What is political acumen? Why do you think it is important in your job? by UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf Click on the red button at the bottom right corner of the screen or double click on the board to create a new post. Write your name and duty station first and post your reflections. Do not forget to read and comment on what your colleagues have posted! en-us 2022-09-06 17:22:15 UTC 2023-10-04 23:06:47 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/270f.png What is political acumen https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2617276995 Political acumen refers to the capacity of an individual to understand and navigate the complex and often unpredictable politics and power dynamics and the political landscape. This includes nature and the unwritten rules in a complex environment which can impact our work. It means the ability of an individual to foresee events, to anticipate and to influence and persuade decisions - makers in a positive way. The individual should have good judgment skills, insights, and empathy to be able to influence decision-makers behavior in a complex and dynamic environment. As UNAIDS countries Directors, we have most of the time to navigate in a complex and changing environment, it is why political acumen is critical for our day-to-day work. We must navigate between several stakeholders that have different perspectives, expectations, and interests. We must constantly analyze the political, economic, and social environment and match it with our mandate and responsibility towards the AIDS response. We must pay special attention to what extend political decisions can affect the AIDS response, including our key actors’ work and commitment.

]]> 2023-06-07 15:45:56 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2617276995 Political Acumen and why it is important (Richard AMENYAH--Jamaica) https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2620825565 HIV is a complex disease with different socio-cultural, economic and political consequences as part of the social determinants of health and wellbeing of people infected and affected. Addressing this complex structural inequalities and its intersections requires a clear understanding of the political economy within which HIV as a disease operates. For over four decades, UNAIDS and its community partners and CSOs have kept HIV on the political agenda through the issuance of Political Declarations at the level of UN General Assembly. This has elevated the public health significance of HIV at all levels and mobilized political commitment and country leadership to find solutions through global solidarity within the context of shared responsibility.

Leveraging political acumen allows to identify those who particularly placed in the corridors of power to act and influence a decision that would transform the intended outcome directly or indirectly. This leadership tool is relevant because it allows quick solutions to complex challenges with a transformational effect.

]]> 2023-06-12 06:54:03 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2620825565 YOW - Chad https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2626364665 Political acumen could be referred to an individual’s ability to understand situations and what’s going around including the power dynamics, the interests, the rules as well as unwritten rules. The nature of the epidemic we are dealing with makes this ability crucial for Country Directors. AIDS response necessitates multi-sector actors with diverse interests and needs that must be nurtured for an effective response.]]> 2023-06-18 15:54:24 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2626364665 David - India https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2626905396 Understanding the power structures, motivations, and influences at play in the political decision-making process as well as the implications of these decisions at policy-making and public levels.

It is important because UNAIDS has an active agenda for addressing inequality. A great deal of what we do is about influencing policy decisions to ensure inequality is addressed. To do this we need to actively influence those decisions to ensure the best possible health outcomes for the community. We need to understand the political environment we work in and how best to manage and influence important decisions within that environment. 


]]> 2023-06-19 07:39:02 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2626905396 Eric Verschueren Togo Benin https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2628204926 Political acumen is to understand and use the complex and often unpredictable nature of relations, including the overall landscape, power dynamics, and the unwritten rules. It demands for ‘intelligent’ judgment and insight into how systems function, and an ability to influence and persuade others in that environment.  It’s an understanding and knowing so that you can anticipate future events and individual behaviors in a nuanced context. 

]]> 2023-06-20 14:01:34 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2628204926 Alberto A STella -MCO Southern Cone https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2631772703 Political acumen is an individual's ability to understand and navigate the complex and unpredictable dynamics of power and political forces.
Political acumen, based on judgment skills, insight and empathy, allows you to anticipate events in order to influence and persuade decision-makers in a positive way.
This is of particular relevance to UNAIDS Country Directors, in order to move confidently and positively influence the complex and changing political environment, establishing positive and constructive relationships among various stakeholders who have different perspectives, expectations and interests.
The analysis of the political, economic and social environment, fundamental elements of the political acumen, essential to establish leadership capable of influencing the environment towards a greater effectiveness of the HIV response, inclusive and from the perspective of human rights.]]> 2023-06-25 15:21:10 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2631772703 Political Acumen and UNAIDS https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2634382072 Political acumen is the skill of being able to engage and manage diverse people, relationships and systems  to achieve desired goals. 

