The Centre has prioritised engagement in policy analysis and advocacy. Regular workshops are held with policy makers in government and NGO and CBO networks. In 2008/9 a review process of our policy interventions took place to evaluate the long term effects of both Accede’s policy monographs and workshops. The Centre continues to prioritise policy engagement.

Through a number of Programmes, in particular the New Forms of Citizenship Programme and the DRC policy dialogue at both local, provincial and national levels are initiated. In 2009 two policy events took place- a local dialogue incorporating officials from the City of Cape Town and provincial government, as well as NGOs and CBOs, as well as large scale policy dialogue process called Pioneers of Participation, in conjunction with the new Head of Department of the Politic Studies Department in the EMS Faculty, Professor Laurence Piper. Professor Piper has been a research associate of ACCEDE since the Centre’s establishment. The event was hosted under the auspices of the Good Governance Learning Network, of which ACCEDE is a member and Isandla, in conjunction with the Citizenship Development Research centre (CDRC).

In 2009, the Centre also successfully tendered for a project that examines the role of Housing beneficiaries and Contractor Builders in Public Housing Allocation Processes. The project is is for the Provincial Department of Housing, and offers valuable insights into participatory processes in local development strategies.