The Intergovernmental Authority For development
The Hopes and Realities
By:Amb. Ahmed Haggag.
Secretary-General, African Society

For a long time in the 1980s, East Africa, having been drought-stricken, suffered major human and material losses.

African countries in the region were urged to co-ordinate their policies. Thereupon, the Inter-Governmental Authority for Drought and Development (IGADD) was established in 1986, based in Djibouti.

IGADD's effect was not enough and was therefore replaced in 1995 with a new forum, the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD).

IGAD's membership includes Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.

IGAD's main goal is to achieve economic integration and sustained development in east Africa by means of:

- Harmonizing economic, social technical and scientific policies.

- Maximizing the region's potential for attracting foreign trade and investments.

- Developing the region's infrastructure particularly in the area of transport and energy.

- Promoting peace and stability in IGAD countries, by creating a mechanism for the prevention, management and settlement of disputes.

- Devising programmes by which to achieve food sufficiency and sustained development.

Several projects have thus been prioritized in the various fields and sectors.

On the economic plane, therefore, IGAD seeks (a) to harmonize policies and remove obstacles in the fields of trade and transport; and (b) to link IGAD members using an advanced communications network.

On the political plane, IGAD proposes to develop the forum's dispute-prevention capabilities as well as devise the means to alleviate the consequences of natural and man-induced disasters.

IGAD also seeks to control pollution, implement methods by which water and natural resources could be well managed, desertification fought and agricultural production multiplied.

In January 1997, the IGAD partnership forum was set up, which included such countries as the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Japan to provide the financial resources required for IGAD programmes.

Because of its interests in Sudan and Somalia, Egypt has joined as member in the ipf committees dealing with these two countries.

IGAD has been accepted by the organization of African Unity as a sub-regional gathering.

The IGAD organizational structure is as follows:

- A summit of heads of state and government which meets once a year.

- A meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs.

- A committee of IGAD ambassadors accredited to Djibouti.

-A Secretary-general appointed by the summit.