About HD
Our mission is to help prevent, mitigate and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation.
Since 1999, HD has been supporting peace around the world – including the Aceh separatist conflict in Indonesia, the ETA insurgency in Spain, violence in the southern Philippines and turmoil in Libya.
HD’s Global Strategy 2024-2027 builds on our founding principles, 25 years of results, constant learning and exciting new approaches with three main goals:
Goal 1: Deliver valuable peacemaking results
Goal 2: Strengthen mediation practice and policy
Goal 3: Ensure HD’s organisational resilience
Using networks and partnerships built over many years, HD engages creatively at international, inter-state and local levels with activities that include:
- Making contact with conflict actors that others cannot reach
- Building trust and dialogue between conflict parties
- Brokering negotiations, ceasefires and peace accords
- Supporting humanitarian and healthcare efforts in high-risk areas
- Contributing expertise in inclusive peace processes, digital conflict and environmental peacemaking
Overall, HD aims to deepen our global reach and strengthen our identity as a trusted, impartial and independent mediation actor.
The values of humanity, impartiality and independence underpin and guide all of HD’s work.
In The HD Way document, we set out the values, mission and methods that are vital to our efforts to resolve conflicts, reduce human suffering and secure lasting peace as the foundation for a better future.
Check out the Our approach page for more on how HD pursues peace and details of our innovative Monitoring and Evaluation system.
Foundation documents include the HD Charter, HD Statutes and Swiss HD Accord.
Our mediation efforts aim at inclusive and sustainable political settlements. We believe in quietly using our peacemaking tools to enable outcomes that reflect the needs of diverse constituencies, including women and youth.
We are committed to strengthening the mediation field globally and to partnering with diverse conflict resolution actors from around the world.
As a trusted actor in international diplomacy, HD is funded by various governments and private foundations who see the value of our independence, innovation and results.
HD is an international body with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The non-profit organisation is supervised by an independent board.
In early 2024, global health leader Dr Joanne Liu began her term as Chair of HD’s Foundation Board, replacing veteran diplomat Ambassador Pierre Vimont after his many years of service to HD.
HD builds and values strong partnerships – around the world and across the diplomacy, mediation, development and humanitarian communities.
Since 2003, HD has co-hosted The Oslo Forum with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a venue for global leaders, mediators, conflict parties and experts to create pathways to peace.
In a volatile world, the annual retreat in Norway and a series of regional events remain safe, discreet spaces for diverse actors to share knowledge, assess crises and work on practical ways to address conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
Peacemaking with impact since 1999
1999 to 2007: Beginning in Aceh, Indonesia, HD shows the value of discreet and impartial mediation by independent peacemaking actors.
2008 to 2011: HD evolves from a founder-led organisation to an institution with clear principles and defined peacemaking methods.
2012 to 2015: As HD expands, we decentralise field operations and increasingly hire and train mediators working in their own regions.
2016 to 2018: Adapting to shifts in conflict, HD develops new strengths in multi-actor and multi-level processes and in managing geopolitical tensions.
2019 to 2023: Now the pre-eminent peacemaking actor based on measurable results, HD expands work on inter-state disputes and adapts with lessons from the pandemic.
2024 and beyond: Responding to new geopolitical realities and conflict dynamics, we consolidate HD’s position as a peacemaking actor with global reach and identity.
Photo: General César Atoute Badiate of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance signs an agreement with Senegal’s government on a roadmap for disarmament after talks supported by HD and the government of Guinea Bissau. © Guinea Bissau Presidential Office
