Following a successful week of knowledge exchange and technical dialogue, the Steering Committee of the DRESSEA project—Enhancing Drought Resilience for Smallholder Farmers and Pastoralists in the IGAD Region—convened in Tunis to validate the project’s strategic priorities for its final year of implementation.
The high-level meeting brought together national focal points from Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda, alongside regional partners including the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), the Global Water Partnership Organization (GWPO), and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). Building on the outcomes of the regional technical seminar held from April 14 to 19, the session served as a crucial link between policy dialogue and practical action.
The meeting was officially opened by Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra, Executive Secretary of OSS, who reaffirmed the organization’s strong commitment to supporting IGAD countries in their fight against drought. His intervention underscored the importance of collective action and regional solidarity to effectively build resilience among vulnerable farming and pastoralist communities.
The session was chaired by H.E. Eng. Ibrahim Adam Ahmed Balila, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Sudan, and skillfully moderated by Ms. Khaoula Jaoui, Director of the Climate Department at OSS.
Member countries presented updated national action plans that reflect both individual priorities and the collective regional vision. Key interventions include the scaling up of drought early warning systems, promotion of climate-resilient agricultural and pastoral practices, empowerment of women-led economic initiatives, sustainable resource governance, and the mobilization of innovative financing models.
The committee discussed an ambitious roadmap for 2025 aimed at accelerating on-the-ground impact. Priority actions will focus on strengthening community-led adaptation, deepening local capacity-building, advancing inclusive governance, and enhancing regional coordination frameworks. A renewed focus was also placed on results-based monitoring and evaluation to ensure long-term sustainability and accountability.
This pivotal meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment of IGAD member states and partners to advancing regional drought resilience. As the project enters its final phase, DRESSEA remains a powerful example of how coordinated action and shared solutions can build a more climate-resilient future for vulnerable smallholder farmers and pastoralist communities across East Africa.