On April 29, 2026, with both virtual and in-person participation, HCD launched the Horn Policy Reference Group, a pool of regional experts convened to deliberate on pressing situational and structural issues affecting the Horn of Africa. The group is tasked with researching and deliberating on these issues and producing actionable policy outputs, which will be disseminated through HCD’s blog Horn…

As part of its ongoing project to promote women’s participation in mediation processes in the Horn of Africa, HCD, in partnership with the Agency for Peacebuilding (AP) and the Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP), hosted the third webinar in its series titled “Women at the Peace Table: Regional Learning, Solidarity, and Advocacy in the Horn of Africa.”…

The Horn Center for Democracy (HCD) joined the Agency for Peacebuilding (AP) and the Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) for a training held in Mombasa, Kenya. The two-day training brought together women mediators and peacebuilders from the Horn of Africa platform established in April 2025, for experience sharing, learning, and reflection. Participants who have served at mediation…

Deputy Director-General(s) Fassikaw Molla and Mesfin Muluneh, along with their Head of Partnerships, visited HCD’s office. During the visit, HCD presented its organizational strategy, multi-year program strategy, as well as its finance and MEAL frameworks. Discussions focused on HCD’s regional engagements and explored potential partnerships to support the capacity building of local organizations in program implementation, operations, and partnerships. HCD…

HCD in collaboration with AP and MWARP hosted a regional webinar titled “Navigating Regional Peace Architectures: AU and IGAD Mechanisms for Women in Mediation and Peacebuilding.” Held on the margins of the African Union Summit, the event brought together peace practitioners, regional experts, and partner organizations to discuss practical ways to strengthen women’s engagement in regional peace and mediation processes in the Horn of Africa.

HCD conducted an internal grant launch event at its office in Addis Ababa to formally inaugurate its new grant and align staff and research associates around the organization’s five-year strategic direction, operational systems, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) framework. The session was moderated by Executive Director Frew Demeke and brought together HCD staff and research associates to reflect…

HCD welcomed to our office, Professor Mohammed Salih, a Sudanese scholar of Political Science currently an Emeritus Professor at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam and, formerly, Special Professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations, Leiden University, The Hague. During his visit, the Center presented its ongoing programs in Ethiopia and across the…

HCD participated in the 3rd IGAD Governance Forum, held under the theme “The Role of National Democratic Institutions in Promoting Peace and Security.” The Forum brought together leaders, policymakers, and governance experts from across the IGAD region to reflect on the linkages between democracy, peace, and stability in a region facing persistent political and security challenges. The Forum underscored a…

Based on the success of our learning session and webinar on women in mediation and peacebuilding processes on April 2025, HCD and Agency for Peacebuilding (AP) launched a new project aimed at strengthening women in mediation in the HoA. The Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) based in Kenya is also our partner for this project. Earlier in…