Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was established in 1996 to represent the interests of states in the Eastern Africa region. Under article 7 of the Agreement establishing IGAD, its aims and objectives include promoting joint development strategies; harmonising Member States’ policies; achieving regional food security; initiating sustainable development of natural resources; promoting peace and stability in the sub-region; and mobilising resources for the implementation of programmes within the framework of sub- regional cooperation.

Evolution

IGAD is the successor to the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD), which was founded in 1986 to address the recurring droughts and other natural disasters that had caused severe hardship in the region. The revitalised Authority’s mandate increased to include promoting greater regional political and economic cooperation as well as addressing peace and security issues. It also implemented a new organisational structure.

Structure

The IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government is the organisation’s supreme policy-making organ, determining its objectives, guidelines and programmes. IGAD’s structure also includes the Council of Ministers, which formulates policy, approves the work programme and the Secretariat’s annual budget, and the Committee of Ambassadors, which facilitates the Council’s work and guides the Executive Secretary (head of the Secretariat). The Council is composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and one other minister designated by each Member State. The Executive Secretary is appointed by the Assembly to run the organisation’s day-to-day affairs.

Other bodies include the:
• Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU–IGAD), which came into existence after its establishing Protocol came into force in November 2007. It is composed of IGAD Member States’ Speakers of Parliament.
• Civil Society Forum, which was established in 2003 to resuscitate the interface between the IGAD Secretariat and non-governmental and civil society organisations in the region.
• Partners Forum (IPF), which was formed in January 1997 to replace and formalise IGAD’s relationships with the ‘Friends of IGAD’, a group of partners working closely with the Secretariat.

Members (8)

Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda