July 8, 2026 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has convened Member States, research institutions, Centres of Excellence, and technical partners in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to validate the Assessment Report on the Regional Centres of Excellence (RCoEs) for Climate-Smart Agriculture.
Held under the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP), the two-day meeting is validating the study report for the assessment of the regional centres of excellence in the IGAD region and specifically review the identified lessons learned, challenges, and proposed options for a sustainable regional architecture and business model that can effectively support Climate-Smart Agriculture in the IGAD region.
Opening the meeting on behalf of Director Daher Elmi of Agriculture and Environment Division, IGAD, Dr. Sylvia Henga, Policy Officer and Food Security Expert, highlighted the need for collective action.
” Let us take this opportunity to build consensus on a model that will not only serve today’s needs but also position the region to address future climate and food security challenges. By working together, we can establish stronger regional institutions capable of driving innovation, fostering partnerships, and accelerating the transformation of our food systems.”
The meeting reflects IGAD’s continued commitment to advancing climate-smart agriculture and strengthening regional cooperation to build resilient, productive, and sustainable food systems for the people of Eastern Africa.
Expressed sincere gratitude to the World Bank for its continued support through the Food Systems Resilience Program, as well as to all partners and experts who have contributed to this important assessment process.
