Side Events and Informal Consultations

Where the Real Work Happens

A common misconception about multilateral diplomacy is that decisions are made in the formal plenary session where delegates sit behind country nameplates and deliver prepared statements. In reality, the plenary is largely theater — a stage where agreements reached elsewhere are publicly ratified. The actual negotiation happens in a hierarchy of increasingly private settings.

Formal plenary is where countries state positions for the record. Speeches are pre-written, often approved by capitals, and rarely change anyone's mind. Their function is signaling — communicating priorities and red lines to all parties simultaneously.

Informal consultations (or 'informals') are smaller meetings convened by the chair to work through specific issues in the draft text. Seating is often less rigid, capitals may give delegates more flexibility, and the atmosphere is more conducive to genuine give-and-take. Most line-by-line text negotiation happens here.

Informal informals (yes, this is a real term) are even smaller, often just the key delegations on a particular issue meeting in a conference room or the chair's office. These sessions handle the most sensitive compromises where states need privacy to move from their public positions.

Bilateral corridor conversations are the smallest unit — two diplomats stepping into the hallway or meeting for coffee. Some of the most consequential deals in multilateral history have been struck in hotel lobbies and delegates' lounges.

Side Events: Soft Power in Action

Major multilateral conferences feature hundreds of side events — panels, receptions, launches of reports, and bilateral meetings organized on the margins. COP28 in Dubai hosted over 2,500 side events alongside the formal negotiations. These are not peripheral. They serve several strategic functions.

Norm entrepreneurship. Side events allow states, NGOs, and academics to introduce new ideas that are not yet on the formal agenda. The concept of 'loss and damage' in climate negotiations was promoted through side events for years before it became a formal negotiating track at COP19 in Warsaw.

Coalition signaling. When a group of countries co-hosts a side event on a topic, it signals coordination and shared priorities. A side event on 'just transition' co-hosted by the EU, South Africa, and Indonesia signals a potential cross-regional coalition.

Relationship building. Receptions and social events create the personal connections that lubricate formal negotiations. A minister who had drinks with her counterpart the previous evening is more likely to take a phone call when negotiations hit a crisis point.

Expert input. Side events bring scientists, civil society, and practitioners into the space. Delegations use these events to gather technical information and test arguments before deploying them in the formal session.

How to Navigate the Informal Space

Effective participation in multilateral negotiations requires mastering the informal dimension. First, know the schedule of informals — they are often announced with little notice and run concurrently with other meetings. Small delegations must make painful choices about which rooms to be in. Building relationships with allied delegations who can represent your interests in rooms you cannot attend is essential.

Second, use corridors strategically. If you need to influence a specific delegation, engineer a casual encounter — sit near them at a side event, attend their reception, or simply approach them in the delegates' lounge. Formal meeting requests signal importance; casual conversations allow for exploratory dialogue without commitment.

Third, host your own side events. Even a small delegation can organize a panel that attracts attention to its priorities, demonstrates expertise, and builds the coalition needed for formal negotiations. A well-chosen topic and high-profile panelists can generate media coverage and create momentum.

Fourth, keep notes on what happens in informals. Informal consultations are not recorded in official documents. Your delegation's internal reporting is the only record of what was said and agreed — which becomes critical when disputes arise about what was 'understood' during informal sessions.