About the Forum
An independent home for the Greater Horn.
The Greater Horn Horizon Forum is an independent, autonomous, non-profit research–policy forum — a think tank where scholars and intellectuals from the eight nations of the Greater Horn of Africa turn rigorous evidence into a shared, future-oriented vision for peace and regional integration.
Our founding
Launched in Djibouti, 2007.
The Forum was launched by UNESCO in November 2007 in Djibouti, with the support of the African Union and IGAD. Its founding conference, held from 12 to 15 November, brought together some eighty academics, policy-makers and representatives of regional and international organisations. Over four days they adopted the Forum’s Statutes and Code of Conduct, elected its first Executive Committee, and agreed an action plan for 2008–2009.
President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of the Republic of Djibouti delivered the inaugural address, and the founding publication opened with a foreword by Pierre Sané, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences. The groundwork had been laid over the preceding years — preparatory meetings in Paris and Djibouti and a scenario-building workshop in Nairobi, where scholars mapped possible futures for the Horn.
In May 2008 Djibouti signed a host-country agreement — for the Forum, Prof. Abdel Ghaffar Ahmed — recognising the GHHF as an independent, autonomous institution headquartered on Boulevard Cheik Osman. From this base the Forum has convened the region’s scholars ever since.
To foster a culture of dialogue in place of a culture of violence.
Our history
A decade and a half of convening.
Follow the line from the first preparatory meetings to a region-wide research network — the convenings that built the Forum.
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Milestone 1 of 15. Foundations · 2005–07 Nov 2005
Preparatory meeting
ParisThe first scoping of a forum for the scholars of the Greater Horn.
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Milestone 2 of 15.
Sep 2006
Scenario-building workshop
NairobiFourteen scholars from seven IGAD states map possible futures for the region.
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Milestone 3 of 15. Mar 2007
Preparatory meeting
Djibouti -
Milestone 4 of 15.
Nov 2007
Anticipatory Methodologies workshop
DjiboutiFifteen researchers train in foresight methods ahead of the launch.
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Milestone 5 of 15.
Launch · 2007
Nov 2007
Founding conference
Djibouti · ~80 participantsThe Forum adopts its Statutes and Code of Conduct and elects its first Executive Committee; President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh delivers the inaugural address.
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Milestone 6 of 15. Programmes · 2008–10 May 2008
Host-country agreement
DjiboutiDjibouti recognises the GHHF as an independent institution — signed for the Forum by Prof. Abdel Ghaffar Ahmed.
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Milestone 7 of 15.
May 2008
First research workshop
Djibouti“Review of Literature & Planning Future Research,” led by Prof. Mohammed Salih of the University of Leiden.
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Milestone 8 of 15.
Nov 2009
High-Level Round Table on Somalia
Djibouti View event → -
Milestone 9 of 15.
Nov 2009
Identity, Citizenship & Regional Integration
DjiboutiA conference keynoted by Prof. Kidane Mengisteab, alongside a policy dialogue with the business community.
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Milestone 10 of 15.
May 2010
Youth, media and civil-society dialogues
Djibouti View event → -
Milestone 11 of 15. Expansion · 2011–18 Jun 2011
Economic seminar with Chatham House
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Milestone 12 of 15. May 2013
Partnership with IGAD and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
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Milestone 13 of 15.
Nov 2015
UNESCO forum on youth and migration
Khartoum View event → -
Milestone 14 of 15.
Aug 2016
Democratisation dialogue with IGAD and KAS
Nairobi View event → -
Milestone 15 of 15.
Apr 2018
Regional-security convening with the EU and UNDP
Djibouti View event →
Mission & raison d’être
Research in the service of a culture of dialogue.
The Forum exists to promote cooperation, dialogue and a shared, future-oriented vision among the scholars and intellectuals of the Greater Horn and its diaspora. We work to strengthen the link between rigorous research and the policies that shape the region — and to foster a culture of dialogue in place of a culture of violence. The Forum is independent of any government; its members take part in their individual capacity, never as representatives of states.
What we work toward
- 01 Build consensus on a vision for peace, stability and regional integration
- 02 Promote reflection, exchange and intercultural dialogue
- 03 Generate studies that feed proactive, evidence-based policy
- 04 Provide training in regional integration and intercultural dialogue
- 05 Encourage anticipatory and scenario-based research across the region
- 06 Defend independent thought and intellectual freedom
What makes us distinctive
We study the future, not only the past.
Anticipatory & scenario-building
Future-oriented analysis that explores possible paths to integration and lasting peace, rather than re-litigating the past.
Multi- & trans-disciplinary
Every human and social science discipline, drawing on scholars from across the eight nations and the diaspora.
Research–policy linkage
Connecting researchers with policy-makers, civil society, business, media and youth to build a new culture of dialogue.
How we are governed
A structure built for independence.
The Forum’s Statutes, adopted in 2007, vest its authority in three organs.
General Assembly
The Forum’s highest authority. It meets every two years to set policy, approve the programme and budget, and elect its officers.
Executive Committee
Seventeen members — fourteen elected to represent the national scholar communities, plus the Executive Secretary, a Resident Deputy and a UNESCO nominee.
Executive Secretariat
Led by the Executive Secretary, it runs the Forum’s day-to-day work from the headquarters in Djibouti.
Working languages: English & French · Headquarters: Djibouti · General Assembly every two years
Our values
A Code of Conduct for independent scholarship.
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Academic freedom
Advance knowledge by questioning accepted ideas, and uphold independent, critical thinking.
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Personal capacity
Members join voluntarily as individuals, free of any party, group or sectarian agenda.
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Impartiality & integrity
Serve impartially and debate with honesty, transparency, openness and tolerance.
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Common ground
Emphasise what unites the region over what divides it, and protect the Forum’s independence.
Founded, hosted & supported by
In partnership with the region’s institutions.
Get involved
Join the Forum.
Researchers and institutions across the eight nations are welcome to apply for membership, or to write to the Secretariat in Djibouti.