November 4 ,2025 A(ddis Ababa, Ethiopia) : The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through its Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP) under the Agriculture and Environment Division, successfully convened the Regional Consultation Meeting for the IGAD Irrigation Development and Agricultural Water Management Strategy (2024–2035) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The two-day meeting, held from 3rd to 4th November 2025, brought IGAD technical experts and key sectorial expertsfrom Member States, alongside food systems focal persons . The consultation aimed to review the draft regional strategy aligned with the continental framework on irrigation development and sustainable agricultural water management.
Speaking on behalf of H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD, the Director of the Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration Division (ECRID) reaffirmed IGAD’s commitment to advancing regional food security and climate resilience:
“Sustainable irrigation and water management are central to building resilient food systems and achieving IGAD’s Vision 2050 for a secure, resilient, and prosperous region.”
Throughout extensive consultation sessions, delegates reviewed and refined the Strategy’s key components, including the strategic framework, implementation plan, delivery mechanisms, and monitoring and evaluation framework. Discussions focused on promoting coordinated investment, institutional capacity strengthening, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms among Member States.
Dr Senait Regassa, FSRP Manager, emphasised that the validation marks a crucial step toward harmonising regional approaches and scaling up climate-smart irrigation practices that directly contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2 and SDG 6), the Malabo Declaration, and Agenda 2063.
The validated IGAD Irrigation Strategy provides a comprehensive framework to address recurrent droughts, low water productivity, and declining agricultural yields by encouraging efficient water use and inclusive investment in irrigation infrastructure. The Strategy’s adoption will support Member States to align national policies and actions with regional and continental commitments.
The meeting concluded with a strong call for Member States and partners to jointly engage on the process of the adoption of the regional strategy to drive collective action for food security and economic transformation in the region.
