March 5, 2020 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) today signed a grant agreement aimed at strengthening the IGAD Refugees Programme with the Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia, H.E. Torbjörn Pettersson. They also took the opportunity to launch a project called “Strengthening Coordination and Implementation of IDDRSI” (SCII).
The 3.6 million US Dollar grant will support IGAD Member Sates towards the harmonisation of refugee protection and management policies based on a full and inclusive application of the international refugee protection.
It will contribute to the strengthening of the implementation of regional commitments by promoting comparable and predictable mechanisms for refugee management, strengthening sharing of experience and best practices as well as of transfer of technical capacity between IGAD Member States
‘The grant from the Government of Sweden to strengthen the Refugees Programme in our region is very timely and it will be used judiciously for investments that will bring impact at people’s level’, the Executive Secretary said in his opening speech.
A project called “Strengthening Coordination and Implementation of the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI)” (SCII) was also launched.
‘The fund provided by Sweden for the project we are launching today, which is USD 6.1 million, is targeted to fill key gaps identified during the implementation of Phase I of IDDRSI, and other strategic resilience enhancing undertakings’, Dr Workneh highlighted.
The two parties also took the time to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding that aims at improving coordination of multi-sectoral projects and programmes that are consistent with mandates of both IGAD and Sweden.
