NAIROBI — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) recently hosted a ministerial meeting aimed at bolstering national and regional strategies to combat food insecurity and enhance resilience among vulnerable communities in the East African region.
According to Kenya News Agency, the meeting gathered ministers and heads of delegations from IGAD member states to deliberate on opportunities and challenges in implementing sustainable pathways for food system transformation. The forum served as a platform for knowledge exchange and sharing best practices among countries like Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan, with a focus on securing ministerial approval and fostering a coordinated approach to strengthen regional food systems.
Dr. Adan highlighted the urgency of the discussions, noting that approximately 21 percent of the 300 million people in the IGAD region suffer from food insecurity. The crises driving this issue include climate change, conflicts, and flooding, which disproportionately affect women, children, and adolescent girls. “The food situation is deteriorating due to the climate crisis, but countries are also investing heavily to cope and build resilient systems that help to manage shocks,” she stated.
Cyril Ferrand, Resilience Team Leader for Eastern Africa, emphasized that while food security is a cross-border issue, the region has made significant strides over the past two decades in improving capacity for data collection and sharing. However, he pointed out challenges in translating technical information into basic, implementable interventions. “Often there is significant investment in life-saving measures during crises, but we do not see the same level of investment at scale for resilient investment,” Ferrand remarked, underscoring the need for transformative approaches to climate adaptation.
Stephen Wathome, Programme Manager at the Ethiopian Union (EU) Delegation, echoed these sentiments, describing food security as a regional issue that transcends national boundaries. He outlined the major challenges, including climate change and biodiversity loss, which complicate food production and availability. Wathome also raised concerns about governance and coordination, which impact the ability of populations to access and purchase food, even when it is available.
The meeting concluded with a call for increased cooperation and investment in resilience-building measures to address the pressing food security challenges faced by IGAD member countries, with a focus on fostering unity and collaboration to enhance regional stability and development.