CIVIC began its engagement in East Africa in 2011, advancing civilian protection efforts across a region shaped by overlapping conflicts, regional military operations, armed groups, displacement, and political instability.  

Drawing on CIVIC’s experience working with multinational security operations in other regions, the East Africa program focuses on strengthening civilian harm mitigation practices, advancing civilian protection policies, and supporting stronger engagement between communities and security actors. 

In Kenya, CIVIC launched operational activities in 2019, particularly in border counties such as Lamu, Wajir, and Garissa. In these regions, CIVIC established community protection groups (CPGs), conducted training for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on civilian protection and civilian harm mitigation, and facilitated civil-military dialogues to foster trust and transparency. 

Since establishing its presence in Somalia in 2019, CIVIC has expanded its activities by supporting community-based protection initiatives and localized dialogue efforts in conflict-affected areas while partnering with national security institutions. 

In April 2026, the Federal Republic of Somalia’s Cabinet of Ministers formally adopted the National Protection of Civilians (PoC) Policy. This landmark framework, developed with CIVIC’s strategic and technical support, aims to prevent, mitigate, and respond to civilian harm in conflict areas.