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Tuesday, May 18, 2021 (Djibouti-Ville, Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has made access to education by refugees, returnees and host communities one of its top priorities. In December 2017, IGAD ministers in charge education adopted the Djibouti Declaration and Plan of Action on education for people in forced displacement. This was re-affirmed by the Addis Ababa Call for Action issued at the end of the second conference of ministers held in December 2018. The Key Priority Areas of the Djibouti Declaration

• Regional Education Quality Standards
• Regional Skills Development for Refugees
• Inclusion of Refugees Education in National Education Systems
• Accreditation and Certification of Education Programs
• Financing, Partnership, Monitoring and Evaluation

At the heart of all these lies access to quality, affordable, inclusive and relevant education to all but with a focus on populations in displacement settings. IGAD has been working very hard to ensure inclusive and equitable opportunities for this population group.  Scholarship is one important means of ensuring equity and inclusivity both among refugees and other marginal populations. With this in mind, IGAD launched a regional scholarship program to enable eligible citizens achieve their aspirations in life though higher education and skills development programs,

The initiative was launched by the Executive Secretary of IGAD, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, on 5^th April 2021 at the 1^st IGAD Universities Forum held at Jigjiga University in Ethiopia. The launch took place in the presence of, among others, the President of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia, H.E. Mustafe Muhemed Omer and the State Minister for Science and Higher Education of Ethiopia, Professor Afework Kassu. Speaking on the Occasion, Dr Workneh stressed that “special emphasis will be given to candidates, particularly girls, from refugee and displacement affected communities”. 

IGAD is working with universities in the region to make scholarships available. So far, the International University of Africa in Sudan and the Kampala International University in Uganda have made generous offers of 200 and 100 scholarships opportunities, respectively. This has far exceeded the number of opportunities IGAD expected to be available in the short-run. Other major universities in the region have also pledged support to the Program; and specific numbers shall be communicated in due course.

The Guidelines for the Scholarship Program is posted below. 👇

Attachments:

The Guidelines For The IGAD Scholarship Program GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES.pdf

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2021-05-19 05:31

April 19, 2021 (Addis Ababa). The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) marked yet another milestone on its ambition to establish a Regional Cancer Centre of Excellence (RCCE) after H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu led a ceremony that laid the foundation stone of the Centre together with H.E. The Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa., The 200,000-square-metre land that was donated by the Government of Ethiopia will be the home of the state-of-the-art Centre.

The ground-breaking ceremony implements the 2012 decision of the IGAD Council of Ministers that called for the establishment of the Cancer Centre. The ceremony in Addis Ababa was attended by the Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ambassadors of IGAD Member States accredited to IGAD, members of the diplomatic community, and community leaders.

In his opening remarks, the IGAD Executive Secretary said that the Cancer Centre “manifests our commitment to cooperate and collaborate to take cancer care closer to the communities and will serve to drive IGAD’s regional integration agenda through the provision of healthcare at a regional level”. Dr Workneh applauded IGAD member states for the moral and material support for the initiative.

Speaking at the event, H.E. Ms. Lia Tadesse, the Minister for Health of Ethiopia said the establishment of this treatment, training and research centre marks a key milestone in the fight against cancer for the IGAD region and for the African continent as the centre will significantly contribute to building stronger, and more resilient health systems.

The guest of honour Her Lordship Adanach Abiebie, the Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa City Administration informed the attendees that the project, which will be located on twenty hectares of land donated by the city government and valued at a cost of $500 million US dollars. Madam Adanach was upbeat on the initiative; “I would to say that we have made it a tradition not only to start, but also complete projects” she said in her speech.

Deputy Mayor said donation of 200,000-meter square strategic land for free, “demonstrates our firm commitment towards providing better health services.”

Dr. Workneh acknowledges and appreciates the critical support of IGAD partners and appealed to their continued support to help the project to come to fruition

The World Health Organisation estimates that cancer deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa will double in the next 20 years and that cancer rates will increase faster in Africa compared to any other region of the globe. The rate of cancer prevalence in the IGAD region is also very high and the disease is claiming more lives than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

Upon completion, the centre will provide accessible world-class quality cancer care services including diagnosis, treatment, and research. The primary objective of the Centre is aimed at dealing with the growing cancer-induced healthcare challenge being experienced in the region, and train skilful and competent professionals in prevention and treatment of cancer. 

IGAD is an inter-governmental body consisting of eight member states that include Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

Press contact:

Dr Girum Hailu, Senior Advisor, Health and Social Development Division.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+251911118904

| THE ETHIOPIAN | 

April 17, 2021 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will officially inaugurate it's Regional Cancer Centre of Excellence (RCCE) at a ceremony in Addis Ababa to be presided over by the IGAD Executive Secretary, Ambassadors of the IGAD member states, senior Government of Ethiopia officials, and development partners on Monday the 19th of April 2021.

April 7, 2021, (ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, today handed over supplies procured within the framework of the EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response Project to the Government of Ethiopia.