Further to the meeting organized by “People to People (P2P)” held in May 2021 on “Horn of Africa – Challenges and Prospects”, P2P is moving forward in addressing a number of issues raised in this meeting which were deemed timely, critical for the region and worthy of further in-depth discussion.

It is against this background and based on the attached Executive Summary from this initial meeting, that P2P launched its Horn of Africa Policy Panel series (HAPP).  The HAPP series will run bi-monthly and attract experts from the region to address specific policy-relevant regional challenges, responses for which regional expertise must shape and inform.  Each HAPP will feature speakers and discussants addressing critical issues; generate further debate and contributions through effectively moderated sessions; and produce a concise summary policy brief which will be circulated widely to national, regional and international policy makers.

On Saturday May 7^th, 2022 a number of experts from the Horn of Africa region participated in P2P’s inaugural HAPP entitled: “Horn of Africa:  Prospects, Challenges and A Vision for the Region. The HAPP was run as a hybrid event with the in-person aspect of the event delivered at the Intercontinental Hotel in Addis Ababa and simultaneously livestreamed on zoom.

The event was also covered by various media houses and was attended virtually by people all over the world. The live recording of the event is also available on-demand.

 

Horn of Africa: Prospects, Challenges and A Vision for the Region

The inaugural HAPP featured three panel sessions:

• The Horn of Africa: Short to Medium Term Prospects and Challenges as a Region
• A Collective Vision for the Horn of Africa: A Perspective from the Region
• A Collective Vision for the Horn of Africa: An International Perspective

AGENDA

11:00 Opening & Introduction
Dr. Enawgaw Mehari, CEO, People to People
Mr. Mesfin Tasew, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines

 

11:30-1:00 Panel 1: The Horn of Africa: Navigating Challenges & Pursuing Opportunities
1) Dr. Sonkor Geyre (Somalia)
2) Dr. Mowlid Aden (Djbouti)
3) Dr. Abraham Leul (South Sudan)
4) Dr. Fikreyesus Amhazion (Eritrea)
Moderated Discussion- Dr. Abubeker Yasin Gebro, Samara University

2:00-3:30 Panel 2: A Collective Vision for the Horn of Africa: A Perspective from the Region
1) HE Najib Sheikh Abdulkarim, Prof. Ambassador, Republic of Somalia to Ethiopia.
2) Milena Bereket, Consultant
3) HE Mr. Abdi Eybe, Ambassador, Republic of Djibouti to Ethiopia & the AU
4) Dr. Amare Kenaw, Institute of Strategic Affairs
Moderated Discussion- Mr. Daniel Belayneh

3:30- 5:00 Panel 3: A Collective Vision for the Horn of Africa: An International Perspective
1) Dr. Yonas Adaye Adeto, Director, Institute of Peace and Security Studies, AAU
2) Dr. Ann Fitz-Gerald, Director, Balsillie School of International Affairs
Moderated Discussion & Closing Remarks-

P2P has integrated peacebuilding and security in the Horn of Africa as one of its pillars in its effort to strengthen socio economic development. Peace and security are essential factors of human life. A peaceful and secure environment is critical to every society since it affects all aspects of economic and social development in a country and is a necessary sin-qua non to the realization of human rights. These have direct effects on the creation of sound, competitive and equitable economic development, which ultimately has positive impact on the whole society. Due to the fragility of peace and security in the Horn region, the countries in the region have poor socioeconomic development and poverty. P2P had organized peace conferences among all stakeholders, provided seminars on regional economic and political cooperation and will continue to work closely with the region’s governments to continuously address these issues to mitigate poverty, political stability and improve socioeconomic development.