- Your Excellency and my Respected Co-Chair, Simone Knapp, Austrian Ambassador to Ethiopia and permanent representative to AU and IGAD;
- Your Excellency, Birgitte Markusen, Head of the European Union Delegation to the African Union;
- Your Excellency, Henk Jan Bakker, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ethiopia, Permanent representative to the AU and IGAD
- Your Excellency, Hans Henric Lundquist, Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Permanent representative to the AU, IGAD, and UNECA.
- Distinguished Representatives of the European External Action Service;
- Our Partners from the Austrian Development Agency and Members of the Fund Management;
- Distinguished Members of the IPPSHAR Steering Committee;
- Dear IGAD Colleagues; Good morning,
It my distinct pleasure to join you virtually in our annual tradition of the IPPSHAR Project Steering Meeting.
I wish to start by first of all by sincerely thanking our partners from, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands for taking the time and making the effort to come to the IGAD Headquarters in the Republic of Djibouti 2 weeks ago on Sunday the 19th of last month as part of the Delegation of EU Ambassadors accredited to IGAD.
Our deliberations in that consultation had the greatest bearing to this IPPSHAR project and in a manner of speaking, set the stage for our meeting today.
Allow me at this juncture to express my thanks on behalf IGAD for your continued support for the implementation of the IGAD peace and security strategy. This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to promoting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
The 4 primary objectives of IPPSHAR are tailored for the complex dynamics in our region and consequently, form the cornerstones of sustainable peace and security for the 270 million citizens who are looking to us for solutions.
It is therefore noteworthy that the IGAD peace and security strategy 2021-2025 prioritizes similar strategic objectives. This signifies that the priorities under IPPSHAR are fully aligned with our regional strategy and remain fully integrated into IGAD’s regional peace and security agenda.
Excellencies,
Now the IPPSHAR project is entering its 6th year of implementation and like many other initiatives here and across the world, it was also affected the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors.
Even as we speak, we are also contending with active situations in the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan in addition to the emerging situation that is under observation in the Republic of Kenya.
In addition, the protracted drought in the region escalated food insecurity and coupled with the negative impact of the war in Ukraine on our regional economy, threatens to trigger further conflict.
We are nevertheless highly encouraged by the positive dividends in peace and security accruing from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and on-going reconstruction efforts in the Federal Republic of Somalia. The affirmed intention of the State of Eritrea to rejoin IGAD also represents a net gain the peace, security and stability of the region.
In light of these considerations Your Excellencies, I therefore warmly welcome the practical decision of this steering committee to grant a 9-month extension for the implementation of IPPSHAR from January to September 2023.
This extension presents an opportunity for us to re-evaluate the efficacy of our interventions especially in the fluid security context of our region.
In this regard, I must underscore that the remaining balance of 5.6 million Euros in this project must be spent in the most judicious manner to ensure that we deliver on all planned objectives for the benefit of our region and citizens within the remaining implementation period.
In Conclusion Excellencies,
The IPPSHAR project is vital a cog in addressing the complex and formidable challenges facing the IGAD region. We recognize that the success of this project depends on the active participation and collaboration of all stakeholders, including national and regional governments, civil society organizations, and other partners.
As IGAD, we commit to continue to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure that the project is implemented in a transparent, accountable, and effective manner.
I look forward to a most productive meeting and now invite my Co- Chair to deliver her remarks. Thank You.
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