April 23-25th (MACHAKOS, Kenya): IGAD, in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), concluded a 3-day Risk Management Training held under the Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PREPARE) Project, with the aim of building robust mechanisms for anticipating and managing risks within public health programmes across the region.
The training convened technical teams from IGAD and the Red Cross/Red Crescent network to develop and refine risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies grounded in One Health approach. This joint effort is part of a broader goal to shift from reactive crisis response to proactive preparedness and strategic risk reduction—ensuring that regional pandemic response mechanisms are not only timely but also sustainable.
Over the three days, the meeting achieved the following:
➤ Populated live, programme-specific Risk Registers tailored to ongoing preparedness efforts
➤ Developed and aligned Risk and Control Matrices (RACM) for strengthened mitigation planning
➤ Built technical capacity for incident reporting, risk monitoring and follow-up actions
➤ Linked risk intelligence to long-term programme planning and cross-sector coordination
The training further emphasized the importance of fostering a shared risk-aware culture across IGAD institutions and their partners. As part of its multi-sectoral approach, the PREPARE Project supports integrated pandemic prevention and response systems that operate across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
During the opening of the training, Dr. Fatuma Adan, IGAD Head of Mission to Kenya, remarked, “Pandemics do not wait for systems to be ready. This training presents a vital opportunity to ensure our institutions are equipped not only to respond, but also to anticipate and prevent the next crisis.” She added that effective risk management necessitates not only technical tools, but also collaboration, communication, and coordination across countries, sectors, and institutions.
The PREPARE Project, supported by the Pandemic Fund through WHO, is a flagship regional initiative aimed at mitigating the impacts of epidemics and pandemics by enhancing IGAD’s cross-border preparedness and multisectoral coordination. The project aligns with global standards for pandemic response while tailoring solutions to the unique vulnerabilities and strengths of the IGAD region.
The training in Machakos represents a significant step in operationalizing IGAD’s commitment to preparedness by institutionalizing risk management and cultivating a collective readiness mindset among its implementing teams and partners.
The event convened experts from IGAD, IFRC, national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, and technical advisors involved in program design, monitoring and evaluation, finance, and emergency preparedness.
