September 15-18, 2025 (BISHOFTU, Ethiopia): IGAD’s Peace and Security Division successfully concluded a four-day Program Management Workshop that brought together senior and program staff, and monitoring and evaluation staff from across the Division.
This provided a timely platform for reflection on the outgoing 2021–2025 Peace and Security Strategy, planning priorities for the upcoming 2026–2030 strategy, and strengthening the Division’s capacity in project planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. The workshop was designed to familiarise staff with IGAD’s newly introduced planning, budgeting, and reporting tools; reflect on lessons learned from the 2021–2025 Peace and Security Strategy; identify program priorities and approaches for the new 2026–2030 Peace and Security Strategy; integrate cross-cutting agendas on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS); and provide hands-on training on the Program-Based Management System (PBMS) and the IGAD Reports Portal.
Throughout the four days, participants engaged in a mix of group reflections, plenary discussions, and technical training sessions. Day 1 focused on reflections from specialised programs and offices (CEWARN, RESGAS, OSESS, ISSP, PCRD, PAP, and WPS) on the implementation of the 2021–2025 strategy, assessing successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Day 2 turned attention to the future, analysing the regional context and outlining priorities for the 2026–2030 strategy, with in-depth discussions on the WPS and YPS agendas. Day 3 introduced staff to IGAD’s project management systems, frameworks, and the PBMS application, with practical exercises led by the Planning and M&E team.Day 4 focused on the IGAD Reports Portal, offering demonstrations and team-based exercises to ensure effective application of the tools across all program areas.
In his closing remarks, Commander Abebe Muluneh, the Division’s Director, commended the active participation and commitment of staff throughout the workshop. He added that the workshop not only strengthened the staff’s technical skills but also deepened their collective reflection on how best to deliver the Peace and Security mandate of IGAD. “As we prepare for the next strategic period, accountability, innovation, and inclusivity must remain at the heart of our work.”Commander Abebe Muluneh. He emphasised the importance of building on the lessons of the outgoing strategy while embracing new tools and approaches that enhance transparency, coordination, and effectiveness in delivering peace and security programs across the region.
The insights and recommendations emerging from the workshop will directly inform the design and implementation of IGAD’s next Peace and Security Strategy (2026–2030). By prioritising inclusivity, digital innovation, and program accountability, the Division reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening peace, stability, and resilience in the IGAD region.
This activity is supported by Denmark through the Peace and stabilisation project.
