On 14 April 2025 the Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Dr Vasu Gounden, made a presentation at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
AGDA is a leading centre of excellence that educates the next generations of foreign policy decision-makers and informs the public on the most pressing challenges facing the region and the world. Licensed to operate by the UAE Ministry of Education and the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) in April 2015, AGDA’s vision is to be a world-class diplomatic academic institute that influences and drives the development of the next generation of foreign policy leaders and thinkers, and plays a dynamic role in shaping the global foreign policy landscape. It aims to deliver internationally recognized education and training for diplomats to advance the UAE’s foreign policy priorities and to produce innovative thought leadership that furthers the understanding of diplomacy and international relations in the region and beyond.
Dr Gounden made a presentation on current geo-political developments and its impact on Africa to an audience that consisted of AGDA Post Graduate (PGD) students, AGDA staff researchers, and faculty members.
Since 1992 Dr Gounden has made ongoing presentations to the South African Parliament Portfolio Committee on International Relations and has conducted trainings for the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO’s) Heads of Mission-designate orientation programmes, as well as its Diplomatic Cadet programmes.
