Lodwar, Kenya, and Moyale, Ethiopia, June – July 2019. The first two cross-border cluster coordination meetings were held in Lodwar (Kenya) and Moyale (Ethiopia) towns to convene all European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) Cross-Border Programmes’ implementing partners to achieve an efficient and effective joint initiatives’ implementation.
More than 40 participants representing local Governments, Civil Society, Intergovernmental organisations and UN Entities were present in the Kenyan and Ethiopian cross-border towns. Discussions were focused on strengthening coordination and collaboration of all EUTF cross-border partners to create a common understanding, engagement and awareness on each partner’s role in their joint area of activity and sharing best experience and knowledge management.
Moreover, discussions focused on understanding the root causes of border conflicts and how to address the local community’s needs in the Horn of Africa.
Both meetings were organised by the field offices of the “Support for Effective Cooperation and Coordination of Cross-border Initiatives in Southwest Ethiopia – Northwest Kenya, Marsabit – Borana and Dawa, and Kenya – Somalia – Ethiopia” (SECCCI) Project. It is co-funded by the EUTF, the United Nations (UN), and implemented by UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
“One of the expected outputs of the SECCCI project is to hold cluster coordination meetings on a regular basis for ensuring that all cross-border interventions are aligned and reinforce each other. These meetings are also excellent opportunities to discuss key cross-border challenges for the region, such as irregular migration, climate change, forced displacement, human trafficking and violent conflict, and share lessons learned and good practices.” mentioned Sabrina Bazzanella, Team Leader for Migration at the EU Delegation to Ethiopia.
The EUTF implementing partners and participants of the Cluster Coordination meeting were drawn from IGAD, local Government representatives, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Germany, Mercy Corps, Care Ethiopia, PACT, Turkana Pastoralist Development Organization in Kenya (TUPADO), IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development, Strategies for Northern Development, UNEP, and UNDP Country Offices in Kenya, and Ethiopia, and UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa (RSCA), among others.
“The SECCCI Project’s coordination meetings are essential for effective joint work in support to borderlands areas, in addition to IGAD and UNDP Kenya and Ethiopia Country Offices teams, we have a remarkable participation from Civil Society, local Government leaders and UN Entities, that represents a strong example of collective work towards strong results without borders.” mentioned Matteo Frontini SECCCI Project Manager at the UNDP RSCA.
