The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has expressed concern that delayed funding is hindering efforts to shield communities from climate shocks and emergencies in East Africa. IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu emphasized the need for predictable financing to enable communities to act before droughts, floods, and other disasters cause damage. He made these remarks at the second East Africa Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action in Mombasa.
Gebeyehu highlighted that early-warning information must trigger timely decisions and release resources before the impacts of climate hazards become severe. He noted that the region faces interconnected risks, including climate shocks, conflict, economic pressures, and public health emergencies. The IGAD chief stressed that anticipatory action can protect livelihoods, preserve assets, reduce humanitarian needs, and limit response costs associated with disasters.
According to Gebeyehu, every dollar spent on early action can save several dollars in losses and response costs. He urged governments and development partners to invest in preparedness before disasters strike. The IGAD executive secretary called on member states to integrate anticipatory action into national policies, disaster-risk management frameworks, sectoral plans, local government systems, and development planning.
Gebeyehu emphasized that predictable financing is crucial for governments and local institutions to act before disasters. He recommended that national budgets, contingency arrangements, and disaster-risk financing systems provide resources that can be released when agreed risk thresholds are reached. The IGAD chief also suggested exploring ways to combine climate finance, adaptation funding, social protection, insurance, and other financing instruments to support early interventions.
The dialogue also focused on strengthening community-led preparedness. Gebeyehu noted that local communities, often the first to experience climate extremes, need the capacity, authority, information, and resources to act. He called for the involvement of women, young people, pastoral communities, and people affected by displacement in decisions affecting them. The meeting builds on the first East Africa Dialogue Platform held in Mombasa in 2024.
Gebeyehu reported that member states and partners have developed and strengthened national anticipatory action roadmaps since the first dialogue platform. He noted that regional cooperation on early warning, operational delivery, and financing has advanced. The next step, according to Gebeyehu, is to institutionalize these efforts so that early action is integrated into government systems rather than depending mainly on short-term projects.
IGAD, through its Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) and Disaster Risk Management Programme, remains committed to supporting regional coordination, strengthening early-warning systems, and helping member states advance anticipatory action. The organization aims to work with governments and partners to address funding gaps and ensure that communities are better prepared to face climate shocks and other emergencies.
Key points
- IGAD calls for predictable financing to enable communities to act before climate disasters.
- Early action can offer greater economic value than waiting until communities have suffered losses.
- IGAD urges governments to integrate anticipatory action into national policies and disaster-risk management frameworks.
