The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Friday opened its cross-border development facilitation office in Moyale to boost cooperation among communities in Ethiopia- Kenya cross-border areas.
While presiding over the inauguration event, IGAD's executive secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu said they have had a steadfast presence in the Moyale area for more than a decade.
"We have been working tirelessly to support our member states implementing various borderlands programs along with numerous projects," he said
He said the new office is mandated to facilitate cross-border cooperation among government institutions and communities in their respective clusters and will foster the delivery of social services to host communities, refugees and migrants.
"Cross-border facilitation office would enhance the living conditions and economic opportunity for migrants, refugees and host communities and strengthen social cohesion in the border areas," he said
He revealed the plan the IGAD has for the border communities to strengthen cohesion through the implementation of catalytic economic and social infrastructure projects to promote economic development.
Dr Workeneh said the cross-border development facilitation office would not only boost cross-border cooperation but improve cross-border linkages between governments and communities and support basic service delivery to cross-border communities including migrants.
He revealed that the IGAD also rolled out a cash program which provided cash assistance to more than 1600 households to engage in activities that promote peace and social cohesion.
Dr Gebeyehu emphasized that IGAD's primary focus is on state-building and peace promotions in the border regions of member countries, and highlighted the importance of infrastructural development to enhance free trade and facilitate cultural exchanges among IGAD's member states.
He pledged 5.5 million Euros as an emigration development fund to uplift the lives of the underprivileged in the region and support Initiatives that provide opportunities for growth and development.
Marsabit County Governor Mohamud Ali thanked IGAD for their decision to open the Moyale cross-border facilitation office.
He said the opening of the border office would be a great opportunity for the cross-border residents to advance collaboration for sustainable development and integration in borderlands.
He also thanked the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development for funding the establishment of the Moyale office and their continued support for IGAD's cross-border programmes.
The county boss said borderland communities like Moyale have been destabilized by ethnic and cross-border skirmishes and impoverished by the vagaries of climate change.
"The founding leaders of IGAD were motivated by a vision where the people of the region would develop a regional identity, live in peace and enjoy economic prosperity," he said
The county boss said the inauguration of IGAD's Moyale office gave him the assurance that IGAD remained steadfast in pursuing the shared aspirations of the founding leaders.
Governor Mohamud thanked Gebeyehu for demonstrating real leadership for the region and showing a renewed commitment and dedication to the borderlands.
"Your leadership is keeping alive our aspirations to build that regional identity," said, the county boss
He said the new office will offer a free trade zone that will spur economic growth investment and trade in Moyale and enhance integration and social cohesion between the cross-border communities.
Governor Mohamud urged the IGAD secretariat to consider initiating interventions that target social-economic enhancement for the migrant population.
He said Moyale has been a major migration corridor serving as host, transit and destination for the migrant population in the Horn of Africa.
He also called for the enhancement of Moyale level four hospital which serves as a referral point for maternal and childcare both for Kenya and Ethiopia's host and migrant population.
"The constraint that the migrant and mobile cross-border population places on the existing facilities and social amenities are unprecedented," said Governor Mohamud.
He emphasized the strengthening social cohesion and integration and building regional identity should be a multi-pronged endeavour.
"Building peace and harmony requires appreciating differences and celebrating diversity. Peace means not only resolving conflicts but also advancing unity in diversity through continuous interactions of people from diverse cultural identities," he said
The Governor said that Marsabit County celebrates cultural festivals annually for sustained peace and cultural diversity.
He invited the IGAD secretariat to grace this year's festival season slated between the 22nd and 25th of November in Loiyangalani.
Governor Mohamud urged leaders from both sides of the border to seize the opportunity of the newly opened office to redouble the efforts to build a two-nation, one-people identity, a Kenya - Ethiopia corridor of Moyale - Moyale people.
Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo called for the strengthening of cross-border Peacebuilding, community resilience conflict prevention, management and resolution.
He lauded the peace efforts exemplified by 35 peace committee members from both Kenya and Ethiopia and urged them to continue playing a significant role in addressing cross-border conflicts among the border communities.
The Deputy Governor tasked the peace committee members to intervene in cases where vehicles and motorbikes were confiscated by the Ethiopian government.