IGAD - FAO efforts to develop regional CAADP were attained yesterday 20.5.2013, when member state, NGOs, private sector actors and development partners validated the draft CAADP - the IGAD team was led by Mohamed Moussa, Director AED while the FAO delegation was led by the Amb. (Dr) Modibo Traore. It is expected that the CAADP compact will be signed before the Platform Steering Committee meeting in September 2013 after the changes suggested by the participants are effected and the document is revised to harmonize its content with the IGAD drought disaster resilience and sustainability initiative (IDDRSI)

The First Meeting of the IGAD Biodiversity Programme Steering Committee was held on 6-8 May 2013 at IGAD Headquarters in Djibouti. The Committee reviewed activities undertaken so far during the start-up phase to recruit the long-term Technical Assistance (TA) and the support staff as well as the draft operational Programme Estimate (PE) to be implemented by the long-term TA. The Steering Committee further reviewed the draft grant proposals developed by the three Implementing Partners (IPs), namely IUCN, ICRAF and HoA-REC/N. The Steering Committee made a number of recommendations that would facilitate the smooth start of the implementation of the programme.

IGAD and UNOSAT have concluded the first phase of training on Geo-information for Disaster Risk Reduction. In this training, eighteen participants were selected from various IGAD institutions, and trained by staff from UNOSAT on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the Regional Center for Mapping Resources for Development (RCMRD).

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the IGAD Inland Water Resources Management Programme (INWRMP) met for the first time at the Kempinski Hotel, Djibouti, on 2-3 December 2012. The meeting focused on the priority water issues that need to be addressed in the IGAD region and on the role of the INWRMP in this regard. The IGAD INWRMP TAC is a specialized think tank which will provide support to the implementation of the Programme in the years to come.

IGAD member states to work together as a region to increase investment towards ending drought emergencies by building sustainable livelihoods