Brandenburg Academy on Drugs and Development Policies

 

An innovative virtual format for capacity building on sustainable drug policy

The Brandenburg Academy on Drugs and Development Policies (BBA) was a digital learning and dialogue format initiated by the GPDPD during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Developed in 2020, the BBA responded to travel restrictions by offering a virtual alternative to in-person trainings and study visits.

 

Modelled after the successful Brandenburg Forum on Drugs and Development Policies, the BBA provided a three-week interactive e-learning programme for government representatives from partner countries, UN institutions, and civil society actors. Participants explored sustainable and human rights-based approaches to drug policy, with a particular focus on Alternative Development in 2020 and Harm Reduction in 2022. Each edition combined theoretical inputs with practical experiences from the GPDPD’s international network, fostering dialogue with experts and peers in confidential online sessions.

 

Though no longer offered, the BBA remains a milestone in GPDPD’s commitment to flexible, inclusive, and globally accessible capacity building.