prbpcoordination@igad.int
May 30, 2025 (Nairobi- Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in partnership with GIZ, successfully concluded a five-day Work Planning Workshop under the Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Programme (PRBP). Held in Nairobi from 26–30 May 2025, the workshop brought together IGAD specialised institutions, cross-border NGOs, local government actors, and development partners to coordinate implementation efforts across three cross-border clusters in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan.
The PRBP is a flagship initiative co-implemented by IGAD and GIZ, aiming to reduce cross-border conflict and enhance community resilience by addressing shared regional challenges such as natural resource scarcity, security threats, and climate-induced vulnerabilities.
The workshop was officially opened with remarks from Dr Feto Esimo, Coordinator of the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI) Platform, who spoke on behalf of IGAD Executive Secretary, H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu. Dr Esimo emphasised the strategic relevance of integrated planning in strengthening synergies between early warning systems, pastoralist livelihoods, and climate-resilient development.
During the first two days, IGAD specialised institutions — including the Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism (CEWARN), the IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD), and the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) — presented key findings from the PRBP baseline survey. The data highlighted crucial trends around transboundary resource access, livestock mobility patterns, and climate risks across the target borderlands.
Parallel technical sessions provided space for IGAD entities and partners to develop draft operational plans with clear priorities, timelines, and budget needs. Facilitated discussions allowed for harmonisation of these inputs into a single, integrated annual work plan. This joint framework will guide coordinated implementation of peacebuilding, livelihoods, and climate adaptation activities in the coming year.
In closing, Mr Anthony Awira, IGAD Director for Planning, Coordination and Partnerships, reaffirmed the PRBP’s alignment with IGAD’s broader regional integration and resilience agenda. He commended the strong collaboration demonstrated throughout the week, noting that joint programming is key to achieving lasting peace and prosperity in IGAD’s border regions.
December 1, 2025
DanChurchAid Kenya, in partnership with GIZ Kenya and IGAD, under the Delegation of The European Union to Kenya funded Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Programme, spearheaded a transformative four-day capacity-building initiative in Lodwar on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) and Disaster Risk Management (DRM). The activity ran from 24-27 November 2025.
Peaceful Resilience Borderlands Programme (PRBP) is the umbrella programme under which SPREAD implemented across Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, falls. DCA serves as the lead consortium partner for the SPREAD project.
DCA led in the mapping and mobilization of key stakeholders while IGAD and GIZ facilitated the training.
The initiative brought together government focal points from South Sudan, Kenya, and Ethiopia across the Karamoja cluster, strategically positioning them to strengthen regional resilience.
By equipping cross-border technical working groups with advanced capabilities in risk analysis, emergency monitoring and forecasting, information dissemination, and preparedness planning, this training served as a catalyst to a more coordinated, rapid, and effective disaster response architecture.
Through an immersive and participatory learning experience, the programme not only built technical expertise but also fosters a unified commitment to safeguarding border communities against emerging hazards.
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The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has officially launched the Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Programme in a significant move aimed at promoting peace, resilience, and sustainable development in the Horn of Africa.The initiative, co-funded by the European Union and Germany, was unveiled during an event in Nairobi, with high-level government officials, ambassadors, and representatives of development partners in attendance.
The programme seeks to address conflict prevention and enhance socio-economic development in cross-border regions that have historically suffered from resource-based conflicts exacerbated by climate change. It focuses on three key IGAD clusters: Karamoja, Mandera, and Moyale.
Speaking at the event, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and Regional Development Beatrice Askul Moe highlighted the importance of this initiative.
Moe noted that the Horn of Africa has been hit hard by adverse climate events like droughts and floods, which have triggered resource-based conflicts and displacements, further compounding the humanitarian crises in these regions.
The programme, which aligns with the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI), aims to foster peaceful coexistence among cross-border communities by strengthening governance structures and building mechanisms to withstand shocks like droughts and conflicts.
"Peace and resilience are inseparable pillars upon which sustainable development can flourish," said Moe. She also acknowledged the role of pastoral communities in Kenya’s border regions, stressing that these areas, though often fragile, are home to communities that share common cultural, linguistic, and economic ties across borders.
Mohamed Ware, IGAD’s Deputy Executive Secretary, echoed these sentiments in his address, calling for a paradigm shift in the perception of the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).
"It is time to change the narrative that views the ASALs and their cross-border communities as peripheral. Instead, we must recognize and leverage these communities as bridges for transformative change and development," said Ware. He noted that ASALs cover 70% of the region’s land mass and are home to more than 100 million people, along with 532 million livestock, which contributes up to 50% of the agricultural GDP.
Ware also highlighted the socio-economic potential of ASALs, urging leaders to see these regions not as marginalized areas but as vital economic zones. "Economic integration and trade facilitation are crucial for the development of cross-border communities. By improving infrastructure, streamlining border management procedures, and promoting cross-border trade, these regions can unlock their economic potential," he added.
The Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Programme aligns with the African Union’s Niamey Convention on borderland management, emphasizing the need for peaceful and cooperative governance of border areas. It also builds on IGAD’s framework for cross-border cooperation, with a strong focus on economic integration, social cohesion, and sustainable resource management.
She also pointed out that Kenya is actively working with neighboring countries to foster peace and development, with agreements already in place with Uganda, Ethiopia, and plans to initiate similar agreements with Somalia and South Sudan.
In closing, Ware reaffirmed IGAD's commitment to seeing the programme through to its full implementation. "Let us promote the cross-border communities as bridges that connect us, fostering economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. Through the collective efforts of our governments, development partners, and local communities, we can create a resilient and prosperous IGAD region," he said.
