Upcoming Events
Webinars & Book Launch
Women at the Peace Table: Regional Learning, Solidarity, and Advocacy in the Horn of Africa
In April 2025, HCD, in partnership with the Agency for Peacebuilding (AP), convened a regional webinar titled Empowering Sudanese Women for Leadership in Peacebuilding and Mediation: Drawing Lessons from South Sudanese Women’s Experiences. The webinar created an open platform for cross-country exchange among women peacebuilders and mediators from Sudan, South Sudan, and the wider Horn of Africa, underscoring the need for sustained regional learning, structured engagement, and policy dialogue to advance women’s meaningful participation in peace processes.
Building on this first engagement, HCD, AP, and the Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) are implementing the project Promoting the Participation of Women in Mediation Processes in the Horn of Africa. The project advances the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda through research, policy engagement, and cross-country learning, including the establishment of a Policy Analysis Group (PAG) and a series of virtual learning and dialogue sessions among women in mediation and peacebuilding.
Within this framework, the second webinar took place on 18 February 2026, on the margins of the African Union Summit, under the theme “Navigating Regional Peace Architectures: AU and IGAD Mechanisms for Women Mediators.” The session provided a technical deep dive into regional peace and mediation architectures, including FemWise-Africa, the African Union Mediation Support Unit, the IGAD Mediation Support Unit, and the IGAD Women Mediators Network. Drawing on country-specific experiences, the webinar examined key entry points for women’s engagement and explored how regional mechanisms can support, legitimize, and strengthen women’s participation in both formal and informal peace processes across the Horn of Africa.
The third webinar in the series will take place on April 1, 2026, bringing together women mediators, peace experts, and regional partners under the theme “Women at the Peace Table: Regional Learning, Solidarity, and Advocacy in the HoA.” The online session will focus on women’s leadership in peace processes in Sudan and South Sudan, providing real-time conflict analysis from women peace experts and members of PAG. The webinar will create space for cross-country learning and dialogue among FemWise-Africa members, civil society actors, and regional partners, while exploring practical strategies to strengthen women’s meaningful participation in mediation and peacebuilding.
Democratization in the Horn of Africa: Country Realities, Regional Lessons, and Pathways for Inclusive Governance
Democratization in the Horn of Africa: Country Realities, Regional Lessons, and Pathways for Inclusive Governance
Event Type: Book Launch & Strategic Plan Launch
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Timing: On the margins of the African Union Summit
HCD will host a high-level Book Launch and Strategic Plan Launch Event on the margins of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, bringing together key democratic actors from across the Horn of Africa.
The event will officially launch HCD’s country-level analysis publications on democratization in Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan, alongside the unveiling of HCD’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. Together, these launches mark a significant milestone in HCD’s efforts to advance evidence-based, inclusive, and locally grounded democratic governance in the region by mobilizing regional expertise, strategic partnerships, and resources to drive impactful democratic reforms.
Event Type: Book & Strategic Plan Launch
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Date: April 23, 2026
HCD will host a high-level Book and Strategic Plan Launch Event in Addis Ababa, bringing together key democratic actors from across the Horn of Africa (HoA).
The event will officially launch HCD’s regional and specific context analysis publications on democratization in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somaliland, Sudan, and South Sudan, alongside the unveiling of HCD’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. Together, these launches mark a significant milestone in HCD’s efforts to advance evidence-based, inclusive, and locally grounded democratic governance in the region by mobilizing regional expertise, strategic partnerships, and resources to drive impactful democratic reforms.
A key highlight of the event will be the launch of a Policy Brief on Conflict Dynamics in the HoA and Implications for Democratization Processes, offering timely analysis on how the geopolitics, conflict and political instability influence democratic trajectories in the region.
Purpose of the Event
The event aims to:
- Launch and disseminate HCD’s regional and context specific analyses on democratization processes, challenges, and prospects in the HoA;
- Present HCD’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, outlining the Center’s vision, Theory of Change, and strategic priorities for advancing democracy in the region;
- Translate research findings into actionable policy and advocacy insights;
- Convene pro-democracy actors for dialogue, networking, and coordinated engagement at regional and continental levels.
Expected Outcomes
- Increased visibility and uptake of HCD’s regional and context specific democratization publications;
- Shared understanding of democratic trends and challenges in the Horn of Africa;
- Strengthened regional networks and collaboration among democratic actors;
- Alignment of HCD’s 5-Year Strategic Plan with regional priorities and stakeholder engagement.
Registration: By Invitations Only
