On 25 June 2026 the Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Dr Vasu Gounden, was a resource person in the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission’s (UNPBC’s) Annual Session held in the UN’s General Assembly Hall in New York, as part of the inaugural UN Peacebuilding Week. The event marked the 20th Anniversary of the Peacebuilding Commission and the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund.
Dr Gounden joined a panel discussion on the importance of effective partnerships in advancing sustainable peace. He presented on ACCORD’s experience in supporting peace processes across Africa and what distinguishes the partnerships that have been most effective in advancing nationally-led peacebuilding priorities. The session was moderated by H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN and Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission.
Held under the theme “UN Peacebuilding @20 – Partnerships for Innovation, Inclusion and Impact,” the session brought together Member States, UN officials, and civil society to reflect on two decades of peacebuilding efforts.
ACCORD has worked closely with the Peacebuilding Support Office and the UN Peacebuilding Architecture over the full twenty years of its existence.
Watch the full session here.
