IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) has organized the above regional experience sharing mission to Namibia for IGAD Ministers and Parliamentarians from Dec 12-15, 2016. Livestock identification and traceability is an emerging system being used by both the exporting and importing countries to protect public health, enhance food safety and trade in live animals and livestock products. To be effective a LITS system requires two basic components, an identification system (for example brands, marks or a device) and a system that tracks an animal, or group of animals, along the value chain to the final destination. It is only when these components are all put together that a LITS system becomes functional and it is, therefore, imperative that the IGAD region strengthens efforts of disease prevention and control and finds ways of enhancing and sustaining livestock-based trade and its benefits.
The IGAD Region has been prone to disasters with results of human suffering including loss of life, loss of livestock and other means of livelihood, slowed development and caused other economic costs. Until the early 1980’s, drought and other hazards were managed by crisis. The 1984 drought crisis in Ethiopia, Northern Kenya and North Eastern Uganda, is a case in point. This was rated as one of the worst ever recorded droughts in history, because of its duration, geographical spread and severity. The situation has changed rapidly over the last 30 years, with considerable development in early warning systems, contingency planning and financing, emergency preparedness and response as well as recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction to support pastoral communities that are highly venerable to climatic shocks (drought and floods). 
The 7th Annual Eastern Africa Regional Animal Health Network (EARAHN) Coordination Meeting was successfully organized and held during the month of October 2016 by IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) in collaboration with FAO ECTAD Regional Office and AU-IBAR.
29-09-2016, Kampala: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction & Applications Centre (ICPAC) this morning kick started the 44th Greater Horn of African Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF) during an opening ceremony presided over by the Minister of Environment of Uganda, Hon. Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu, in Kampala.