June 11, 2019 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), H.E. Amb. (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim, today received accreditation letters from the Ambassador of Denmark to Ethiopia, H.E. Karin Poulsen, in his office at the Secretariat of the regional organisation.

Among other things, the Executive Secretary noted the collegial working relations IGAD has had with Denmark. The Executive Secretary highlighted the support provided by Denmark to IGAD programmes and projects. He touched on the benefits reaped by communities from a Danish grant to IGAD geared towards food security through support to Civil Society Organisations in rural areas and to applied research institutions. He also draw the Ambassador’s attention to the IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School (ISTVS) in Somaliland and how positively it has impacted livestock development for the sub region.

He recalled a mission to the European Nordic countries, Denmark included, a few years ago he and his team undertook as a means to promote IGAD’s work and build bridges to Ministries of Foreign Affairs and development agencies. He highlighted how useful and fruitful that mission was.

Amb. Poulsen thanked the Executive secretary for the warm welcome and assured him that Denmark will “remain close to IGAD”. She said her belief and that of her country in the benefits of regional integration. She reiterated strong support to the peace and security sector and expressed interest in knowing more about migration programmes and projects within IGAD.

The Executive Secretary took Amb. Poulsen to the IGAD Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (CEPCVE) for a tour of the premises and an overview of the programme. After which, Amb. Poulsen held a meeting with IGAD staff members in charge of the Migration programme led by the Director of Health and Social Development, Ms Fathia A. Alwan.

On June 10, the Executive Secretary received accreditation letters from the Ambassador of Turkey to Djibouti, H.E. Amb Salim Levent Sahinkaya.

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Djibouti, 24 May 2019: The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Amb (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim this morning sent a message of congratulations to Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Former Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on his nomination as one of the 2019 recipients of the prestigious Spring Imperial Decoration of Japan. 

Mr. Desalegn is set to receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
Amb. Maalim described the nomination as very well-deserved in light of Mr. Desalegn’s exemplary leadership in promoting regional peace and security during his premiership, and his capacity at the time as Chairperson of IGAD. Amb. Maalim added, Mr. Desalegn maintained very strong relationship with key partners who have been supporting peace efforts in the region including Japan.  

Amb. Maalim took the opportunity to praise the generous support that the Government of Japan continues to provide to IGAD’s regional peace and security programs particularly towards ongoing peace efforts in the Republic of South Sudan. ENDS.

03 May 2019, LONDON (United Kingdom): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), H.E. Amb (Eng) Mahboub Maalim, this evening concluded successful engagements in the UK with a speech at the Chatham House-the Royal Institute of International Affairs based in London, a “world-leading centre for policy research & debate on Africa's politics”. 

Amb Maalim presented on “The Future of IGAD: Responding to New Realities in the Horn of Africa”.

In the morning, the Executive Secretary had a productive meeting with Mr Julian Reilly, UK Envoy for the Horn of Africa & the Red Sea at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. They discussed regional developments and IGAD’s role.

Amb Maalim took the opportunity to also meet with senior officials including the Head of Department for International Development (DFID) East Africa and the new UK Envoy for the Horn and the Red Sea. 

The UK Government appreciate the good work of the IGAD Secretariat and have shown interest in exploring further engagement and support.

The Chatham House hosted African head of states and governments.

During his mission, the Executive Secretary took the time to meet and interact with members of the diaspora from IGAD countries.

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The Executive Secretary of IGAD, H.E. Ambassador Mahboub Maalim was among heads of Regional Economic Community who have signed the Regional Indicative Programme (RIP) with with the European Union. The programme was first signed in 2015 by the EU and five regional organisations in the Eastern, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean (ESA-IO).  Following a mid-term review on the RIP implementation, conducted in 2017, the first addendum to the RIP was prepared and duly signed by the EU and the five regional organisations.  As a result, the overall budget of the RIP was increased from EUR 1.332 billion to EUR 1.49 billion.

The priorities for the EU Africa partnership are to focus on achieving peace and stability, managing migration and mobility, consolidating democracy and good governance, unleashing economic opportunities, reaching human development standards, and addressing climate change.

Nairobi, Kenya, 19 April 2019: The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Amb (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim has sent a message of congratulations to Hon. Gedu Andargachew on his appointment today as the new Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

10 April 2019, NAIROBI (Kenya): The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). H.E. Amb (Eng) Mahboub Maalim, this morning inaugurated Technical Joint Consultations on Strengthening IGAD Planning, Monitoring and Reporting Framework, Tools and Indicators in Nairobi.

These two-day consultations are gathering IGAD member states’ Ministries/Departments with the role of planning and monitoring of regional, continental and global agendas along with Project Managers/Coordinators and Sector Experts from IGAD Secretariat and Specialised Institutions.

This meeting is part of a series of technical consultations that focus on providing comprehensive set of strategic actions and activities that will lead to in-depth analytical review of the existing policy and operational environment across IGAD to strengthen the planning, monitoring and reporting frameworks, tools and indicators.

The consultations are to determine the degree of alignment of IGAD’s regional Strategy 2016-2020 with the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) frameworks, and identify priority issues for actions to attain the recommended high degree of alignment. This includes establishing complementarily of indicators (targets and baselines) and milestones between all levels.

It is in this respect that another Consultations Meeting dedicated to IGAD Secretariat and Specialised Institutions Project Managers/Coordinators and Sector Experts was held on 08 and 09 April at the same venue.

At the opening of the member states and IGAD staff consultations today, Amb Maalim highlighted the importance for all to “conclude the meeting after fruitful deliberations having internalized the fact that we need to work on Planning, M&E and Reporting at the in-country, regional and global level”.

At the closure of this meeting between member states planning entities and IGAD organisation staff members, it is expected that:

• Action points are identified for priority activities to strengthen and harmonize IGAD planning, monitoring and reporting framework/system and policy;
• Integration of IGAD results framework indicators (baseline and targets) with the AU Agenda 2063 and SDGs are reviewed; and
• Budget process of projects and programs as per the IGAD Operational Plan 2019 work plan and budget are fine-tuned.

In order for IGAD to foster a collaborative, unified and systematic approach to result-based management, harmonization of indicators, milestones and expected results is essential. Also identifying points to continuously streamline IGAD strategy to the continental and national targets and goals is of paramount importance.

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