within public organizations is essential for driving transformative change. By equipping employees with the necessary skills and fostering a culture of continuous learning, public organizations can enhance their effectiveness, resilience, and ability to serve the public in an ever-evolving world. Enhancing critical and creative thinking skills will further build the internal capacities needed to drive effective climate action, enabling organizations to innovate, adapt, and make meaningful progress in addressing climate change. effectively.

Who should attend

This blended learning course is designed for officials working in human resource (HR), training, and strategy departments within ministries of finance, line ministries such as the ministry of environment, and other public administration. CEF Coordinators.

Faculty

• Gilles Ossona de Mendez, Professional Certified Coach (accredited EMCC Senior Practitioner), HR Trainer and HR consultant at Inspirance Consulting.

Practical Information

No fee will be charged for the officials working in the public sector. Coffee breaks and meals during the event will be provided. Applicants from Western Balkan countries (Albania, BIH, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia) will be accepted as fully funded for up to three selected officials per each country.

Additional relevant participants and applicants from the other countries will be accepted as self-funded, entailing their sending institution (or another donor) should cover the travel, airport transfer, and accommodation costs.

Partners

This event is delivered as part of the Greening Human Capital of Public Institutions of the Western Balkans project implemented by the CEF and supported by The Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy and the Climate Change Fund of Slovenia.