The Role of IGAD in Drought Response in the Horn of Africa

For several decades, the region has been affected by the consequences of climate change with effects on the socioeconomic, political and security aspects in general and on the pastoralist (agriculture and livestock) mode of life in particular. This reliance on arid areas makes local economies and communities vulnerable to drought. Recurrent droughts impair food production, disrupts markets, depletes pastures and, at its worst, leads to a large number of fatalities among people and animals, and increased violence.  This development has contradictory effect on regional security. And, the shared physical threats and challenges brought on by climate change present a potential rallying point for regional cooperation in which IGAD stands to coordinate and tackle the existing challenges. On the other hand, competition for access to these few natural resources is also a major factor igniting conflicts and instability in the region. To tackle this problem, IGAD was set up in 1986 with narrow mandate of tackling drought and other environmental issues. This research project has employed both qualitative and quantitative data analysis method, while using scholarly literature to trace the consequences of climate change, and the effort made by IGAD.