May 12-15, 2025 (Moyale), through its Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Programme (PRBP), conducted a baseline validation mission in two key cross-border areas: the Moyale Cluster and the Mandera Triangle Cluster. This programme aims to enhance peace, resilience, and sustainable development in the IGAD borderlands that share common socio-economic and cultural ties, but also face challenges such as conflict, migration, climate change, and underdevelopment.
The first leg of the mission on 12th to 13th May was convened in Moyale, Ethiopia, and the second on 14th –15th May 2025 in Moyale, Kenya for the Mandera Triangle Cluster (tri-border area shared by Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia). The Baseline Validation Workshop focused on validating baseline findings and consolidating coordination mechanisms.
This forum brought together representatives from local governments, NGOs, implementing partners, and IGAD’s Cross-Border Facilitation Unit. It aimed to promote joint learning, strategic collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making.
The first day of the workshop featured a presentation of the IGAD coordination structure and its Terms of Reference, group discussions facilitated by National Focal Points and implementation Committees to assess coordination efficiency, recommendations for improving thematic coordination, particularly in communication and information flow, presentations on IGAD’s Specialised Institutions and a strategic discussion on the way forward.
The second day incorporated an overview of key outputs and the coordination platform’s structure, presentation of baseline findings and strategic recommendations, and thematic group sessions on transboundary natural resource management, cross-border coordination, policy harmonisation, and institutional frameworks.
Enhanced cross-border coordination, policy advocacy and awareness, sustainable resource management were some of the key outputs of the workshops. These baseline validation workshops were crucial in establishing a coordinated, inclusive, and locally grounded approach to peace and development in the IGAD borderlands. The workshops concluded with a plenary session where participants reached consensus on actionable strategies to strengthen peace, resilience, and collaboration.
The PRBP is being co-implemented by IGAD and GIZ to reduce the impact of local conflicts in the borderlands and enhance resilience in the three IGAD clusters in the Member States of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan.
