By Anna Moghilda/UNDP
Mr. Lamin Momodou Manneh, the UNDP RSCA Director, handed over computers to the IGAD Cluster Coordinators that will be based in the three cross-border offices that have been established through the Support for Effective Cooperation and Coordination of Cross-border Initiatives in Southwest Ethiopia-Northwest Kenya, Marsabit-Borana & Dawa, and Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia (SECCCI) Project. These offices are:
- Marsabit – Moyale at the Kenyan, Ethiopian border (Cluster II);
- Turkana – Omo at the Kenyan and Ethiopian Border (Cluster I);
- Mandera – Gedo – Doolow at the Kenyan, Ethiopian and Somali border (Cluster III).
The SECCCI Project is funded by the European Union, with co-financing contributions from UNDP and UNEP and has a budget of 10 million USD. The Project is implemented by the UNDP RSCA in partnership with UNEP and the IGAD. The implementation is closely coordinated with the national and local Governments of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
The overall objective of the Project is to address the drivers of conflict and instability, irregular migration and displacement in the cross-border areas of the Horn of Africa through improved cross-border cooperation and coordination.
Establishment of cluster coordination offices are an important milestone towards effectively enhancing impact, ownership and synergy between initiatives in the clusters. The Cluster Coordinators are working with designated political and technical focal points in each country. They organize regular cross-border cluster coordination meetings of implementing partners and local and national government authorities. Particular relevance is given to the cooperation and coordination with implementing partners of EU-funded Lot 1 and Lot 2 in each cluster, in order to ensure the coherence of the EU-funded cross border initiative.
