The Centre on Knowledge Governance has received a testimonial from Dr Mzukisi Qobo, South Africa’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and Coordinator of the African Group on WIPO, on the Executive Education Programme for the African Group that the Centre ran with the Geneva Graduate Institute in July 2026.
Ambassador Qobo worked with the Centre, under the leadership of Professor Sean Flynn, to conceptualise the programme for African Group Ambassadors in Geneva. In his letter, dated 30 September 2026, he describes a course with “a strong strategic thrust aimed at preparing Ambassadors to grasp complex policy issues and make informed decisions on negotiating topics”, covering the law and economics of IP and development, IP and access to medicines, copyright, and IP and artificial intelligence.
He notes that several participating Ambassadors had previously held ministerial or vice-ministerial roles, that many are likely to occupy political decision-making roles in future, and that participants asked for the course to be offered again alongside advanced executive programmes and masterclasses. He concludes with a recommendation that the programme “receive continued support from both the private and not-for-profit sectors, as it adds significant value to building the knowledge and negotiating capacities of Ambassadors”.
The full letter is reproduced below.
The Executive Education Programme for the African Group is run by the Centre on Knowledge Governance with Executive Education at the Geneva Graduate Institute. It brings Geneva-based Ambassadors and senior diplomats from African Group member states together for intensive training on intellectual property, development and the negotiations at WIPO and the WTO.
