— WHO WE ARE
A think-do tank for the Horn of Africa
The HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies is a non-profit, applied research and policy think-do tank based in Nairobi, dedicated to advancing research, policy engagement, and informed dialogue across the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.
Founded in 2017, the Institute engages local communities, governments, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders through research, training, advocacy, and high-level conferences on critical regional and global issues. The Institute’s work is anchored in six thematic areas that include; defense and security; terrorism, violent extremism, and radicalization; diplomacy and foreign relations; governance, statecraft, and conflict management; transnational crimes and strategic threats; and climate change, migration, and development.
“The HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies is the think-do tank where critical thinking meets high-stakes problem-solving to catalyze action, shape policy, and drive meaningful change”
The Founder, HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies
OUR VISION
A progressive Horn of Africa served by informed, evidence-based and problem-solving policy research and analysis
OUR MISSION
Contribute to independent, objective, definitive research and analytical inquiry that positively informs policies of governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
Our Objectives
- Conduct cutting-edge action research and analysis to help inform policy making and action in defense and security; terrorism, violent extremism, and radicalization; diplomacy and foreign relations; governance, statecraft and conflict management; transnational crimes and strategic threats; and climate change, migration, and development
- Engage in conflict resolution and peacemaking
- Engage in strategic communication for preventing and countering terrorism, responding to conflicts and emerging threats
- Participate in routine advocacy on security, conflict resolution, peacemaking, and climate action
- Design courses and deliver training on themes relating to the Institute’s focus areas
— OUR REGIONAL FOCUS
13 Countries
One Strategic Region
The HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies monitors, analyses and engages with a primary focus on 13 countries across the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region — one of the world’s most strategically complex and dynamic geopolitical spaces
What We Do
The HORN Institute conducts policy research, trainings, strategic analysis and convenes dialogues on critical regional issues
Policy-Relevant Research & Analysis
Generating rigorous, evidence-based analysis on the region’s most critical security, governance and development challenges.
High-Level Dialogue & Regional Engagement
Facilitating conferences, roundtables and expert consultations that connect policymakers, diplomats and civil society leaders.
Strategic Insights for Decision-Makers
Providing timely political risk analysis and policy advisories for practitioners and policymakers.
Capacity Building & Knowledge Exchange
Delivering executive masterclasses and practitioner training through the HORN Academy to strengthen professional capacity.
Our Centers
Defence and Security
Advancing strategic thinking on defense and security across the Horn of Africa — conducting multi-disciplinary analysis of threats, opportunities, and policy solutions to strengthen regional security architectures.
Study of Terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization
Advancing strategic thinking on terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization — conducting trainings and multi-disciplinary analysis of radicalization drivers and counter-terrorism strategies to strengthen regional Prevention and Counter Violent Extremism efforts.
Diplomacy and Foreign Relations
Advancing strategic thinking on diplomacy and foreign relations- analyzing the foreign policy of Horn of Africa states, regional diplomatic architectures, and multilateral engagement to inform negotiators, policymakers, and scholars.
Governance, Statecraft & Conflict Management
Advancing strategic thinking on governance, statecraft, and conflict management — conducting multi-disciplinary analyses of institutional resilience and political transitions across the Horn of Africa region
Transnational Crimes & Strategic Threats
Advancing strategic thinking on transnational crimes and strategic threats — analyzing cross-border illicit networks, emergent asymmetric threats, and the criminal economies that undermine regional security
Climate Change, Migration & Development
Advancing strategic thinking on climate change, migration, and development — conducting multi-disciplinary analysis of environmental shocks, human mobility, and socio-economic vulnerability to strengthen the region’s climate resilience
Our Programs
Horn of Africa Regional Peace and Security Programme
HARPS — The flagship programme addressing cross-border peace, security cooperation and conflict prevention.
Prevention of Terrorism Programme
Research, training and dialogue supporting governments and communities in preventing and countering violent extremism.
HORN Futures
Forward-looking strategic foresight examining long-term socio-economic, political and security trajectories.
Democracy, Governance and Rule of Law
Supporting democratic governance, constitutional processes and rule of law across the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes.
INFORM Initiative
Combating disinformation and building media literacy — tracking and responding to information disorder in the region.
Western Indian Ocean Programme
Examining maritime security, blue economy governance and geopolitical dynamics in the Western Indian Ocean.
Climate adaptation & Security program
The program examines the growing intersection between climate stress such as drought, flooding, resource scarcity, displacement, and environmental degradation interact with fragile governance systems, armed conflict, and livelihood insecurity across the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region
Defense and Security Program
The Program examines the role of state security institutions, military dynamics, and regional defense cooperation in addressing conventional and non-conventional threats, including terrorism, organized armed groups, and transnational security risks
HORN Borderlands & Peacebuilding Program
The Borderlands and Peacebuilding Program examines the complex dynamics shaping peace, security, and human mobility across contested and peripheral border zones in the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region
The Horn Academy
Through the HORN Academy, the Institute offers executive masterclasses and practitioner training programmes designed to deepen understanding of regional dynamics and strengthen professional capacity among diplomats, policymakers, practitioners and students.
The Academy bridges academic knowledge and real-world policy practice, equipping participants with practical insights and skills relevant to the region.
Our Partners
The HORN Institute works closely with a wide network of partners — connecting research, dialogue and knowledge exchange to strengthen policy responses to regional challenges.
