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.
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.
ACCORD has been recognized, for the third year running, in the recently released annual "Global Go To Think Tanks" Report released by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Programme at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. The ranking puts ACCORD 4th out of Think Tanks in Sub-Sahara Africa, 37th worldwide (Non U S) and 61st worldwide (US included).
In line with its mandate to support the efforts of the African Union to promote peace and stability in Africa, ACCORD participated in the Third AU High Level Retreat of Special Envoys and Mediators, which took place in Cairo from 5-6 November 2012, centering on the theme: Transforming the African Peace and Security Context in the Next Decade: Appraisal and Opportunities.
Professor Aparajita Biswas, guest presenter at an ACCORD Internal Staff Seminarwhich was held at ACCORD's office in Durban on 28 September 2012, presented a paper titled 'Changing Perspectives of India's Engagements in Africa' to an audience of ACCORD staff members.
On 10 May 2012, at a ceremony at USAID's Ronald Reagan Building in Washington D.C, ACCORD presented a citation of appreciation to USAID in recognition of support that ACCORD has received over its twenty years of existence. The citation was received on behalf of USAID by Mr. Earl Gast, the Assistant Administrator for the Africa Bureau. The citation was awarded by ACCORD in recognition of USAID's twenty year partnership with ACCORD in pursuance of ACCORD's mission "to encourage and promote the constructive resolution of disputes by the peoples of Africa and so assist in achieving political stability, economic recovery and peaceful co-existence within just and democratic societies".
On 28 March 2013, ACCORD hosted a high-level delegation of African officials, led by the African Union Chairperson H.E. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, at ACCORD House in Durban, South Africa. The delegation comprised of the African Union (AU) Commission, the Executive-Secretaries of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the members of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Secretariat.
ACCORD partnered with the Africa Union (AU) on Saturday, 19 January 2013, by sponsoring twenty two children (both boys and girls) from Alexandra in Gauteng, South Africa, to participate in the Peace Torch Ceremony during the opening ceremony of the African Cup of Nations. The children were selected from the Alexandra Football Association, which runs football and other activities for young children from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and impoverished homes.
An ACCORD Delegation led by Mr Vasu Gounden, Founder and Executive Director, visited Khartoum in 7-10 November 2012, to open lines for fruitful engagement with actors from various levels and backgrounds in Sudan. Additionally, the Khartoum visit provided an opportunity to understand the current situation on the ground, especially following the 27 September agreements with South Sudan, and thereby consider options for responsive programme design for ACCORD's initiatives in Sudan.
During an Internal Staff Seminar held on 8 August 2012 at the ACCORD offices in Durban, ACCORD Peacekeeping Unit Intern Priyal Singh explored how private security companies working in sub-Saharan Africa facilitate direct foreign investment to oil-rich countries. He examined why the presence of crude oil, and not good governance, is a major factor in explaining high direct foreign investment into particular countries in the region.
In January 2012 ACCORD was recognised, for a second year running, as the 5th most influential Think Tank in Sub Sahara Africa, in the annual "Global Go To Think Tanks" Report released by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Programme at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. The ranking puts ACCORD 5th out of the top 30 Think Tanks in Sub-Sahara Africa. Overall 550 Think Tanks from Africa were included in the survey.