UNAIDS work involves partnerships, advocacy and leadership all of which need political acumen to be efficient and effective. Ensuring that a wide range of heterogenous stakeholders are partnering requires skills that keep them networking which include understanding their capacities, interests, contexts etc. To convince target individuals, groups or organizations to change for the better, needs skills of engagement that enable them to listen and believe what you are communicating. UNAIDS work includes reforming policies and laws, discouraging negative social norms, promoting innovation, human rights and gender equality. To carry out these tasks, involves interactions with various stakeholders that are not only technical and working in the health sector but also leaders (political, traditional, religious etc), non-health actors e.g. education, community development, gender, finance, economists, local government, judiciary, legislature, private sector, development partners and civil society. Therefore, a UNAIDS Country Director must be equipped with the skill to analyse and understand each of these stakeholders as individuals and as a system such that they can contribute positively to the HIV and AIDS response and negative tendencies can be mitigated.]]> 2023-06-28 13:57:24 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2634382072 Political Acumen and UCD- Martin, Tanzania https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2649685599 Political acumen is the capacity to recognise and adapt to the complexity of the political environment in which one is working so as to achieve your work objectives. As a UCD, our work involves engaging in multisectoral partnerships and convening a wide range of stakeholders. The ability to analyse and understand the expectations, needs, biases, values, abilities etc of the various stakeholders and how this relates to achieving our goal of ending AIDS is important for the UCD. For example, navigating the existence of legal frameworks that criminalise and accentuate stigma and discrimination against key populations to ensure there is no service disruption while continuing to engage on legal reform, requires political acumen. In this kind of situation, there is need to maintain meaningful engagement of the government (duty bearer) while protecting the beneficiaries (key populations). At the same time, strategic engagement of the cultural, religious, political, traditional leaders etc on social norms and values requires political acumen. Other examples were political acumen is needed by the UCD is in convincing governments to increase domestic investment in HIV when at the same time receiving international donor funding.]]> 2023-07-23 09:08:39 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2649685599 Political acumen (art of persuasion) https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2650605875 The mandate of UNAIDS requires us to exercise the ‘art of persuasion’ and political acumen is a necessary skill – to understand how to convince key partners, including high level government officials to make bold decisions that will produce the kind of impact needed for an effective HIV response. ]]> 2023-07-25 03:32:30 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2650605875 https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2655909672 Lui/Phils
Political Acumen is important because having more of it means you can influence and steer decisions in a positive direction while maintaining your relationships along the way! ]]> 2023-08-04 04:27:54 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2655909672 Houssine /UCD Morocco https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2662007404 The political acumen can be interpreted as follows:

Political Acumen: It is the ability to understand and act within an environment with various interests and stakes. This involves knowing how decisions are made and how to influence these decisions.

Why it's important for a UNAIDS Country Director:

Adapting Strategies: Every country is different. Having political acumen helps to tailor UNAIDS actions so they meet the specific needs of the country.

Collaborating Effectively: It allows for better cooperation with governments, NGOs, and other partners.

Anticipating Challenges: With a keen political sense, one can foresee upcoming challenges and plan ahead.

Communicating Wisely: Ensures that messages about HIV/AIDS are relevant to the country's audience.

Protecting Rights: Guarantees that the rights of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS are upheld.

In short, political acumen assists the director in being more effective in their role, by better understanding the country and working well with local partners.

