The urgent need for action on the crisis was addressed by IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu, who said that more than 47 million people in the region face significant food insecurity.

“This is more than 15 percent of our population or one in seven of our brothers and sisters, of which the most vulnerable are women and children,” he stressed.

Gebeyehu called for a collaborative approach to address the issue and mitigate the underlying factors and causes, as well as establishing climate resilient livelihoods. Investing in sustainable solutions ensures a more efficient response to current problems and fosters a strong and resilient future for the region, he stressed.

Ethiopia’s Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa, described her country’s efforts to address climate change and build a climate-resilient food system.

She also called for greater investment in agriculture and food systems in the Horn of Africa region.

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