Addis Ababa, January 21, 2015: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held the first IGAD Meeting of the Ministers of Water Resources on 21 January 2015 at Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The objective of the meeting was to deliberate on common challenges and opportunities in the region to sustainably manage the water resources in support of socio-economic development, peace building, and regional integration in the region. The Ministers received the report of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which preceded the ministerial meeting on 20 January 2015.
The Ministers were also briefed on the Regional Water Resources Policy prepared by IGAD Secretariat, and reviewed and endorsed by the TAC members.
The Ministers deliberated on the Regional Water Resources Policy and agreed on the following:
• Approved the IGAD Regional Water Resources Policy;
• Urged IGAD Secretariat to take the necessary steps for the development of the Water Protocol for the implementation of the regional policy;
• Further urged the IGAD Secretariat to establish a Unit to follow up the implementation of the regional water resources policy, the development of the Water Protocol and sustainable water resources management in the region in general;
• Expressed the full commitment of IGAD Member States for the implementation of the regional policy, the development of the Water Protocol and the sustainable management of water resources, both at national and regional levels.
