Originally published by IGAD Secretariat
October 30, 2025 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA), has commenced a three-day strategic partnership meeting in Addis Ababa. The meeting brings together technical experts from both institutions to discuss the implementation of the Data, Climate, and Agricultural Services (DACAS) Network Action Plan and the IGAD Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub initiatives, endorsed during the 2nd Africa Climate Summit held in Addis Ababa.
With financial support from World Bank, this high-level engagement builds on the letter of Collaborative Agreement (LoCA), between IGAD’s Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) and AICCRA, with specific areas of collaboration which are essentially on climate-informed digital agro-advisory, on resilience policy and practices as well as gender and social inclusion, aligned with strategic priorities, and concrete actions to accelerate the identification, scaling, and adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and services across IGAD Member States.
Opening the meeting on behalf of Daher Elmi, Director of Agriculture and Environment, IGAD, Dr. Sylvia Henga, IGAD’s Policy and Food Security Expert (FSRP), said:
“The IGAD region faces a range of complex challenges, including economic and humanitarian crises driven by droughts, floods, disease pandemics, conflicts, and food insecurity. These are occasioned by vulnerability to climate change, desertification, geopolitical dynamics, governance gaps, and the lack of adequate data, information, and knowledge necessary for effective decision-making.”
Through joint planning, the meeting aims to develop an annual work plan for the DACAS Network, define the methodology for identifying CSA technologies in IGAD Member States, and explore funding opportunities and donor engagement strategies to support the recently endorsed regional Soil Health Hub. These discussions will directly contribute to the implementation of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, a key continental framework for sustainable land and soil management.
“The Strategic Partnership Meeting between IGAD’s Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) and AICCRA East and Southern Africa, together with the Letter of Collaborative Agreement (LoCA) that guides this engagement, marks a pivotal step toward translating commitments into implementable actions. It advances digital agro-climate advisory service (DACAS) networks, facilitates the institutionalisation 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. By aligning institutional priorities and leveraging technical expertise, this partnership demonstrates how regional organizations and WB-supported initiatives can effectively work together to support IDA countries and drive sustainable development, climate resilience, and agricultural transformation across the IGAD region.” — Dawit Solomon, AICCRA ESA Regional Program Leader.
The collaboration between IGAD and AICCRA represents a critical step toward realizing Africa’s commitments to sustainable food production and climate resilience. It highlights the region’s leadership in creating actionable partnerships that leverage science, data, and innovation for lasting impact.
As the Horn of Africa continues to face climate-induced shocks, this partnership signals a united front for a more resilient, food-secure, and sustainable future. IGAD calls upon Member States, regional organizations, and development partners to actively engage, invest, and scale up initiatives that are key to transforming agriculture and livelihoods across the region.