]]> 2023-08-15 03:17:18 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2662007404 CHaros, UZB https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2664621035 Political acumen it is the ability to understand and navigate the complex nature of politics and public service with insight into how political systems function, and the ability to influence and persuade others in a politically active environment.]]> 2023-08-17 11:30:10 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2664621035 Eva Kiwango, South Africa https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2664655480 Political acumen is the awareness and ability to identify/understand and leverage different relationships and power dynamics to achieve organizational goals. It is important because UNAIDS is responsible for forging partnerships to build a shared understanding of the intersectional challenges and collective solutions required to end AIDS beyond the scope of individual organisations.]]> 2023-08-17 12:28:01 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2664655480 Hind Hassan - Rwanda https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2669773510 Political acumen is the ability to position oneself in the existing political context and space such that they are valued, respected and listened to. On the other hand it is also the ability of the person to fully comprehend the existing political complexities and power dynamics and be able to navigate around it to achieve one's goals. It necessitates that the individual has the ability to handle and deal with a context that maybe difficult and where there are different stakeholders with different needs that need to be addressed.]]> 2023-08-23 07:07:23 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2669773510 Tharcisse Barihuta /Zambia https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2673244383 Political acumen is the ability to understand deeply the Complexity of the National context considering the Political dynamics and power relations within the leadership at different levels based on the legal and Policy environment. The Political and Power dynamics have always to be analyzed taking in consideration the Economy and Social context which include Cultural and religious context of a given country. That understanding has also to consider the Power dynamics within the Cooperating partners including UN system in country to be prepared to address any needs or expectations they may have vis a vis to UNAIDS mandate and manage the potential competition by strengthening the collaboration.
The Political acumen is very important for the UNAIDS Country Directors as HIV/AIDS response has to address many barriers beyond access to health and HIV services in Health sector such as Looking at legal environment criminalizing Key Populations, Cultural Norms and religious believes making stigma and discrimination at community level blocking access to services, Inequalities driven by power dynamics and Income distribution. The UCD has to be able to have that political acumen to navigate in that complex environment by creating political Allies at all levels both at Government, civil society and Cooperations Partners levels.

]]> 2023-08-25 17:26:26 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2673244383 Michel - Mozambique https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2673666737 Political acumen refers to an individual's ability to understand and navigate the complex and often unpredictable nature of politics and public service, including the political landscape, power dynamics, and the unwritten rules of a particular government arena.
While it may come naturally to some individuals, others will need to learn it through experience, observation, and talking to colleagues they trust and respect.]]> 2023-08-26 09:10:11 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2673666737 Nuha Ceesay, UCD Malawi-Political Acumen https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2683497952 The world we live in is highly political and the decisions we make in executing our daily work would normally have implications as they may affect different stakeholders differently based on their interest.

 In my opinion political acumen is the understanding of the criticality of the decisions we make or not make and how  such decisions can impact positively or negatively on the people we serve. 

The response to HIV is very complex and the fact that it is embedded in ending inequalities, promoting and defending human rights, allocating resources and creating space for an inclusive HIV response that leaves no one behind calls for sensitivity on the ramifications our decisions or indecisions. 

Political acumen enables me as UCD to make the right decisions and while paying attention to all the key variables that can lead to the desired results or not.  ]]> 2023-09-04 14:36:15 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2683497952 Fardad-Iran https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2689551786 Political acumen is about understanding and tactfully moving and moving through complex and unpredictable situations by understanding political landscape, power dynamics, socio economic situation, contextual character of the society, actors and content of main and peripheral political discourses. ]]> 2023-09-07 23:08:19 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2689551786 Hector-Ghana https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2692387414 Political Acumen is the ability to understand and navigate the complex and often unpredictable nature of politics and public service, including the political landscape, power dynamics, and the unwritten rules of a particular political and policy making context. It encompasses skills such as savvy, judgment, insight into how political systems function, and the ability to influence and persuade others in a politically active environment.  ]]> 2023-09-10 19:23:55 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2692387414 Lord, South Sudan https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2722881157 Political acumen refers to one’s ability to understand and navigate the often complex and usually unpredictable nature of how power is attained and used in society especially in government circles and public service. In the case of HIV, the politics will involve how power is attained and used to influence or impact HIV related decisions and activities. It requires understanding not only the power dynamics and the unwritten rules of a particular government arena, but the skills such as shrewdness, judgment, insight into how political systems function, and the ability to influence and persuade others in a politically active environment.

Political acumen is required to identify and leverage positive political influences and influensers to drive the HIV response in the right direction.]]> 2023-09-27 10:46:10 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2722881157 Claudia - Brazil https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2732849316 Political acumen refers to an individual's ability to understand and navigate the complex and often unpredictable nature of politics and public service, including the political landscape, power dynamics, and the unwritten rules of a particular government arena. It encompasses skills such as savvy, judgment, insight into how political systems function, and the ability to influence and persuade others in a politically active environment.
Political acument is critical for a UCD particularly in Brazil where you must understand the political context to improve our chances to effect a policy or programmatic change. All of government is impacted by current politics and it is important to know the political history of the country but also conduct an analysis of the political environment and of each key actor. Political acument can aso improve your convening power.]]> 2023-10-04 23:06:47 UTC https://padlet.com/sustainable_development/fkp7l2tjemq6vhhf/wish/2732849316