Ministers and senior officials from member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development endorsed two frameworks in Addis Ababa on Thursday, September 17, 2026, to transform the region’s agricultural and food systems.
The initiatives are the IGAD Regional Agrifood Systems Investment Plan for 2026–2035 and the IGAD Regional Seed Policy Framework 2026.
IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said the investment plan would align national priorities, mobilise funding, strengthen cross-border cooperation and promote regional agricultural trade.
The seed framework seeks to harmonise standards, remove regulatory barriers and facilitate cross-border trade in certified, climate-resilient crop varieties. It is expected to improve farmers’ access to high-yielding seeds while maintaining quality, safety and disease-control requirements.
Workneh said stronger agricultural systems could increase production, improve rural livelihoods and reduce member states’ dependence on recurring emergency food assistance.
Ethiopia reaffirmed its support for the regional programme and said it was incorporating its objectives into the country’s agricultural development framework. Workneh also called for an end to the conflict in Sudan and increased humanitarian assistance for people affected by the war.