IGAD and the United Nations Strengthen Regional Capacities on Conflict, Political Economy Analysis and Peacebuilding

September 18, 2026 (Nairobi, Kenya): IGAD, and the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (OSE-HoA)) successfully concluded a three-day capacity-building training on Conflict, Political Economy Analysis and Peacebuilding.

The activity also marked the launch of the United Nations–IGAD Partnership Project, implemented under Output II: Enhanced capacities through training, technical assistance, peer learning and knowledge sharing, with funding from the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF). The project supports efforts to strengthen regional integration and sustainable peace in the Horn of Africa by applying a political economy approach to conflict prevention and peacebuilding. It seeks to strengthen the capacities of institutions and local peace actors to adopt conflict-sensitive, context-sensitive, evidence-based and inclusive approaches to peacebuilding programming and decision-making.

This capacity-building workshop, and the Expert Roundtable on Political Economy Approaches to Strengthening Peace and Regional Cooperation and Integration in the Horn of Africa, scheduled for 19–20 September 2026, constitute the first activities implemented under the project.

Mr. Cheick Conde, Principal Political Affairs Officer at the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, and Commander Abebe Muluneh, Director of the IGAD Peace and Security Division, jointly launched the project and officially opened the capacity-building workshop. In their remarks, they mentioned the importance of strengthening UN–IGAD cooperation and equipping regional institutions and peace actors with the analytical knowledge and practical skills required to address the interconnected political, economic and social factors influencing conflict, cooperation and sustainable peace in the Horn of Africa.