Djibouti’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, hosted a regional workshop focused on building climate-resilient pastoral economies in East Africa’s arid and semi-arid regions.
The event forms part of the World Bank–funded De-risking, Inclusion, and Value Enhancement of Pastoral Economies (DRIVE) project, which aims to mitigate climate risks—particularly drought—affecting pastoral communities.
Participants from Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya took part in the discussions, alongside representatives from the World Bank, insurance providers, and local stakeholders.
Ibrahim Ilmi, Secretary General of Djibouti’s Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted the importance of the initiative, noting that the Horn of Africa hosts more than 370 million livestock, a sector increasingly vulnerable to climate change.
“The Horn of Africa has the largest number of livestock in Africa, and it is facing many pressures related to climate change,” Ilmi said. He emphasized the need for stronger cooperation among the four participating countries to advance durable solutions for pastoral communities.
The DRIVE project, implemented across Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, seeks to enhance pastoralists’ access to financial services for drought risk management, integrate them into regional livestock value chains, and facilitate cross-border livestock trade.
With a total budget of $432.5 million, the initiative supports efforts to strengthen livelihoods in agriculture and livestock, reduce drought-related vulnerabilities, and improve regional economic infrastructure.
The five-year project began on 21 July 2022 and is scheduled to run until 30 September 2027.
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