By: Goshu Melisew
Senior government officials, diplomats and development partners on Thursday called for deeper regional cooperation to implement the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus, as the Horn of Africa continues to grapple with interlinked crises driven by conflict, climate shocks and displacement.
The high-level regional conference, held in Addis Ababa under the theme “Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus Operationalization: Building Resilient Systems and Communities in the Horn of Africa,” brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, academic institutions and the private sector. The event was organized by KOICA in collaboration with the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Peace Advisor, Eshetu Dessie, noted that the region faces a convergence of severe challenges from climate-induced disasters and food insecurity to conflict, displacement and recurrent health emergencies which require coordinated and forward-looking interventions.
“These pressures demand inclusive, coherent action,” he said, emphasizing Ethiopia’s commitment to reinforcing early-warning systems, strengthening essential services and advancing community-driven peace building efforts. “We call on partners to align their programs with national priorities and work through government-led structures.”
Eshetu underscored that the Ministry of Peace carries a broad mandate to coordinate conflict prevention, reconciliation and community-resilience initiatives.
South Korea’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Jung Kang, highlighted the urgency of integrated action, describing the region as standing “at a pivotal moment” where multiple crises overlap and reinforce one another.
“The HDP Nexus is not simply a development concept it is an essential framework that allows communities to recover, rebuild and ultimately thrive,” the ambassador said. “Korea’s own journey shows that economic development, human development and peace must advance together.”
Ambassador Jung reaffirmed Korea’s expanding partnership with the region, noting KOICA’s work in strengthening resilient livelihoods, green development and digital transformation, alongside KOFIH’s support for public-health systems, maternal and child health services and emergency responses.
KOICA Country Director Kim Taeyoung said the Horn of Africa faces complex crises, from climate shocks to health emergencies, and stressed the need for integrated humanitarian, development, and peace efforts to build lasting resilience.
The conference aims to strengthen multi-stakeholder engagement across the HDP Nexus, launch the 2025 Policy Brief Series on Peace and Health, promote shared learning among Horn of Africa member states, and advance practical approaches to building resilient systems.
For his part, Jongsoh Ahn, Head of the KOFIH Office, underscored the foundation’s close cooperation with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, noting that their joint programs target key health challenges such as maternal and child health, TB, malaria, and non-communicable diseases.
Countries in the Horn of Africa shared their experiences in crisis management, peace building efforts, and social-service delivery during the conference.
The conference concluded with a renewed call for integrated action and stronger regional cooperation to build a more stable, resilient and prosperous Horn of Africa.
