The Consular and Diplomatic Service University (CDSU) is a diplomatic training institution established in 2015 to support the educational and professional development activities of the African Diplomatic Organization (ADO). The institution originated as the Foreign Service Training Academy, later known as the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), and was developed in alignment with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, which emphasizes youth engagement in peacebuilding and diplomacy. It subsequently operated as the Emerging Leaders & Diplomats Institute (ELDI) before adopting its current name under a treaty framework associated with the African Union Youth Assembly (AUYA), now ADO.[2][3][4][5]
The university was initially based at the former United States Embassy building in Osu, Accra, Ghana, before relocating to London, United Kingdom, in 2024. CDSU serves as the academic and training arm of ADO and operates as a nonprofit institution offering programs in diplomacy, international relations, global governance, and related fields.
During its early development, CDSU maintained an academic affiliation with the United Nations University. In 2017, it became an autonomous nonprofit university under a treaty endorsed by 54 African states, adopting the designation “Diplomatic University” as part of its institutional framework.
Leadership of the university has included several public figures, among them former UN Secretary‑General Kofi Annan, former Ghanaian President Jerry John Rawlings, and economist and UN advisor Jeffrey Sachs. Professor Sachs and Dr. Sonia Ehrlich Sachs have participated in academic and policy‑related engagements with the institution, including the 2019 International Emerging Leader & Diplomats Summit held in Accra.[1]
As part of its expansion, CDSU has established academic branches in Asia, Europe, and London. Following the COVID‑19 pandemic in 2020, the university transitioned to a fully virtual learning model, offering online diplomatic training under the oversight of the World Diplomatic Organization (WDO) headquarters in London.
The CDSU's International Licensure Examinations (CDSU‑IALE)
The International Licensure Examinations for Ambassadors and Career Diplomats (IALE) is a professional certification system administered by CDSU. The IALE framework assesses competencies in diplomatic practice, international law, consular operations, and global governance.[7]
The IALE examination includes theoretical and practical components related to protocol, negotiation, multilateral engagement, crisis response, and humanitarian diplomacy. Successful candidates receive a professional licensure certification indicating readiness for ambassadorial, consular, or related diplomatic roles.[9]
Mission and Objectives
CDSU offers academic and professional programs in diplomatic studies, consular affairs, international relations, global governance, peace and security, protocol and etiquette, humanitarian diplomacy, sustainable development, and leadership. Programs are delivered through online, hybrid, and in‑person formats, with students from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the diaspora.
Institutional Recognition, Presidential Charter and Accreditation
The university is referenced in several international treaties and protocols, including the United Nations Consultative status framework and the Protocol on Intergovernmental Diplomatic Cooperation adopted by the World Diplomatic Organization in 2025. Its establishment under ADO and AUYA grants it autonomous status within a continental diplomatic framework.
CDSU operates under a Presidential Charter granted by the Government of Ghana in 2016. A Presidential Charter is the highest form of national accreditation for tertiary institutions in Ghana and authorizes an institution to award its own degrees, diplomas, and certificates without external oversight. This status places CDSU among institutions recognized as meeting the regulatory and academic standards required for autonomous degree‑granting authority.[10]
Consultative status with UN ECOSOC
CDSU holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This designation permits participation in UN deliberations, submission of written statements, and engagement with intergovernmental processes related to diplomacy and development. The institution’s consultative status is listed in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Civil Society database.[11]
Academic Contributions
CDSU is referenced in academic resources hosted on Wikiversity, where its curriculum and case studies are used to examine the theory and practice of diplomacy. The university collaborates with international institutions and maintains partnerships with embassies, consulates, and global agencies.
Notable Cohorts and Alumni
Zimran Clottey – Member of the 2019 graduating class; contributed educational materials to the Digital Diplomacy Resource Centre in 2022.[12]
CDSU was previously located in the former United States Embassy building in Osu, Accra, Ghana, before relocating to London, United Kingdom.[13]
Publications
CDSU has been profiled in the Google Books digital library through its publication Consular & Diplomatic Service University (CDSU), which outlines the institution’s history and academic mandate.[14]
Treaty and Declaration
The Treaty and Declaration establishing the Consular & Diplomatic Service University (CDSU) was adopted by the African Diplomatic Organization (ADO) on 9 December 2015. The treaty outlines the institution’s mission, governance structure, and international partnerships and includes signatories from all 54 represented African countries.[15]
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