Horn Center for Democracy

12/08/2026

🌍International Youth Day 2026 | Different Contexts. Common Aspirations.

🎯Across the Horn of Africa, young people navigate different political, social, and economic realities. Yet, many share common aspirations: , , , , and a meaningful voice in that shape their lives and communities.

🚪At the Horn Center for Democracy, we believe these aspirations must be matched by meaningful opportunities for young people to , , , , and democratic processes.

📣Through initiatives such as Youth Leadership for Democracy and Solidarity (YLDS), HCD is working to strengthen youth leadership, democratic participation, and regional solidarity.

🎉This International Youth Day, we celebrate young people not simply as the leaders of tomorrow, but as democratic actors today.

Different contexts. Common aspirations. One generation shaping the future.

04/08/2026

Reminder: Only one day left to apply!

Youth leaders from across the HoA

28/07/2026

📢 WE'RE HIRING AN INTERN!

The Horn Center for Democracy (HCD) is excited to announce an internship opportunity for passionate young professionals interested in research and policy advocacy, democratic governance, civic participation, peacebuilding and WPS agenda, youth engagement, and digital communications.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience supporting regional research, policy dialogue, youth leadership initiatives, digital engagement, and knowledge management across the Horn of Africa.

📍 Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
📅 Duration: August–December 2026
🗓 Application Deadline: August 9, 2026

Who can apply?
Current final-year university students or recent graduates in Political Science, International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Governance, Development Studies, Communications, Media Studies, Public Policy, Law, or related disciplines.
To apply, submit:
✅ Complete an online form
✅ Updated CV
✅ One-page motivation letter
✅ Writing sample or examples of previous research or communication work (if available)

Visit https://horn-center.org/about/vacancy/ to learn more and APPLY.

Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them in the comments or share this opportunity with your network!

The Horn Center for Democracy/HCD is implementing the Regional Youth Cohort Program, an initiative designed to equip emerging young leaders across the region with practical competencies in democratic governance, leadership, advocacy, peacebuilding, and digital civic participation. This program seeks...

24/07/2026

📢 Weekend Read | Reimagining Democracy in the

The dominant majoritarian model-where politics is often reduced to winners and losers-has contributed to political apathy, instability, and conflict across the Horn of Africa.

As the region continues to navigate complex political transitions, it is time to explore democratic models that are more representative, inclusive, and responsive to diverse societies.

At the HCD, members of our Policy Reference Group (HPRG) have been engaging in thoughtful discussions on how democracy can be reimagined beyond the traditional winner-takes-all framework.

As part of this ongoing conversation, HPRG member Dr. Adem Kassie Abebe, who also serves as Vice President of the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers (ANCL), has authored a new blog: "Reimagining Democracy: Beyond Winners and Losers" which is available here: https://horn-center.org/reimaging-democracy-beyond-winners-and-losers/4509/

We invite you to make it your weekend read and join the conversation by sharing your thoughts in the blog's comment section.

Reimaging Democracy: Beyond Winners and Losers This piece is published under the platform of HCD’s Horn Policy Reference Group, established to catalyze policy conversation on pertinent regional issues by renowned experts from the HoA. Legitimate government is arguably an enduring public aspiration...

21/07/2026

🚨 Applications are NOW OPEN! 🚨

Are you a young leader passionate about democratic values, civic engagement, and contribute to a lasting change in the ?

The Horn Center for Democracy (HCD) is launching the Call for Applications: Youth Leadership for Democracy and Solidarity (YLDS)-Cohort I.

This unique regional leadership program will bring together 15 emerging youth leaders from across the IGAD region for an intensive leadership journey featuring.
What you'll gain?

🌍 A Hybrid regional learning and cross-border collaboration
🤝 Leadership development and mentorship
💡 Innovation labs and collaborative problem-solving
🗣️ Dialogue with democracy practitioners, experts, and academics
🌱 A growing regional alumni network of democratic leaders
📍 Residential Program: Addis Ababa | October 11–18, 2026

✅ Participation costs for selected participants will be fully covered.
Application Deadline: August 5, 2026
🔗 Visit our website to learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and application process. https://l1nq.com/0aggshe

📢 Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them below and share this opportunity across your networks.

