The Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Kenya, Dr. Chris. K. Kiptoo, is the new Chair for the Regional Steering Committee of the Strengthening Drought Resilience for Smallholder Farmers and Pastoralists in the IGAD Region -DRESS-EA project. Kenya, as a National Executing Entity of the DRESS-EA project took over from Djibouti, which held the position since last year under the leadership of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Livestock in Djibouti.
The handover ceremony took place during the 3rd Regional Steering Committee for the DRESS-EA project which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on 12th October 2022. In his inaugural speech as the incoming chair, Dr. Kiptoo, who was represented by Mr. Tom Mirasi recognized the tremendous efforts that Djibouti had done in leading the committee in the past year towards steering the implementing and executing entities of the DRESS-EA project to adhere to adaptation and resilience within the changing environments. He pointed out the challenge of drought which the region is facing, that has affected over 20,000 livelihoods, most especially the smallholder farmers and pastoralists. He reiterated that the DRESS-EA project came at a critical time to act as a catalyst for more resource mobilization and therefore there is need to work together for the successful implementation of the project.
“I know that the RSC is playing a pivotal role in the Governments of the four executing entities, to steer the project towards attaining its objectives, and I am confident that this commitment is enough to lead this project to reach out to the vulnerable communities’, he said in his speech. He called upon all stakeholders to fast track its implementation. He re-echoed his commitment and that of the Government of Kenya towards leading and supporting the implementation of the project.
The Regional Steering Committee for the DRESS-EA project is the highest governing body of the project, which provides its strategic direction at the regional level. It also provides guidance for the planning and execution of the technical activities of the project while giving recommendations of the progress of its implementation. The previous RSC meeting was held virtually amidst the COVID pandemic. The committee meets twice every year.
The OSS is the Implementing Entity of DRESS-EA and sits on the RSC committee as an observer to oversee and supervise the project. On behalf of the Executive Secretary of the OSS, the Coordinator of the Climate Department Climate Finance and Natural Resources Management, Ms Khaula Jaoui highlighted the importance of making concrete decisions that would enable the entities both regional and national, to catch up on the delays that had been caused by political and social challenges, such as elections, conflicts and insecurities as well as the COVID pandemic.