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Who We Are

At our core, we believe in the power of collaboration and knowledge exchange.

A Collaborative Pathway to Inclusive Peace and Security in Eastern Africa

Africa Center for Engendered Security (ACES) is a dynamic Nairobi-based regional think-tank of SOWED Kenya committed to promoting social inclusion within the framework of youth, peace and security in Eastern Africa. The think-tank leverages rigorous research, strategic advocacy, and collaborative partnerships to address complex peace, and security challenges with a particular focus on youth.

Our Mission

Empowering youth by amplifying and integrating their voices and perspectives in decision-making frameworks while promoting inclusive, gendered practices that foster sustainable peace and security in Eastern Africa.

Our Vision

A peaceful, inclusive, and secure Eastern Africa, driven by an empowered and resilient youth actively shaping sustainable peace and security.

Winners of DIAR Awards

Core Values

At ACES Africa Center, our core values are the cornerstone of our mission. We champion inclusion and representation by ensuring that the voices of youth -an underrepresented demographic group- play an influential role in shaping peace and security decisions. We lead in empowerment and accountability through reforms, capacity building, and transparent practices that inspire transformative change. Moreover, we also uphold integrity by grounding our work in evidence-based actions designed to challenge and dismantle systemic inequalities, and pave the way for sustainable, long-term peace.

Inclusion & Representation

We ensure representation and integration of youth voices in decision-making processes by dismantling traditional power imbalances in both peacebuilding initiatives and security management efforts.

Empowerment & Accountability

We champion youth empowerment and build robust capacity for accountability and inclusivity, ensuring that the institutions and processes driving peace and security in our region remain effective, transparent and equitable.

Integrity & Evidence-Based Collaboration

We adhere to global human rights standards and ensure that our initiatives are grounded on research and are co-created together with our beneficiaries to foster sustainable, long-term peace and security.

Who We Work With

ACES – Africa Center works with a growing number of international development partners, experts in government, multilateral institutions and regional mechanisms, regional think-tanks, research and academic institutions, private sector and local communities to advance the shared goal of peace, security, inclusion and regional stability.

ACES – Africa Center is a member of the Steering Committee of Rights and Security International Coalition and East Africa GBV Network. We are co-convenors of the Eastern Africa PCVE Community of Practice.

Our Approach

ACES - Africa Center is dedicated to identifying gaps and challenging obstacles through research, advocacy and capacity building

For decades since the the UN’s landmark Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (1325) and Youth Peace, and Security (2250) the traditional notion of national and collective security in eastern Africa has remained unchanged. This continues to disproportionately position governments as the only actors in regional peace, security and stability processes excluding non-state actors and important stakeholder groups, and intersectional levels of analysis that are critical in accelerating the realization of Africa’s transformation master plan for a peaceful, secure, inclusive and stable Eastern Africa. As a learning regional organization, ACES – Africa Center is dedicated to identifying gaps and challenging obstacles through research, advocacy and capacity building as solutions for inclusion and meaningful participation of communities; civil society, academia and the private sector. By taking an inclusive and intersectional approach that informs all aspects of the nexus between terrorism and violent extremism with conflict, ecological threats, human rights and governance, ACES – Africa Center opens up safe spaces for engendering peace, security and stability in Eastern Africa and opportunities for accelerating the realization of Africa’s transformation master plan by investing in information, networks, people, processes and outcomes. The quest for engendering peace, security and stabilization processes represents the uncontested need for inclusion and meaningful participation of women, youth and children as survivors and victims of insecurity, violence and conflict, and advocating for a multi-directional partnership frameworks that doesn’t leave other stakeholder groups such as civil society behind in line with Security Council’s resolutions, Sustainable Development Goals, UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and regional commitments. [/expand]