The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened a high-level expert stakeholder meeting in Nairobi to validate the End-Term Review Report of its Regional Agricultural Investment Plan (RAIP) 2016–2020. This event marks a pivotal moment in IGAD’s commitment to combatting food insecurity, particularly in the Horn of Africa, and sets the stage for a new strategic approach towards regional agri-food systems investment.
- Advertisement -
This validation is more than a procedural step; it is the foundation for the forthcoming Regional Agri-Food Systems Investment Plan (RASIP). As food insecurity intensifies, alongside climate-related disruptions and regional vulnerabilities, the urgency for effective action cannot be overstated. The RASIP aims to directly address these pressing issues, providing a roadmap for the future.
“This is a call to reinforce collaboration between ministries, sectors, and development actors,” stated Dr. Mohyeldeen Eltohami Taha Hamed, the IGAD Director for Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration. His words underscore a crucial aspect of this initiative: collaboration is not merely beneficial; it is essential for meaningful progress.
Between 2016 and 2020, the RAIP served as the cornerstone of IGAD’s strategy to secure agricultural transformation and bolster food security in line with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). However, this ambitious initiative faced significant challenges during its implementation. Severe droughts, the COVID-19 pandemic, desert locust invasions, and ongoing regional conflicts collided to create a perfect storm of crises. “These crises have compounded vulnerabilities in food production systems,” Eltohami highlighted, noting that over 62 million people across the region were projected to face food insecurity as of 2024.
Interestingly, the RAIP was aligned with the 2014 Malabo Declaration, which committed African states to end hunger and halve poverty by 2025 through inclusive growth in agriculture. Those goals were indeed lofty, yet as the review of RAIP outcomes unfolds, it brings to light the lessons learned and the necessary adjustments for future efforts. The findings are poised to guide the development of RASIP, taking into account current realities and new frameworks like the Kampala Declaration of 2025.
The RAIP identified four key investment areas: sustainable natural resource management, rural infrastructure for market access, increased food production, and improved agricultural research and knowledge sharing. Each of these areas aims not only to improve output but also to enhance the resilience of local systems. Perhaps one of the most fervent aspirations of the RAIP was to establish a direct link with farmers, enabling them to thrive through better services and improved market functionality. Dr. Senait Regassa, Project Coordinator of the IGAD Food System Resilience Project, expressed this sentiment powerfully: “The plan aimed to reach farmers directly by strengthening services and enabling local markets to function better.”
Regassa articulated a vital point: agriculture must remain at the heart of IGAD’s development strategy. “The CAADP framework demands that countries allocate at least 10 percent of their national budgets to agriculture. If that’s implemented, we will see tangible transformation on the ground,” she asserted. It raises a thought-provoking question—what are the obstacles preventing nations from committing to this crucial budgetary allocation?
As discussions ensued, the complex interplay between food insecurity and regional stability was highlighted. Regassa noted, “When people go hungry, they are more vulnerable to conflict and radicalization. Conversely, conflict disrupts food systems, transport, and livelihoods. It’s a two-way street.” It’s a sobering thought that investments in agriculture could serve as a crucial pathway to peace. If nations prioritize food security, we can foster not just economic resilience but also societal stability.
Despite the ambitious foundation that the RAIP provided, speakers acknowledged challenges, particularly in areas of financing, coordination, and data tracking. “Few member states have met the 10 percent agriculture budget threshold; therefore, we must improve our investment tracking systems and advocate more effectively by showing how agricultural investments improve lives,” Dr. Regassa pointed out. In her words lies both a challenge and an invitation to action.
The collaboration across IGAD’s divisions, including the Agriculture and Environment Division (AED) and the Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), among others, showcases a model of coordinated effort. This validation meeting serves as an opportunity to strengthen partnerships not just within IGAD but also with the African Union Commission, development partners, and civil society organizations.
Delegates left the meeting with a renewed optimism. With better funding mechanisms, robust monitoring systems, and coordinated effort, the region can inch closer to its goal of achieving food security and resilience. The outcomes of this three-day validation meeting, concluding on June 25, are pivotal. They will directly influence the finalization of the RASIP, which aims to transform agriculture into a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable engine of economic growth within the IGAD region.
As discussions continue and strategies are being honed, it’s clear that the journey ahead requires not just commitment but also a collective vision for the future. Together, through a tapestry of collaboration, innovation, and resolve, we can confront the challenges and turn aspirations into reality for the communities across the Horn of Africa.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
