Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)

What Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) does

Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a Swiss non-profit foundation founded in 1999 that delivers discreet, impartial, and independent conflict mediation services. It operates as a private diplomatic intermediary engaging governments, rebel groups, and non-state armed actors in armed conflicts across Africa, the Middle East, Eurasia, Asia, and Latin America, with documented involvement in most of the world's violent conflicts. HD's core methodology centres on backstage, multi-track diplomacy conducted through trusted personal networks rather than formal negotiation forums.

The organisation's "products" are programmatic rather than commercial: the Mediation Support and Policy Directorate (MESU) provides strategy and process design to field teams; thematic programmes span Humanitarian Mediation, Digital Conflict, Environmental Peacemaking, Gender and Inclusion, and Organised Crime and Peacemaking; flagship convening outputs include the Oslo Forum (co-hosted with Norway's MFA since 2003) and the AI Code of Conduct on military systems. Supporting knowledge products include the Mediation Practice Series, peer-review methodology, monitoring and evaluation toolkits, and a social media analysis toolkit developed with Build Up and UN DPPA. HD operates from Geneva headquarters with regional hubs in Nairobi and Singapore, plus country offices in the Central African Republic, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal, and Sudan, and a network of 2,000 agro-pastoral mediators across the Sahel.

HD is funded by governments and private philanthropy and does not sell commercial products or services; revenue is not publicly disclosed. The Foundation Board is chaired by Dr Joanne Liu (since early 2024), and the senior management team is led by Executive Director David Harland. The 2022 Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize and the 2024 Global Strategy 2024-2027 underscore HD's positioning as a long-duration, mission-driven institution rather than a transactional service provider.

Name

Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)

Legal name

CENTRE HENRY DUNANT POUR LE DIALOGUE HUMANITAIRE (HD Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue)

Website

https://hdcentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a Swiss non-profit foundation founded in 1999 that provides discreet, impartial conflict mediation between governments, armed groups, and other conflict parties across Africa, the Middle East, Eurasia, and Asia, funded by governments and private philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conflict Mediation and Peacemaking Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Conflict mediation
• Private diplomacy
• Peace negotiation
• Humanitarian access
• Ceasefire facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HD is a Swiss non-profit foundation that provides discreet, impartial and independent conflict mediation services to reduce human suffering caused by war. Through a network of mediators and offices across Africa, the Middle East, Eurasia and Asia, HD brokers peace agreements, ceasefires and humanitarian access arrangements between governments, armed groups and other conflict parties at international, inter-state and local levels. The organisation also produces practitioner toolkits, publications and the annual Oslo Forum for the international mediation community.

