Facilitating Global Partnerships: Transforming Institutions through Collaborative Networks

„The MGG provided a platform to learn and conduct dialogues with colleagues from around the world on areas of both diverse and mutual interest, to build networks, and carry back both knowledge and network to my own institution (Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations), thereby broadening it.“

Aliasger Bootwalla, India, Manager - Research, Media and Outreach at Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations, MGG Academy 2022

Aliasger's change story:

At the farewell dinner of the MGG Academy 2022, Wulf Reiners, Eva Lynders and I had a discussion on Gateway House, IDOS and MGG Network working together in the Think20 and G20 process, which led us to organise a workshop on “Utopias of Global Cooperation: Towards joint visions for global digital commons” at the Think20 Summit in Mysuru. Using the findings and recommendations from the side event, we worked on a publication discussing divergent approaches to Digital Public Infrastructure. This was the first workshop format event for Gateway House and given its success, there is motivation to conduct more of these. For this, we are in the process of partnering with ENAP, Brazil (an MGG partner) to work on areas of convergence and leverage their expertise of innovative techniques in workshops, seminars, and research development.

Being a part of the MGG Academy has deepened the Gateway House - IDOS partnership at various levels: Colleagues from Gateway House are invited to participate in IDOS events and vice versa; IDOS' leadership recommended Gateway House to a German foundation for a project on emerging countries, and during Vy and Eva’s visit to Mumbai as part of the Prodigees Research Fellowship, Gateway House organised a breakfast meeting with the Deputy Consul Generals of the MGG countries to familiarise them with the MGG Academy and network.

Being a part of the MGG Network has provided access to individuals with different expertise and diverse perspectives. This has already led to concrete output. Mauricio D. Aceves from my MGG Academy batch writes regularly for Gateway House on issues of West Asia and foreign relations: https://www.gatewayhouse.in/author/mauricio-d-aceves/. This ongoing collaboration with Mauricio has led to a potential partnership with the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations. I was also able to connect with an MGG alumni - Maria Cândida Mousinho (MGG alumna from Brazil, Batch 2, 2007) – who was invited to be a member of Gateway House‘s G20 Energy Transition and Climate Finance Taskforce at the recommendation of the Indian Ambassador to Brazil.

On a personal level, it has provided an opportunity for me to learn and work on feminist development policy and feminist foreign policy. In March 2023, some MGG network colleagues including myself organised an online workshop on, Many meanings of Feminist Development.

What makes the MGG Network successful in enabling change?

🤝 Trust in the network and process

🔍 Understanding and analyzing policy using different perspectives

🌐 Networking and partnering with colleagues on areas of convergences

🛠️ Exposure to different activities and tools for group work and research development

Why is your change story inspiring?

„The entire MGG experience - leadership modules, coaching sessions, academic modules, change-maker project and trips to Berlin and Brussels - played a vital role in my personal and professional development. The MGG with its dynamic and trustworthy alumni network makes the true difference in capacity-building and bringing change.“

Find more MGG Change Stories here!