As countries continue to battle the effects of coronavirus, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the permanent interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have organized a week forum for the people to share experiences and solutions on how to slow down the impact from the pandemic.
The forum, which starts today October 20 ends on October 22, comes at a time when the region has faced a sharp increase in the frequency and severity of disasters and emergencies. The forum will be held online.
According to a press statement from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), “70 per cent of the IGAD region comprises arid and semi-arid lands that receive less than 600mm in annual rainfall. These challenges have borne innovative approaches to building resilience and safeguarding the most vulnerable communities.” It added that the forum will seek to find solutions to these problems.
Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the executive secretary of IGAD, in a press statement, said “the governments of our regions are committed to improving their preparedness and response to drought and other shocks, and the exchange of good practices and lessons will strengthen these endeavours.”
Some of the issues to be discussed at the forum include disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, social protection, innovative support to agro-pastoralists and pastoralists, information and early warning systems and analysis, and natural resource-based conflicts.