A courtesy visit was made by an OSS mission to His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh, Minister of Agriculture, Water, Livestock, Fisheries, and Marine Resources of Djibouti, accompanied by members of his cabinet.
During the meeting, the OSS delegation presented the main findings of the fourth supervision mission of the Strengthening Drought Resilience for Small Holder Farmers and Pastoralists in the IGAD Region (DRESS-EA) project. They highlighted the challenges encountered during the first four years of implementation and proposed recommendations to enhance the project's performance and address the delays recorded.
The mission informed the Minister about the 18-month no-cost extension granted to the project, representing a vital opportunity to complete and finalize all remaining activities. A direct request was made for his support to the Project Management Unit (PMU) to ensure optimal conditions for this critical phase and the successful achievement of the project’s goals.
The Minister expressed his gratitude for OSS’s continued support and reaffirmed the Djiboutian Government's commitment to considering the mission's recommendations and providing the necessary support to the PMU.
The delegations also discussed Djibouti's participation in the upcoming OSS General Assembly in April 2025. The Minister reaffirmed his country's active commitment to contributing to the Assembly and leveraging its outcomes to advance sustainable development and climate adaptation. Additionally, he sought OSS support in mobilizing new funding to expand the impact of initiatives benefiting vulnerable populations and strengthening their resilience.