ACCORD was represented by its Peacebuilding and Peacemaking Units at the Global Thematic Consultation on Conflict and Fragility and the Post-2015 Development Agenda (Monrovia Consultation) from 29-20 November 2012. The Monrovia Consultation, which was co-organized by the Governments of Liberia and Finland, was initiated to solicit diverse and multi-sectoral inputs on issues relating to conflict, disasters and security.

The Republic of South Sudan's Peace Commission and the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for partnership in peace building in South Sudan. Peace Commission chairperson, Chuol Rambang and ACCORD chairperson Vasu Gounden, sign MoU in the presence of VP Riek Machar in Juba on 28 Nov. 2012 (ST)

As a means of creating an effective platform for comprehensive dialogue to tackle regional and global challenges, and to actively shape global agendas, in October the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) hosted a' Training Programme on Managing Regional and Global Governance' (MRGG) together with other leading institutions in South Africa.

ACCORD Trustee, Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, has been appointed as a Trustee of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation for a three year period starting on 1 January 2013.

The Training for Peace Programme at ACCORD (TfP/ACCORD) conducted Conflict Management Support Training for Civil Affairs Officers (CAOs) in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in August, September and October 2012. These initial training courses are a result of a curriculum development process, with tailoring in line with the mission mandate, CAOs roles and functions, and the present context of South Sudan.

The Training for Peace Programme at ACCORD (TfP/ACCORD) has contributed to training courses conducted by the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) on the Protection of Civilians (PoC). The courses aimed to enhance participants' capacities to plan, implement and PoC activities in Peacekeeping operations.

ACCORD extends it condolences to the Gerwel family on the death of Professor Jakes Gerwel. Professor Jakes Gerwel passed away this morning after undergoing a triple heart by-pass about a week ago. He suffered a stroke on Thursday. Professor Gerwel was one of the five founding Trustees of ACCORD. He will be sadly missed by the Trustees and Staff of ACCORD.

In an ongoing quest to support mediation activities by the African Union and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa, ACCORD has participated in the 7th bi-annual Mediation Support Network (MSN) Meeting, which served as a platform for promoting exchange about planned and on-going activities in mediation on the continent of Africa. The meeting took place from 10-11 October in Accra, Ghana.

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.

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.