October 14, 2025(Nairobi, Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has successfully concluded a two-day Meeting to Establish the Joint Focal Group (JFG) on the Water–Food Nexus, held from 13–14 October 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting brought together national experts from the water and agriculture sectors across IGAD Member States to chart a coordinated path towards resilient and sustainable food and water systems in the region.
The JFG, jointly supported through IGAD’s Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP) and Water Unit, will serve as a technical platform linking national focal points from both sectors. Its core aim is to enhance collaboration, data sharing, and the co-design of integrated solutions that address the complex interconnections between water use, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience.
Throughout the two days, participants reviewed and adopted the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the JFG, and identified practical mechanisms for cross-border cooperation. The meeting also defined a 90-day action matrix outlining roles, milestones, and deliverables to operationalise the JFG’s work.
Speaking during the closing session, IGAD representatives commended Member States for their strong engagement and reaffirmed IGAD’s commitment to advancing regional integration through science-based collaboration.
“This Joint Focal Group reflects IGAD’s approach to resilience — bringing together diverse sectors to work as one in confronting shared challenges. By linking water and agriculture, we are not only strengthening food systems but also securing livelihoods for millions across our region,” said an IGAD Water Unit representative.
The newly established JFG will act as a hub for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and joint technical guidance, ensuring that policy and practice move in tandem to achieve sustainable water and food security outcomes across the IGAD region.
