Insights4Peace Webinar: Governance as a Tool for Conflict Prevention: Challenges and Practical Approaches

May 15, 2026

The Insights4Peace Knowledge Series is an initiative under NeTT4Peace, designed to enhance the expertise of D-PAPS experts through expert-led discussions on peace, security, and governance. Each session brings together leading African think tanks to share evidence-based insights and foster an interactive dialogue that supports decision-making within the African Union (AU). 

This session, hosted by Policy Center for the New South, will focus on Governance and Conflict Prevention. The discussion will explore how governance shapes conflict prevention and sustainable peace in Africa, examining the roles of justice, transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in long-term peacebuilding, as well as the links between governance, economic development, and social welfare in reducing the socio-economic drivers of conflict. It will also assess the importance of strengthening African Union mechanisms for conflict prevention through deeper synergy between the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), while addressing current governance challenges such as contested electoral processes and weak institutions, providing participants with a deeper understanding and practical applications.

This webinar is convened by the Policy Center for the New South as part of the Insights4Peace Knowledge Series, in collaboration with NeTT4Peace and with support from GIZ.

Speakers
Nouzha Chekrouni
Senior Fellow
Dr. Nouzha Chekrouni is a Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South. She has extensive experience in academia, diplomacy and political leadership.  She has served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Canada (2009-2016), and Dean of the Council of Arab League Ambassadors to Canada (2015-2016). Dr. Chekrouni was Minister for the Moroccan Community Living Abroad (2002-2007), a Member of Parliament (2002-2007), and the Minister for Women and Social Issues (1998-2002). She holds a Bachelor Degree from the Philological Faculty at the University of Fez, a Post-Graduate Diploma and a PhD in Linguistics from the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. Dr. Chekrouni has also completed a Certificate in Ethics and International Relations at Harvard University. She is a 2016 Sen ...
Sandra Adong Oder
Head, Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development Unit, African Union
Ms. Sandra Adong Oder is the head of the Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Unit in the Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate in the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union (AU) Commission. In this position, she facilitates the implementation of peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction and development programmes in prioritized countries in the continent within the framework of respective development plans. She was also responsible for facilitating the operationalization of the AU Centre for PCRD launched in December 2021. She also formulated and developed relevant policies and strategies for AU peace support operations and was involved in increasing the understanding of civilian aspects of the African Standby For ...
Mohammed Loulichki
Senior Fellow
Mohammed Loulichki is a Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South and an Affiliate Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. He brings over 40 years of comprehensive experience in diplomacy, conflict resolution, and human rights. He has served in various roles including as a member and Deputy Head of the Moroccan delegation to the 3rd Conference on the Law of the Sea (1982-1990), Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and Treaties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1988-1991), and General Director for Multilateral Affairs in the same ministry (2003-2006).   He also acted as Morocco's Ambassador to Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia (1995-1999), and was the Moroccan Government's Ambassador Coordinator with MINURSO (1999-2001). Furthermore, he se ...
Tendai Mbanje
Election and Governance Expert, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
...
David Anetey Akrong
Air Vice Marshal, Commandant, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC)
...

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