ACCORD continues to support the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) in its efforts to promote peace and security in the region by providing training support in conflict management, focusing on mediation and negotiation.
ACCORD's South Sudan Initiative (SSI) has held a Mediation and Negotiation Support Training (MANST) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for South Sudanese government officials and stakeholders who are directly or indirectly involved in the ongoing negotiation processes with Republic of Sudan. The training was held from 24-28 March.
On 22 April 2013 ACCORD hosted the Governor of Khartoum, H.E. Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Khidr, from the Republic of Sudan, along with a delegation of ten senior officials, which included advisors and heads of the Strategic Projects Unit and Investment Authority for Khartoum State. While in South Africa the delegation met with senior city officials in Gauteng (Johannesburg) and eThekwini (Durban) Municipalities.
The Training for Peace (TfP) in Africa Programme at ACCORD has participated in the TfP Annual General Meeting (AGM) in New York. The AGM aims to highlight the TfP Programmes main achievements and developments in 2012 and present its work plans for implementation in 2013. The meeting was also aimed at sharing feedback on reporting and planning templates, management cycle timelines, and enhanced collaboration amongst the TfP partners.
In collaboration with the African Union Conflict Management Division, ACCORD participated to the Second Retreat of the Panel of the Wise (PoW) with similar regional mechanisms from 11th to 12th April 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The institution was represented by the Executive Director, Vasu Gounden, Manager of the Interventions Department, Martha Mutisi, Peacemaking Unit Coordinator, Natacha Kunama and Training Unit Coordinator, Pascal da Rocha.
In order to assist the AU in strengthening its capacity to plan, manage and implement Peace Support Operations (PSOs) on the continent, the Training for Peace in Africa at ACCORD (TfP/ACCORD) organised a consultative visit to the African Union (AU), to discuss joint initiative with African Union Peace Support Operations Division (AU PSOD). The meetings reflected ACCORD's continued support and collaboration with AU PSOD, other stakeholders within the AU Department of Peace and Security, and United Nations Office for the African Union (UNOAU).
ACCORD has participated in the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI) planning meeting that was hosted by the African Union/ Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AU/PCRD) in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on 18 April 2013. The ASI is a new initiative spearheaded by the AU/PCRD aimed at mobilizing efforts and commitments in supporting post conflict reconstruction and development of African countries. Post conflict reconstruction and development in Africa is strategic in the work of ACCORD and the meeting provided the opportunity for ACCORD's contributions and engagements in strengthening policy approaches towards African countries emerging from conflicts.
As part of its training support to United Nations missions, the Training for Peace (TfP) in Africa Programme at ACCORD has started an Online Mentoring Support Network (MSN) for the United Nations Missions in South Sudan (UNMISS). The aim of the MSN is to support Civil Affairs Officers (CAOs), in utilizing the Collaborative Conflict Management (CCM) tools and techniques shared during the initial CCM training courses that the programme conducted in 2012.
As a member, and current Civilian Chair of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres (IAPTC), the Training for Peace in Africa Programme at ACCORD (TfP/ACCORD) has participated at this year's IAPTC Executive Committee Meeting. The meeting is an annual event, in which the Executive Committee planned the activities of the IAPTC for the coming year. The meeting aims to develop and plan for the 19th Annual Conference of the IAPTC, to further the agenda of the civilian dimension of peacekeeping.
Informed by key discussions, debates and recommendations that came out of the ACCORD-hosted Southern African Women Mediators Seminar (SAWMS) which was held from 21 to 24 November 2012, the recently published Policy & Practice Brief (PPB) titled 'Mediating peace in Africa: Enhancing the role of southern African women in mediation' makes the case that women, although capable, remain an untapped resource for mediation efforts.
The Training for Peace Programme at ACCORD (TfP/ACCORD) has participated in a workshop on "Understanding and Integrating Local Perceptions in the Work of Multidimensional United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Operations". Organized by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UN DPKO), the workshop provided a forum for improved understanding amongst practitioners and academicians of the importance of capturing, analyzing and integrating local perceptions into peacekeeping operations, with a special emphasis on the need for increased inclusion of local level and non-dominant perspectives such as those from women, youth and other marginalized groups.
