Beijing, September 3, 2024 – Mr. Gamal Hassan, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Climate Adaptation and Environmental Protection, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD-CAEP) and Mr. Josephat Onyari, Director of Finance and Administration of IGAD, visited UNEP-IEMP on September 3rd to explore potential avenues for future collaboration.
Dr. Zhang Linxiu, Director of UNEP-IEMP, warmly welcomed the delegation and introduced UNEP-IEMP's 10-year strategy, the UNEP Climate, Ecosystems, and Livelihoods flagship program, and its work in Africa. She emphasized the efforts of South-South cooperation and extended network of UNEP-IEMP with scientists and global partners. Dr. Zhang highlighted that UNEP-IEMP is leveraging China's extensive experiences on applying integrated approaches to addressing coupled environment and development issues. She also looked forward to showcasing joint successes on international platforms alongside IGAD.
Mr. Onyari shared IGAD’s longstanding expertise on development, peace-keeping, environment and climate change across Eastern Africa. He pointed out that despite IGAD’s efforts, the region continues to grapple with natural disasters such as floods and droughts.
Mr. Hassan shared that the IGAD-CAEP is continually working on climate risk management, policy advocacy and environmental managment with its eight member states, namely Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. He expressed great interest in establishing good partnership with UNEP-IEMP and joining the South-South cooperation efforts. Some of these areas identified for cooperation include enhancing climate change early warning systems, capacity building among partner institutions, student exchange programs, and sharing of best practices in ecological restoration, climate change adaptation, and livelihood improvement.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to explore these collaborative opportunities further, with the shared goal of enhancing sustainable development in the Eastern Africa region.
Group photo of attendees
