July 02, 2019 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a three-day validation workshop of the draft Strategic Manual for Valuation of Blue Economy in Addis Ababa on June 24, 25 and 26.
Workshop participants were member states focal persons for Blue Economy, National consultants, international and regional consultants from SOGEROM consulting firm, IGAD experts, representatives from the European (EU) Delegation to Djibouti and from the Food and Agriculture organisation Sub-regional Office for Eastern Africa.
The workshop was meant to validate the valuation manual developed by IGAD with technical support from SOGEROM consulting firm, to train on the role of Blue Economy and how it contributes to socio-economic development.
This event was the first component of the project supported by the European Union on the assessment of the Blue Economy approach in IGAD region.
The Director of IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP), Commander Abebe Muluneh, made an opening speech on behalf of IGAD Executive Secretary. He stressed that IGAD Secretariat has established a Blue Economy Unit to develop the sector at the regional level as a means to contributing to resilience building, socio economic development of the region and job creation especially for youth and women.
He also expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the EU to IGAD through different projects, and specifically to the EU Delegation to Djibouti for the support for the assessment of the Blue Economy in IGAD region.
Program Manager Khola Mohamed from the EU Delegation to Djibouti delivered her opening remarks on the EU support to IGAD region to develop a regional Blue Economy strategy and a five-year action plan. As an input for the strategy, the field assessment will be carried at national and regional levels. She reaffirmed the commitment of the EU to support the socio-economic development in the region and specifically the upcoming IGAD Blue Economy Conference to be held in Djibouti on September 16 and 17 this year.
At the end of the three days, the Strategic Manual for Valuation of Blue Economy was validated and used as a training material. Field work of the experts using the validated valuation manual immediately started from Ethiopia, and further it will serve to collect the data from all member states of IGAD.
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