The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has officially launched its Soil Health and Fertilizer Hub in Nairobi, marking a regional push to tackle declining soil fertility, food insecurity and land degradation across member states.
The inaugural meeting brought together experts, policymakers and development partners for the first session of the Hub’s Steering and Technical Committees, aimed at setting in motion a coordinated regional approach to soil management and fertilizer use.
The meeting also included a learning visit linked to ongoing soil initiatives, as IGAD moves to operationalise a platform meant to support sustainable agriculture and improve resilience in the region.
In opening remarks delivered on behalf of Dr. Caroline Kundu during the meeting, Evelyne Heyi, Assistant Director in the State Department for Agriculture, said the launch of the Hub builds on earlier regional and continental commitments made over the past two years.
She pointed to the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi from May 7 to 9, 2024, as well as subsequent technical meetings and ministerial engagements that led to the endorsement of the initiative.
According to the remarks, IGAD Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Food Security approved the establishment of the Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub during a meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 9, 2025, paving the way for its operationalisation.
The speech noted that the endorsement was a key step toward building a regional platform to address soil fertility challenges, strengthen food security and improve resilience across IGAD member states.
The remarks also referenced commitments made under the Nairobi Declaration on Fertilizer and Soil Health and the Soil Initiative for Africa, adopted during the 2024 summit.
The declaration outlines several targets, including increasing production and distribution of certified fertilizers, improving access to agronomic advice for smallholder farmers, restoring degraded soils, and strengthening extension services across Africa.
It also calls for improved financing mechanisms, stronger policy frameworks, and expanded capacity building to support sustainable soil management.
The Soil Health and Fertilizer Hub will focus on six key priority areas, as outlined in the meeting. These include policy and advocacy support, capacity strengthening, soil information systems, research and innovation, markets and trade development, and resource mobilisation.
The platform will also promote local fertilizer manufacturing, strengthen regional trade under frameworks such as AfCFTA, and support inclusion of women, youth and smallholder farmers in agricultural interventions.
Kenya used the meeting to highlight progress made at national level, including the Agricultural Soil Management Policy, 2023, which was launched during the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi.
To support implementation of the policy, the government has also developed the Kenya Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (2026–2035), which provides a roadmap for improving fertilizer use, soil health, market systems, policy frameworks and institutional capacity.
The plan will be implemented within three phases spanning from 2026 to 2035 with program setup and capacity building in phase one, implementation in phase two and finally scaling and sustainability in phase three.
According to IGAD, the Hub will provide assistance to member states in terms of policy harmonization, knowledge sharing, capacity building and enhancement of extension services.
Development partners, including the World Bank, are supporting the initiative, which IGAD says is meant to improve coordination and accelerate practical solutions to soil degradation and food insecurity in the region.
Delegates also discussed ways of strengthening data systems, improving access to fertilizers, supporting research and enhancing investment in soil health initiatives.
In the closing remarks, the speech delivered on behalf of Dr. Caroline Kundu reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to implementing the Nairobi Declaration and supporting regional cooperation on soil health.
The launch of the Hub now sets the stage for coordinated regional efforts aimed at improving soil productivity, strengthening food systems and boosting agricultural resilience across the IGAD region.