The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will hold a High-Level Forum of the IGAD Council of Eminent Persons (ICEP) on July 24–25, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, to advance the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in the region.
Organized by IGAD’s Gender Department with support from the Government of Japan, the Forum follows the induction of the ICEP in May 2024. It will bring together a distinguished group of women political leaders, seasoned mediators, and influential figures from sports, arts, culture, and religion. The ICEP, established under IGAD’s ongoing institutional reforms, serves as a multidisciplinary advisory body supporting peacebuilding, social cohesion, and regional stability.
“The power of peace lies not only in political agreements but in the hearts, voices, and creativity of our people,” said IGAD Executive Secretary H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu. “This Forum celebrates a new era of inclusive peace leadership, where stateswomen, artists, and athletes stand side-by-side as agents of change.”
The Forum will focus on innovative and culturally grounded approaches to conflict resolution, while validating ICEP’s short- and long-term strategic plan. Key objectives include promoting knowledge-sharing across IGAD Member States, identifying regional best practices and shared challenges in mediation, and developing actionable recommendations for operationalizing ICEP’s agenda at national and regional levels.
The initiative reaffirms IGAD’s commitment to inclusive, participatory peace processes and to fostering diverse leadership in addressing conflict, displacement, and fragmentation in the Horn of Africa.
Written By Rodney Mbua
