Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — September 10, 2025
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will host a high-level side event today at the African Climate Summit 2 (ACS2) under the theme: “IDDRSI: A Decade of Resilience — Transforming Crisis into Sustainable Regional Strength.” The session, convened by the IGAD Drought Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI) in collaboration with the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), will run from 8:30–10:00 EAT at the IGAD Pavilion.
Setting the Stage for Climate Justice and Resilience
The African Climate Summit 2, taking place in Addis Ababa, is rallying global and continental actors around the theme “Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World.” For IGAD, the gathering offers a pivotal opportunity to spotlight the Horn of Africa’s resilience agenda and call for climate justice, proactive investment, and African-led solutions.
The Horn of Africa remains one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate shocks. In recent years, the region has endured six consecutive failed rainy seasons, leaving nearly 40 million people food insecure. Yet, despite these escalating crises, Africa still receives less than 15% of the USD 50–100 billion needed annually for climate adaptation, according to the Global Commission on Adaptation.
Highlights of the IDDRSI Session
The session will be officially opened by H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary, who will deliver a keynote address framing the urgency of resilience as a continental priority. His remarks will emphasize climate justice, green growth, and the transformation of financing for resilience.
A panel discussion will follow, bringing together resilience policy leaders, development partners, IGAD institutions, and civil society representatives. Guided by ACS2’s themes of localization, innovation, and accountability, panelists will reflect on:
- Lessons learned in financing the drought resilience agenda.
- The experience of development partners in supporting cross-border resilience initiatives.
- The role of IGAD in fostering regional collaboration for resilience building.
- Pathways to move from managing droughts to building drought-proof societies.
An interactive Q&A session will allow participants to engage directly with experts and policymakers.
A Decade of Resilience: Achievements and Challenges
Since its launch in 2011, IDDRSI has been a trailblazer in resilience building across the IGAD region. Over the past decade, the initiative has:
- Reduced livestock mortality and enhanced food security.
- Improved access to water, markets, and services for drought-affected communities.
- Strengthened early warning systems and regional cooperation.
- Promoted cross-border collaboration on rangelands, water management, and peacebuilding.
Despite these successes, challenges persist. Financing for resilience remains inadequate and often debt-creating, while access to funds by local and regional institutions is still limited. Measuring resilience effectively—through outcomes such as mortality reduction, institutional strength, and community ownership—also remains an ongoing priority.
Expected Outcomes
The side event aims to:
- Elevate awareness of IGAD’s cross-border resilience initiatives.
- Examine the current financing landscape and explore sustainable models.
- Provide policy, programmatic, and partnership insights to inform ACS2 outcomes.
- Strengthen partnerships for regional and cross-border resilience action.
The session will close with a collective pledge through a “Side Event Outcome Statement,” committing to expand and sustain resilience initiatives in the Horn of Africa.
Looking Ahead
For IGAD and its partners, today’s dialogue is more than a reflection on the past decade—it is a call to action for the next phase of resilience building. By scaling community-driven, African-owned solutions, the Horn of Africa can transform recurrent droughts from existential threats into opportunities for peace, stability, and green growth.
✦ Organized by: IGAD Drought Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI), in collaboration with ICPAC
✦ Venue & Time: IGAD Pavilion | 8:30–10:00 EAT | September 10, 2025
✦ Contact: info@igad.int
| www.igad.int
| Download : Flyer in PDF [A decade of resilience]
| ACS2 – Africa Climate Summit 2 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
✦ Hashtags: #ACS2 #IDDRSI #ResilienceForAll #ClimateJustice #HornOfAfrica
