October 26, 2024 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): In response to the pressing challenges facing food security across the IGAD region, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) through the Agriculture and Environment Division, convened a workshop in Addis Ababa from 25-26 October 2024 to validate the IGAD Regional Food and Nutrition Security Strategy (2025-2034). Organised under the IGAD Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP), this event brought together technical experts of the Agriculture and Health ministries, civil society organizations, as well as private sector to review and finalise a framework aimed to improve the availability and accessibility of adequate, diverse, safe and nutritious food for the IGAD region.
IGAD’s Regional Food and Nutrition Security Strategy is designed to tackle the critical factors impacting food security across the region. Issues such as recurrent droughts, flooding, and climate-driven disruptions have had severe effects on agriculture and food availability, leading to malnutrition. IGAD’s partnership with the World Bank in the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) since January 2023 seeks to build robust food systems and enhance regional preparedness for food crises.
Mrs. Sentayhu Demissie, Head of the Food Security Unit at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture, underscored the proactive role of the Ethiopian government, stating, “In response, the Government of Ethiopia, in collaboration with our development partners, has initiated a range of programs and its own initiatives such as Green Legacy, the Wheat Initiative, and Yelemat Turufat or Bounty Basket. These are flagship programs, alongside projects like PSNP, FSRP, PACT, DRIVEP, DRDIP, LFSDP, and LLRP, to address these pressing issues. We have also developed comprehensive policies and strategies, such as the revised Agriculture and Rural Development Policy, Food and Nutrition Policy and Strategy, the Seqota Declaration, and the Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Strategy, among others.”
The 2025-2034 strategy has been shaped by extensive consultation and collaboration with relevant entities in IGAD Member States. Over recent months, IGAD consultant, with support from seven national consultants, have conducted extensive research, key informant interviews, and group discussions to develop the draft framework. This strategy aims to increase food availability, promote safe and nutritious food, and build resilience across member states, ultimately fostering long-term regional food security.
Dr. Eshete Dejen, Program Manager of IGAD’s Agriculture and Environment Division, on behalf of Director Daher Elmi, underlined the program’s scope, noting, “IGAD, with funding from the World Bank, is implementing a seven-year program on Food Systems Resilience for Eastern and Southern Africa (FSRP), and later recalled“The development of the Food Systems and Nutrition Security Strategy is timely in addressing regional food systems and nutrition challenges for sustainable and resilient food and nutrition security in the context of the ever worsening climate related and other challenges”.
This validation meeting marked a key step toward presenting the final Strategy document with a communiqué for Ministerial endorsement in December 2024. By reinforcing regional cooperation and addressing the root causes of food insecurity, the IGAD Regional Food and Nutrition Security Strategy (2025-2034) establishes a foundation for a resilient, adaptive, and food-secure IGAD region.
