By KT Reporter
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has launched an ambitious initiative to craft its 2026–2030 strategic plan, building on lessons from the 2021–2025 strategy, which was significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new plan aims to advance peace, resilience, regional integration, and prosperity across the Horn of Africa. On August 19, 2025, IGAD convened experts from seven of its eight member states—Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea—at the Serena Conference Centre in Kampala.
The two-day meeting focuses on reviewing the outgoing strategy and shaping the next, guided by five key thematic areas: agriculture and environment, economic integration, social development, peace and security, and corporate development services. Dr. Anthony Awira, IGAD’s Director of Planning, Coordination, and Partnerships, emphasized the long-term vision driving the initiative.
He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed 23,626 lives and infected over 1.13 million people in the region, severely hampered IGAD’s efforts and exposed the need for better crisis preparedness. “No one foresaw a crisis of that scale. It disrupted global and regional development, underscoring the importance of strategic planning to anticipate and respond to such challenges,” Dr. Awira said.
Beyond the pandemic, IGAD continues to grapple with armed conflicts, climate-related disasters such as droughts and floods, and declining overseas development assistance. Dr. Edith Namutebi Nsubuga, Acting Head of Regional Peace and Security at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted persistent barriers to regional integration, including restrictions on the free movement of goods and people, transboundary crimes, food insecurity, and environmental degradation.
Facilitated by Adapt Capital Africa, a development-focused organization, the Kampala meeting employed a participatory approach using group discussions and key informant interviews. Joselyn Bigirwa, IGAD’s Head of Mission in Uganda, noted that consultations began in Kenya the previous week and will continue in Ethiopia.
IGAD’s 2024 annual report estimates the region’s population at 290.2 million, projected to reach 400 million by 2050, with over 55 percent under 20 years old. This youthful demographic offers opportunities for growth and innovation but also poses challenges in ensuring stability, food security, and employment.
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