jeudi 27 décembre 2012

*Ambassador Vale de Almeida Highlights Potential of EU-U.S. Cooperation i...*


Looking ahead to 2013, Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, Head of the European Union Delegation to the U.S., said he sees great potential for further EU-U.S. cooperation on foreign policy and economic matters, building upon the strong transatlantic ties.
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*Foreign Secretary's Christmas and New Year message*


Foreign Secretary William Hague looks back on the year, and ahead to 2013.
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vendredi 21 décembre 2012

*The future of digital in the Foreign Office...*



Digital strategy

"Today we’ve published the Foreign Office Digital Strategy.
The process of writing that strategy has been an intense one. We organised workshops with policy and service delivery staff, held teleconferences with Embassies around the world, drew on previous internal work and invited comments through an internal forum and external blog. We also drew on expert support and guidance from the UK’s Government Digital Service.
Part of this work involved breaking down the core areas of a diplomat’s job (looking at the “naked diplomat” as Ambassador Tom Fletcher likes to call it). In each area of diplomatic work – following and predicting developments, formulating and implementing policy, influencing and identifying who to influence, communicating our policy – we looked at how digital tools had already improved foreign policy outcomes and at the potential to take that much further. We looked at the opportunity to use digital to further improve the consular information and services we provide to British nationals around the world – moving to a world where a smartphone can unlock many more of our services. The story that came out for us was of a Foreign Office that has made strong use of digital tools, particularly in our communications, but that has a significant opportunity to use digital more broadly in policy development and in service delivery.
The strategy therefore sets a clear vision for how we will use digital in the future. First, making use of digital tools in every element of foreign policy work, including to deliver more open policy formulation and increased transparency. Second, moving to provide our services digitally by default, to deliver more effective services and release resource to dedicate to those British nationals most in need. In sum, this is about spreading the use of digital tools – where they can add value – much more comprehensively through our core work, not replacing but enhancing the application of traditional diplomatic skills.
Implementing this strategy in full will require sustained effort, similar to the changes other industries have gone through in recent years. The strategy contains an implementation plan around ensuring continued leadership, building up digital capability, and tackling other obstacles to making full use of digital. The introduction of a Board level champion, the establishment of a digital transformation unit, the production of new guidance and training relevant to policy and service delivery staff, the increased staff access to social media, and the publication of more encouraging social media guidance are just some of the actions it contains to deliver on this ambitious agenda.
Two last thoughts. First, a thank you to all those – both inside and outside the Foreign Office – who helped in working up this strategy, including those like senior diplomat John Duncan and the Consular team who produced previous digital reviews. Many people generously gave time and wisdom and have improved our efforts as a result. Second, while this strategy will need to evolve and change over time, the overriding ambition of using digital tools to improve how we deliver UK foreign policy will remain a constant. We are also determined to remain among the leading foreign ministries in the use of digital to enhance foreign policy.
Do let me know your thoughts about the Digital Strategy, and on where we should focus as we move to implementation."

December 20, 2012 | by Adam Bye


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*Le blog officiel de l'Ambassade des Etats-Unis d'Amérique...*

A propos de «Place des Etats-Unis»

"Place des Etats-Unis is a mission-wide blog featuring contributions from the United States Embassy and Consulates in Paris, France.  Our blog will aim to offer a unique perspective on U.S. politics, culture, and society related to the Franco-American relationship.  Each entry can be used as a forum for idea exchange among readers; we welcome discussion about the Franco-American relationship today.
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This is a moderated blog and all comments will be reviewed.  While we encourage active and robust discussion on blog topics, any comments that are disrespectful and/or contain vulgar or abusive language; personal attacks of any kind; or offensive terms that target specific ethnic or racial groups will not be tolerated.  Those comments will be immediately deleted and any user deemed to be abusing the comment policy may be banned.
This blog does not represent official U.S. Department of State or U.S. Embassy France communications. It is a forum for exchange and dialogue that features posts from the team at U.S. Embassy France.  External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. and may not be quoted or reproduced for the purpose of stating or implying U.S Department of State endorsement or approval of any product, person, service, or organization."

A SUIVRE...!


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mardi 18 décembre 2012

*Days Working Under Hillary Clinton: Alec Ross at...*


What I Learned in 1,298 Days Working Under Hillary Clinton...

"Alec Ross is Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a role created for him that blends technology with diplomacy. As Secretary Clinton's "tech guru," Ross is leading the State Department's efforts to find practical technology solutions for some of the globe's most vexing problems on health care, poverty, human rights and ethnic conflicts. In 2010 Ross was named one of 40 leaders under 40 years old in International Development, and Huffington Post included him in their list of 2010 Game Changers as one of 10 "game changers" in politics.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)"

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