(Onkodradio.so) The Committee of Ambassadors of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development yesterday convened and endorsed the IGAD Budget 2023 on the budget of the regional organisation for the year 2023.
The Executive Secretary of IGAD, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, welcomed the Ambassadors to the venue and thanked them for the commitment to the organisation.
In his opening remarks, Dr Workneh noted the progress “recorded on the peace agreement in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the national reconciliation agreement in the Republic of Sudan” were “significant developments for the region”. “However, the real work of implementation now lies ahead of us and this budget is a crucial element as we mobilize the political, diplomatic and material resources that will be urgently needed”, he underlined.
In a Tweet, the Executive Secretary pointed that “next year is crucial for the carrying-out of recently reached peace agreements & political settlements as well as for the finalisation of key reforms at IGAD Secretariat.”
“Moreover, to enhance corporate capacity to deliver its mandate, the Secretariat has continued to implement the several crucial reform initiatives such the digitalization agenda to improve institutional efficiency and minimize the operational costs”, he stressed.
In light of these remarks and the recommendations tabled by the Experts from IGAD Member States Ministries of Finance and Budgets, and Ministries of Foreign Affairs who met on December 7 and 9 in preparation for the Committee of Ambassadors, the Committee of Ambassadors agreed to a 10% increase of the yearly IGAD budget in comparison to Fiscal Year 2022.
Considering the fact that all IGAD member countries’ economies were affected by the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as political and security challenges, the 10% increment is a clear manifestation of member countries’ commitment to their regional organisation.