Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a Swiss-based private diplomacy organisation founded on the principles of humanity, impartiality, and independence. Its mission is to help prevent, mitigate, and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation.

For this, HD uses the tools of private diplomacy to expand the space for the nonviolent resolution of armed conflict. They aim to open channels of communication and mediate between parties in conflict, facilitate dialogue, provide support to the broader mediation and peacebuilding community, carry out capacity-building work, and conduct research on mediation issues. HD deploys its expertise to support local processes that protect civilians and foster lasting and just peace. HD links and collaborates with multiple organisations within the mediation field. As it marks its 25th year, HD is active in most of the world’s conflicts with mediation projects in various parts of Africa, the Middle East, Eurasia, and Asia.

Digital activities

Humanitarian Dialogue recognises the profound changes that digitalisation has brought to conflict and its potential solutions and attempts to bridge the divide between traditional mediation and the requirements of modern realities. HD’s Social Media and Conflict Mediation Programme identifies the threats that new media platforms and sophisticated cyber and information operations pose to geopolitical stability, and supports projects in various regions to deliver innovative solutions. HD’s Cyber Programme includes tracks of bilateral and regional dialogue that draw on and feed into broader multilateral initiatives to create a global framework for cyber stability. HD engages with various countries possessing advanced cyber capabilities to develop a range of confidence-building measures.

These efforts are supported by process design, on-the-ground analysis, and the capacity to connect the different levels of conflicts and peacemaking, while providing discreet advice and ideas to the international peace community.

Activities mainly revolve around:

• Mediation and dialogue facilitation: HD brings together conflict parties and stakeholders to find mutually acceptable agreements.
• Mediation support: HD supports other mediators and intermediaries in peace processes.
• Peace negotiation support: HD engages with conflict parties and stakeholders to prepare them for talks and advance negotiations.

Informal diplomacy: HD supports diplomatic efforts to increase peaceful cooperation between states and prevent conflict or its escalation.

Digital policy issues

Cyberconflict and warfare

The frontlines of conflict are now increasingly digital. HD’s Digital Conflict team is the bridge between these modern realities and traditional mediation.

HD’s Social Media and Conflict Mediation Programme supports projects in various regions and is delivering innovative solutions that include: A landmark social media peace agreement among three communities in Nigeria to limit inflammatory content that has fuelled deadly ethno-religious conflict; Codes of conduct for responsible online behaviour during elections in Indonesia and Kosovo*; A citizens’ forum in Bosnia and Herzegovina that developed standards for social media conduct in the run-up to elections; A dialogue with social media platforms on the importance of protecting peace processes from social media harm.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Digital tools and initiatives

In partnership with Build Up, HD has developed a toolkit to help mediators analyse social media activities and better understand how these insights can complement dialogue and mediation efforts. The clear and practical guide features case studies from Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, and other conflict areas.

Social media channels

LinkedIn @Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)

X @hdcentre

YouTube @thecentreforhumanitariandi8980

Flickr @The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue