The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has launched a critical review and strategy development process aimed at addressing escalating food insecurity in the Horn of Africa.
A high-level expert meeting is underway in Nairobi to validate the End-Term Review Report of the Regional Agricultural Investment Plan (RAIP) 2016–2020. The exercise will inform the formulation of a new Regional Agri-Food Systems Investment Plan (RASIP), expected to drive agricultural transformation and resilience across the region for the next decade.“This is a call to reinforce collaboration between ministries, sectors, and development actors,” said Dr. Mohyeldeen Eltohami Taha Hamed, IGAD Director for Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration.
The RAIP was launched under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and aligned with the 2014 Malabo Declaration, which urged African nations to end hunger and halve poverty by 2025.
However, implementation faced significant setbacks due to climate shocks, regional conflicts, locust invasions, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 2024, over 62 million people in the IGAD region face food insecurity.Dr. Senait Regassa, Coordinator of the IGAD Food System Resilience Project, stressed the need for stronger government alignment with agricultural priorities. “The CAADP framework demands at least 10 per cent of national budgets go to agriculture. If that’s implemented, we will see tangible transformation on the ground,” she said.She highlighted the two-way relationship between food insecurity and conflict, noting that hunger heightens vulnerability to instability while violence disrupts food systems.
While the RAIP laid a strong foundation by targeting sustainable production, infrastructure, research, and value chain development, gaps in financing, coordination, and data tracking remain.
The new RASIP, aligned with the Kampala Declaration and post-Malabo CAADP agenda, aims to build a more resilient and inclusive food system. The three-day validation meeting brings together IGAD agencies, development partners, civil society, and the African Union to ensure collaborative investment.
Delegates expressed optimism that with improved funding, monitoring, and cooperation, the region can make significant progress in combating hunger and fostering peace through agricultural development.
