H.E. Amb. Silva, Mr. Mohamed Moussa and Debalkew Berhe
The European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and several international organizations involved in the program management of biodiversity met on February 25 and 26, in Djibouti, to review the implementation of the program which was funded by the European Union to the tune of € 14 million under the Regional Indicative Programme of the 10th European Development Fund.
Managed by IGAD, the aim of the program is to protect and promote the regional biodiversiy objective.
“These projects will contribute to the conservation and management of biodiversity in the Horn of Africa, especially by improving livelihoods in rich ecosystems through better use of land and natural resources and practices different management in coastal and border areas, “said Mr. Joseph Silva, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Djibouti. He also reminded that the protection of the environment and fragile ecosystems is a priority of regional support from the European Union programs.
Three specific areas are affected by these projects: South / Sudan-Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya-Somalia. This partnership with IGAD will also continue under the 11th EDF (2014-2020).
Mr. Mohamed Moussa, the Director of Agriculture and Environment said, ” The IGAD Biodiversity Programme is aimed at improving the livelihoods of the population through an improved and sustainable management of its biodiversity resources.” He added, “This is to be done by assessing existing national policies and information systems and developing regional common policy and information frameworks for biodiversity management.”
During the two-day meeting, the three regional organizations have benefited from EU funding worth € 9 million in the program – the Regional Centre for the Horn of Africa for the Environment University of Addis Ababa, the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry in Nairobi and the International Union for Conservation of Nature based in Brussels – will present the activities and objectives of their projects in terms of protection and promotion of the regional biodiversity.
