IGAD, AICCRA join forces to drive climate-smart agriculture in the Horn of Africa
The three-day meeting in Addis Ababa seeks to strengthen soil health and climate resilience across IGAD Member States.
ETHIOPIA – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) have launched a three-day strategic partnership meeting in Addis Ababa to advance climate-smart agriculture and improve soil health in the Horn of Africa.
The meeting gathers technical experts from both institutions to discuss the rollout of the Data, Climate, and Agricultural Services (DACAS) Network Action Plan and the IGAD Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub initiatives.
Both programs were endorsed during the 2nd Africa Climate Summit held in Addis Ababa earlier this year.
The initiative builds on a Letter of Collaborative Agreement (LoCA) between IGAD’s Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) and AICCRA, supported financially by the World Bank. The agreement outlines joint areas of work such as climate-informed digital agro-advisory services, resilience policies, and social inclusion.
Dr. Sylvia Henga, Policy and Food Security Expert under IGAD’s FSRP, opened the meeting on behalf of Daher Elmi, IGAD’s Director of Agriculture and Environment.
She emphasized the urgency of the partnership, saying “The IGAD region faces a range of complex challenges, including economic and humanitarian crises driven by droughts, floods, pandemics, conflicts, and food insecurity. These are compounded by vulnerability to climate change, desertification, governance gaps, and the lack of adequate data, information, and knowledge necessary for effective decision-making.”
The three-day engagement aims to produce an annual work plan for the DACAS Network, establish a method for identifying suitable climate-smart technologies, and explore funding and donor engagement strategies to strengthen the regional Soil Health Hub.
Building regional resilience
These efforts align with the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, which promotes sustainable land and soil management across the continent.
Dr. Dawit Solomon, AICCRA East and Southern Africa Regional Program Leader, described the collaboration as an important turning point. “The Strategic Partnership Meeting between IGAD’s FSRP and AICCRA East and Southern Africa, guided by the Letter of Collaborative Agreement, is a pivotal step toward translating commitments into implementable actions,” he said.
“It advances digital agro-climate advisory service (DACAS) networks, facilitates the institutionalization of the IGAD Region’s Soil Health Hub to enhance soil management and climate-smart agriculture, and strengthens World Bank–supported regional collaboration for resilient food systems in Eastern and Southern Africa.”
Dr. Solomon added that by aligning institutional goals and sharing technical expertise, IGAD and AICCRA are showing how regional organizations can work together effectively to build resilience and improve agricultural productivity.
A Call for Broader Engagement
The partnership reflects IGAD’s long-term vision of strengthening regional coordination to confront climate-related challenges that continue to threaten food systems in the Horn of Africa.
As the region faces worsening droughts and other climate pressures, IGAD is urging Member States, regional organizations, and development partners to increase investment in programs that improve livelihoods and food security.
The collaboration between IGAD and AICCRA represents a practical step toward Africa’s broader goals for sustainable food production and climate resilience. It reinforces a shared commitment to science-based solutions that ensure lasting impact for farmers and communities across the IGAD region.
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