The first Capacity Building Workshop, one of Garnet’s key activities designed to spread excellence, took place at the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary, 21-23 September 2005. The Evian Group, in partnership with the Center for Policy Studies at CEU, coordinated the gathering of over 50 delegates representing 23 nationalities from all continents.

Both senior and junior researchers drawn from the Garnet network as well as policy makers, business and NGOs representatives spent three days reflecting intensively on the reasons and stakes of the current paralysis of the Doha Development Agenda and the key role of governance.

Participants explored how the research, policy and business communities could better interact and engage with each other. Garnet’s central role as a platform of collaborative work within the research sector but also cross-sectors was made particularly pertinent in this multi-stakeholders’ environment. To this end, working groups’ sessions produced roadmaps towards bridging the divide in specific trade-related areas. These roadmaps and the general report are available from the Garnet website.

The level of satisfaction was high among participants, as evidenced by the spontaneous and dynamic exchange of ideas and references that took place afterwards, the continuing networking activity resulting from particular working groups, especially “women and trade”.

Overall the inaugural Garnet Capacity Building Workshop was a success and the Garnet community at large is warmly encouraged to take part in the ones to come.

Download the detailed report here.

Back to Capacity Building overview