Excellencies, distinguished delegates, partners, and colleagues,
It is an honor to present this statement on behalf of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) at this crucial Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction. As we gather here today, IGAD would like to seize this timely opportunity to reflect on our collective progress, challenges, and the path forward toward a resilient Africa.
The IGAD region, comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, is particularly vulnerable to disaster risks that are recurrent, multifaceted, and increasingly compounded by climate change and conflict. Climate-induced hazards such as droughts, floods, pests and cyclones continue to disrupt the socio-economic well-being of our communities. In recent years, the region has experienced an unprecedented increase in extreme weather events, with droughts that have led to massive death of livestock and wild animals, water shortages, food insecurity, and displacement, followed by flash floods that devastate the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, and disruption of social services and damage to key infrastructure.
Moreover, the interplay of climate risks with other shocks, such as health pandemics, conflict, and socio-economic vulnerabilities, has created complex disaster scenarios. These cascading hazards exacerbate existing inequalities, undermine food security, and stretch the resilience of our communities. The Horn of Africa, in particular, has been hard hit by consecutive poor rainfall seasons, leaving millions at the mercy of humanitarian assistance.
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, and ladies and gentlemen,
Despite these challenges, IGAD and its Member States have made significant strides toward disaster risk reduction. We have strengthened our risk knowledge base through innovations like the East Africa Drought Watch, which provides real-time monitoring and early warning systems that have been instrumental in improving preparedness and response. These tools have allowed us to anticipate and mitigate the impact of droughts and other climate-related disasters.
IGAD has also actively engaged in regional cooperation, enhancing governance frameworks through platforms and mechanisms such as the IGAD Technical Advisory Committee, The Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum and The East Africa Dialogue platform, among others. By fostering regional collaboration and joint planning, we have strengthened institutional capacities and developed and deployed systems that address cross-border disaster risks. IGAD has convened several high-level and technical conferences aimed that reducing the vulnerabilities and building safer and resilient region.
However, our progress has been met with persistent challenges. Insecurity and limited financial resources remain a critical bottleneck in our efforts to scale up DRR interventions. Financing disaster prevention and building resilience often compete with other urgent security and development needs, leaving many communities vulnerable to avoidable risks. Furthermore, governance challenges persist at the national and regional levels, including gaps in coordination, weak enforcement of DRR policies, and insufficient local-level capacities to implement resilience measures.
The unpredictable and complex nature of disasters, compounded by inadequate investment and budgetary allocation, limited integration of DRR into planning processes, continues to hinder the region’s ability to fully mitigate disaster risks. We must also acknowledge the socio-economic drivers of vulnerability, such as poverty, inequality, and rapid urbanization, which exacerbate the impacts of disasters on marginalized populations.
To overcome these challenges, we must prioritize the strengthening of governance structures across the region. Disaster risk management should not be siloed; rather, it must be integrated across all sectors, with a focus on multi-hazard approaches that address the interconnectedness of risks. Strengthening our institutions at the local, national, and regional levels is paramount to building long-term resilience.
This will require harmonized DRR policies, strong regulatory frameworks, and the political will to enforce them. In addition, IGAD is working towards the establishment of Financing Facility to provide innovative, timely and predictable financing for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and recover that benefit the most vulnerable. Financing is the backbone of effective DRR and resilience building. Without adequate resources, even the best plans and policies cannot be implemented. We must therefore emphasize the need for innovative financing mechanisms that prioritize disaster prevention over costly responses. IGAD urges international partners, development banks, and the private sector to collaborate with us in scaling up investment in DRR and resilience building. This includes de-risking investments in climate adaptation, strengthening safety nets, and promoting insurance mechanisms that protect the most vulnerable from disasters.
IGAD recognizes the importance of forging genuine partnerships to advance the disaster risk reduction agenda. We need sustained cooperation between partners, governments, regional organizations, civil society, and the private sector to ensure that DRR is integrated into national development plans. Moreover, South-South cooperation and partnerships with the African Union and global platforms like the UNDRR are critical to sharing best practices and mobilizing resources for DRR.
In conclusion, we have made progress, but our journey toward building resilient communities is far from complete. As we engage in the discussions at this platform, let us renew our commitment to strengthening governance, improving financing for DRR, and fostering partnerships. Together, we can ensure that disaster risks no longer derail our development aspirations but become opportunities to build a safer, more resilient future for all.
Thank you.