Product overview

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a Swiss-based non-profit organisation focused on private diplomacy, mediation, and peacemaking rather than a traditional technology product company. HD's offerings consist of conflict mediation services, annual events (Oslo Forum), thematic programmes (Digital Conflict, Humanitarian Mediation, Organised Crime and Peacemaking, Environmental Peacemaking, Gender and Inclusion), and knowledge products (Mediation Practice Series publications, toolkits, podcasts). The core offering is the Mediation Support and Policy Directorate (MESU) which provides strategic support to HD's field operations across Africa, Middle East, Eurasia, and Asia. HD also produces specialized toolkits (social media analysis, peer review methodology, M&E tools) and publishes guidance documents and reports for the wider peacemaking community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Conflict Programme A thematic programme addressing digital technologies in conflict, including social media and conflict mediation, cyber mediation, AI and emerging technologies, and outer space security. The programme is delivered to mediators, governments and international organisations seeking to mitigate the conflict risks of digital technologies.
• Humanitarian Mediation Programme HD's team operating in hard-to-reach areas where humanitarian and diplomatic channels are most constrained, engaging armed actors to create space for humanitarian and health action.
• Mediation Support and Policy Directorate (MESU) HD's nerve centre for strategy, innovation and excellence in mediation, providing technical expertise, process design options, and gender-responsive inclusive peacemaking support to country teams and external mediators.
• Organised Crime and Peacemaking Initiative HD's initiative helping peacemakers understand how crime and illicit economies affect conflict and supporting the design of responses that strengthen peace and stability in crime-affected contexts.
• Environmental Peacemaking HD's programme integrating climate and environment considerations into mediation processes, addressing climate-driven aspects of conflict at local, national, regional and international levels.
• Gender and Inclusion Programme HD's programme supporting gender-responsive and inclusive peacemaking approaches with technical advice, gender analysis, and training for mediation practitioners.
• AI and Emerging Technologies Programme Programme developing international measures and a Code of Conduct on artificial intelligence in military systems to address AI risks for international peace and security across military and civilian applications.
• Social Media Analysis Toolkit A standalone toolkit developed in partnership with Build Up and the UN DPPA to help mediators analyse social media content, identify conflict-relevant patterns, and monitor social media provisions in peace agreements.
• Peer Review Methodology and Tools Standalone published guidance and tools for mediation practitioners on peer review methodology, available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Toolkit HD's tailored M&E tools including peer reviews, rapid reflections, results validation exercises, and peacemaking-tailored reviews and evaluations for use in mediation processes.
• Mediation Practice Series HD's flagship publication series providing guidance for mediation practitioners, including publications on gender-inclusive peacemaking, engaging criminal armed groups, and creative entry points in mediation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of local conflict settlements in the Sahel
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Norway's Ministry of Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts The Oslo Forum with HD since 2003. The Oslo Forum is the premier annual retreat for senior mediators and decision-makers to reflect on mediation practice, develop new approaches, and advance negotiations in specific processes.
• myclimateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss-based carbon offset organization. HD has adopted an institutional carbon offset programme through myclimate to compensate for unavoidable CO2 emissions. myclimate comes with the highest available standards and verifications globally.
• 2050TodayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate action initiative of institutions based in Geneva to tackle climate change by measurably reducing GHG emissions. HD is a member of this initiative.
• South China Sea Fisheries Science Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork that HD helped establish, bringing together scientists and policymakers from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam to promote cooperative approaches to sustainable fisheries management.
• Build UpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for developing toolkits to help mediators analyse social media and monitor social media provisions in peace agreements.
• UN DPPA (United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for developing toolkits to help mediators analyse social media and monitor social media provisions in peace agreements.
• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on developing a comprehensive video series on ceasefires and security transition processes for mediation practitioners.
• International Contact GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHD works as a member of the International Contact Group supporting the peace process in the southern Philippines with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Carter Center: Atlanta-based nonprofit founded by former US President Jimmy Carter, with conflict resolution as one of several global health, democracy and peace programmes. Comparable in track record of mediation in active conflicts and as a globally recognised peace-focused nonprofit, though broader in scope.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): US federally-funded national institute providing conflict resolution expertise, training and applied policy work globally. Comparable as a larger, government-tied institution in the same mediation/conflict-prevention space, but with broader policy and research remit beyond field mediation.
• United Nations DPPA (Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs): UN Secretariat department leading UN peacemaking and political work globally, including direct partnerships with HD on toolkits and mediation support. Comparable in mediation mandate and global scope, though vastly larger and government-tied rather than a nonprofit foundation.

Direct peers

• Search for Common Ground: Washington DC-headquartered international nonprofit operating in 30+ conflict-affected countries to transform how conflict is handled. Comparable as a large-scale conflict-resolution nonprofit with similar field presence and donor mix.
• Conciliation Resources: London-based international nonprofit working on peacebuilding through dialogue, mediation support and inclusive peace processes in conflict-affected countries. Closely comparable in mission, methodology (discreet dialogue, multi-track) and donor base.
• Interpeace: Geneva-based international peacebuilding organisation supporting inclusive peace processes and local dialogue, with field offices across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Directly comparable as a Swiss-headquartered peace-focused nonprofit with similar geographic and thematic remit.
• Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation: Finland-headquartered nonprofit mediator founded by Nobel laureate Martti Ahtisaari, providing discreet conflict mediation and dialogue facilitation across global conflict zones. Directly comparable in mission, operating model and target clients (governments, conflict parties).
• International Crisis Group (ICG): Brussels-based independent nonprofit working on conflict prevention and resolution through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy. Comparable as a globally operating conflict-resolution nonprofit with comparable regional field presence, donor base and thematic scope (mediation, policy advice).

Regional players

• swisspeace: Bern-based Swiss academic peace research institute associated with the University of Basel, conducting peacebuilding research and supporting mediation practitioners. Comparable as a Swiss-headquartered peace organisation, though more research-oriented and smaller in field operations than HD.
• NOREF – Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre: Norwegian peace policy think tank providing policy advice and research on peace processes globally. Comparable as a partner in the Oslo Forum ecosystem and a Nordic peace-focused organisation, though primarily research rather than operational mediation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hdcentre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPJiG93jS3OEnvw5wIukc4Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centreforhumanitariandialogue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)