Welcome Association Italy’s institutional dialogue continues: meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of Ivory Coast
The path of institutional dialogue started with the International Conference “Women and Diplomacy: Voices from the World,” promoted by Welcome Association Italy and hosted last October at the LUMSA University in Rome, continues.
Friday, February 6, 2026, this path has known a new and significant stage with the official meeting at theEmbassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in Italy, dedicated to the delivery of the Proceedings of the Conference.
A meeting that gives continuity to the Convention
The meeting represented a concrete follow-up moment to the Conference, confirming the desire to transform the academic confrontation into an ongoing institutional dialogue, capable of involving embassies, associations and new generations.
In the presence of representatives of the Embassy, the Welcome Association Italy delegation shared with the Ambassador the contents and reflections that emerged from the Conference, dwelling on the role of diplomacy as a tool for cooperation, conflict prevention and promotion of intercultural dialogue.
The participation of student associations
The meeting was attended by male and female students belonging to student and youth associations that collaborate permanently with Welcome Association Italy:
- Students Diplomatic Association (LUSDA)
- International Relations Innovation and Sustainability
Their presence reinforced the value of the meeting as a space for intergenerational dialogue, in which young people were able to engage directly with a representative of the Diplomatic Corps on issues central to their studies and civic growth.
The profile of Ambassador H.E. Nogozene Bakayoko
A central figure in the journey launched with “Women and Diplomacy: Voices from the World” is H.E. Nogozene Bakayoko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to the Republic of Italy.
An experienced diplomat, H.E. Bakayoko has a solid background in mediation, conflict prevention and management, human rights promotion, and intercultural dialogue. With a Bachelor of Arts degree with a specialization in Linguistics, she holds a European Master’s degree in Communication, Administration and Management (MECAM) and a Higher Diploma in Diplomacy from the École Nationale d’Administration of Côte d’Ivoire.
Throughout her career, she has held senior positions, including Human Rights Adviser at the Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations in Geneva, as well as positions of responsibility within the Ivorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Appointed Ambassador to Italy in February 2024, she is also accredited to other European countries, confirming the strategic role of her diplomatic action.
The contribution in the Proceedings of the Conference
In the Proceedings of the Conference, H.E. Nogozene Bakayoko signed the paper entitled “Diplomacy as an Exercise in Balance, Trust and Conflict Prevention,” offering a valuable reflection on the role of women in contemporary diplomacy.
In her essay, the Ambassador emphasizes how diplomacy is not only institutional representation, but also the ability to listen, build trust and manage complexities, highlighting the specific contribution women can make in mediation processes and peace promotion. Also central is the call for the involvement of the younger generation, called upon to become conscious protagonists of the international relations of the future.
A statement from Welcome Association Italy
“The meeting with H.E. Nogozene Bakayoko,” says Carlo Palumbo, Deputy National Secretary of Welcome Association Italy, “represents for us the natural continuation of a path started with the Conference Women and Diplomacy: Voices from the World. Her human and professional profile, as well as the contribution offered in the Proceedings, constitute a valuable reference for our students, who through these moments of dialogue can understand the concrete value of diplomacy as an instrument of peace, cooperation and shared responsibility.”
A path that continues
The meeting with the Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire is part of a larger cycle of institutional appointments promoted by Welcome Association Italy, which in recent months have involved numerous diplomatic representations, including the Embassies of Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Yemen, India, Serbia and Kosovo.
A path that continues to develop over time, with the aim of strengthening the dialogue between diplomacy, universities and student associations, enhancing the role of women in diplomacy and the contribution of new generations in building international relations based on cooperation, dialogue and global responsibility.
