IGAD Exec. Secretary Stresses Need for Exploring Transformative Solutions to Ensure Food Security

Addis Ababa, July 29, 2025 (ENA) -- The Executive Secretary of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu, has stressed the need to explore transformative solutions that are inclusive and sustainable to ensure food security in the region.

Ministers and Heads of Delegation responsible for Agriculture and Food Security from IGAD member states – Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda – convened in Addis Ababa on Monday on the margins of the UN Food Systems Summit + 4 Stocktake (UNFSS+4).

The ministerial meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint communiqué, affirming the shared vision and political will to take bold and coordinated action.

Addressing the occasion, Executive Secretary of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu, said IGAD is a region rich in agricultural potential, genetic resources, and the ingenuity of its people.

The Executive Secretary stressed the need to assess the drivers and hotspots of food insecurity in the region, exploring transformative solutions that are scalable, inclusive, and sustainable, showcasing best practices and innovations, among others.

 

Promoting strategic alignment and collective regional action and developing a shared set of priorities to guide policy reform, investment, and collaboration are also among the priorities to be undertaken, he added.

Commending the strategic partners for their steadfast commitment to supporting IGAD and Member States, Workneh said the dedication to support the region’s resilience building initiatives and empowering national systems is indispensable to building resilience across the region.

For the Executive Secretary, the adoption of the joint communiqué is affirming the shared vision and political will to take bold and coordinated action.

“It will also define investment and policy priorities, establish institutional follow-up mechanisms, and forge multi-stakeholder partnerships to ensure that our commitments translate into real impact for the millions of people whose lives and livelihoods depend on the food systems we shape.”

The adopted communiqué acknowledged the region’s vast and largely untapped potential for agricultural transformation and food systems innovation, particularly in seed security, agrobiodiversity, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land and water management, digital technologies, early warning systems, and inclusive and responsible investment.

 

It also stated the need to advance on cutting-edge technologies, transforming agricultural systems and food value chains by enabling precision agriculture, enhancing predictive analytics, optimizing resource use, and strengthening data-driven policy and planning across the region.

The alignment with and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Kampala CAADP Declaration for Building Resilience and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa 2025, among others, were further emphasized in the communiqué.

During the event, IGAD also signed a MoU with AGFUND (Arab Gulf Program for Development) and Crop Trust on strengthening the shared commitment to end hunger and build regional resilience.