As part of its institutional learning and capacity-building programme, ACCORD hosted another lively Internal Staff Seminar (ISS) on 18 August 2011 at ACCORD House to engage its staff in dialogue on peacebuilding themes within current peace and security issues in Africa.
Professor Geoff Harris, the Director of the Postgraduate Conflict Resolution & Peace Studies Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and a specialist in economic aspects of conflict and security, presented a paper on ministries of peacebuilding in sub-Saharan Africa. Professor Harris argued in favour of the establishment of ministries of peacebuilding in sub-Saharan Africa as the best means to minimise costs of violent conflicts. The discussions generated strategies, recommendations, methods and practices for improving the proposed ministries and their contributions to promote peace and stability in the African continent as well as possible challenges.
The ISS serves as a platform to engage in continued dialogue and gain constructive feedbacks and opinions from participants. The ISS platform enhances the learning culture within the organisation and keeps ACCORD staff relevant to the current issues and debates around peace and conflict.
