Information Technology Project Manager at Intergovernmental Authority on Development-apply!

IGAD was created in 1996 to supersede the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD), which was founded in 1986. This followed the recurring and severe drought and other natural disasters between 1974 and 1984 that caused widespread famine, ecological degradation and economic hardship in the Eastern Africa region. Although individual countries made substantial efforts to cope with the situation and received generous support from the international community, the magnitude and extent of the problem argued strongly for a regional approach to supplement national efforts. In 1983 and 1984, six countries in the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia,Sudan and Uganda) took action through the United Nations to establish an intergovernmental body to collectively combat drought and desertification in the region. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government met in January 1986 to sign the agreement that officially launched IGADD with headquarters in Djibouti. The State of Eritrea became the seventh member after attaining independence in 1993 and South Sudan joined in 2011. In April 1995 in Addis Ababa, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government made a declaration to revitalize IGADD and expand cooperation among Member States. On 21st March 1996 in Nairobi, the Assembly signed “Letter of Instrument to amend the IGADD Charter” establishing the revitalized regional organization with a new name, “Intergovernmental Authority on Development”. IGAD with expanded areas of regional cooperation and a new organizational structure was launched during the Summit of the Heads of State and Government on 25th November 1996 in Djibouti. The Vision To be the premier regional organization for achieving peace, prosperity and regional integration in the IGAD region The Mission To assist and complement the efforts of the Member States through increased cooperation to achieve: Food security and environmental protection; Promotion and maintenance of peace and security and humanitarian affairs; and Economic cooperation and integration. The Goals collaborating with the member states and development partners to: Advance cooperative development plans and progressively synchronize macroeconomic policies and initiatives in the domains of science, technology, and society; synchronize trade, customs, transportation, communications, agriculture, and natural resource policy; encourage unrestricted movement of people, products, and services throughout the region; Establish a favorable climate for investment and trade both domestically and internationally; Ensure regional food security and support coordinated efforts to mitigate the effects of drought and other natural and man-made calamities, as well as their natural aftermath; Launch and support initiatives and programs aimed at achieving regional food security, environmentally sound development of natural resources, and sustainable resource management; Create and enhance a complementary and integrated infrastructure in the fields of transportation, Policy Organs. IGAD is comprised of four hierarchical policy organs:

1. THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT; The Summit is the supreme policy making organ of the Authority. The Summit determines the objectives, guidelines and programmes for IGAD and ordinarily meets once a year. A Chairman is elected from among the Member States on a rotational basis.

2. THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS; The Executive Council is composed of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and one other Focal Minister designated by each Member State. The Council formulates policy, approves the work programme and annual budget of the Secretariat.

3. THE COMMITTEE OF AMBASSADORS is comprised of Ambassadors or Plenipotentiaries accredited to the country of IGAD Headquarters, i.e. Djibouti. The Committee convenes as often as the need arises to advise and guide the Executive Secretary.

4. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government appoints an Executive Secretary to lead THE SECRETARIAT for a four-year term that is renewable once. The Secretary helps Member States create regional projects in priority areas, coordinates and harmonizes development policies, mobilizes resources to carry out projects and programs that the Council has approved, and strengthens national infrastructures that are required to carry out regional policies and projects.