The Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Vasu Gounden, was invited to attend the ANC’s International Relations Subcommittee Sectoral Workshop, which was held in Tshwane on 20 and 21 April.
The meeting is held ahead of the National Policy Conference that will take place later this year, and brought together a variety of stakeholders to discuss issues such as policies needed to meet some of the aims of the Millennium Development Goals, South Africa’s role as a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the establishment of an African Diaspora, and exploring if the time is suitable for the establishment of a United States of Africa – among other issues.
Mr Gounden has been presenting conflict management training to the South African Foreign Service Training Institute (FSTI) since 1995, and is involved in training diplomatic cadets as well as Heads of Missions. He recently participated in the FSTI’s seminar on “Modern Diplomatic Practice: Challenges of Curriculum Development and Teaching” that reflected on the relevance of current International relations qualifications to diplomatic practice; understanding the challenges facing modern African diplomats; and, exploring ways of matching theory and practice.