Youth leaders from across the HoA

15/07/2026

🚨 Applications are NOW OPEN! 🚨

Are you a young leader passionate about democratic values, civic engagement, and contribute to a lasting change in the ?

Today, on , the Horn Center for Democracy is proud to launch the Call for Applications: Youth Leadership for Democracy and Solidarity (YLDS)-Cohort I.

This unique regional leadership program will bring together 15 emerging youth leaders from across the IGAD region for an intensive leadership journey featuring:

🌍 A Hybrid regional learning and cross-border collaboration
🤝 Leadership development and mentorship
💡 Innovation labs and collaborative problem-solving
🗣️ Dialogue with democracy practitioners, experts, and academics
🌱 A growing regional alumni network of democratic leaders
📍 Residential Program: Addis Ababa | October 11–18, 2026

✅ Participation costs for selected participants will be fully covered.
📅 Application Deadline: August 5, 2026
🔗 Visit our website to learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and application process here: https://horn-center.org/youth-leadership/

📢 Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them below and share this opportunity across your networks.

13/07/2026

📢 Consultancy Opportunity!

HCD is seeking consultancy services to support the development of the Horn Civic Space and Pro-Democracy Actors Observatory.

We're looking for professionals with strong experience in civic space analysis, governance research, political economy analysis, knowledge management, and support digital platform development.

📅 Application Deadline: 24 July 2026

Visit our website to access the full Terms of Reference and application details. https://horn-center.org/about/vacancy/

Please share this opportunity with your networks.

The Horn Center for Democracy/HCD is implementing the Regional Youth Cohort Program, an initiative designed to equip emerging young leaders across the region with practical competencies in democratic governance, leadership, advocacy, peacebuilding, and digital civic participation. This program seeks...

09/07/2026

On July 3, 2026, the Horn Center for Democracy (HCD) Executive Director Frew Demeke and Program and Partnerships Director Yemisrach Kebede met with the African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), H.E. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, to explore areas of collaboration in advancing the WPS agenda across Africa.
During the meeting, H.E. Ambassador Mulamula highlighted the mandate of her office, which focuses on promoting the meaningful inclusion of women in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and post-conflict recovery throughout the continent.
HCD shared its strategic priorities and discussed how its work aligns with the Special Envoy's office, particularly through initiatives that strengthen the participation of women and youth in democratic governance, peacebuilding, and conflict prevention.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of publications. Ambassador Mulamula presented HCD with She Stands for Peace, a publication documenting the stories and lived experiences of women peace champions across Africa: https://www.un.org/shestandsforpeace/
HCD also shared its flagship publication, Democratization in the Horn of Africa: Structural Constraints, Political Dynamics, and Future Prospects, along with the accompanying policy brief, Two-Way Traffic: Conflict and Democratization in the Horn of Africa: https://horn-center.org/publications/research/

We look forward to continued engagement and collaboration to advance inclusive peace, democratic governance, and the WPS agenda across the HoA and the continent.

30/06/2026

🚨 New Blog Post Alert
What if the biggest consequence of the US-Israel-Iran war isn't in the Middle East-but in the Horn of Africa?

As global alliances shift, the region may be entering a pivotal moment.

Authored by Michael Woldemariam, with contributions from our Horn Policy Reference Group (HPRG), this latest analysis examines why this could be more than a crisis-it could be a strategic reset.

📖 Read the blog here: https://horn-center.org/the-horn-of-africa-and-the-us-israel-iran-war-an-opportunity-for-a-strategic-reset/4353/

This piece is published under the platform of HCD’s Horn Policy Reference Group, established to catalyze policy conversation on pertinent regional issues by renowned experts from the HoA.

29/06/2026

🔍 This Weeks Research Spotlight: Conflict and Democracy

Conflict and are often treated as separate challenges.
Our latest policy brief finds that the issues are deeply interconnected in the .

Conflict weakens institutions, restricts civic space, and erodes public trust.
At the same time, exclusionary governance, political marginalization, and weak democratic institutions can fuel grievances that contribute to and exacerbate conflict.

Read More here: https://horn-center.org/publications/research/