IGAD state of the region report, a popular version : formulation of IGAD strategy and medium-term implementation plan 2016-2020 : baseline studies at the national level on IGAD priority sectors.

Abstract

Despite possessing all natural and human resources that could propel the region toward self-reliance, the IGAD region remains one of the world’s poorest regions. Aggregating the World Bank data of 2013, IGAD’s regional per capita income is much lower than the Sub-Saharan African average of US$1,624. Covering an area of 5.2m square km, and with about 80 percent of the IGAD region classified as Arid and Semi-Arid lands (ASALs), more than 40 percent of the total landmass is considered economically unproductive. With a total population of well over 226 million people, nationals of IGAD MSs earn USD 1000 less than their African brothers and sisters in the remaining Sub-Saharan countries. The IGAD region (particularly Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan) is one of the highest recipients of international aid. With severe climatic changes and environmental degradation and heavily dependent on agriculture and livestock, the region is very prone to persistent extremes of severe droughts and flooding. Due to protracted conflicts and unresponsive governance, the populations in the IGAD region have faced and continue to face grave food insecurity and famine. In the arid borderlands of IGAD, droughts are frequent and often devastating and can cause communal clashes over scarce pasture and water resources. Periodic drought in 2011 affected 12 million people in the IGAD region, with an estimated death toll of 250,000 in Somalia alone, which caused massive displacement, often into resources-scarce border areas. As a result, in terms of the UNDP’s Human Development Index, all IGAD MSs are listed as exhibiting low human development. Half of the population lives below the poverty datum line of one US Dollar (USD) per day. Resource scarcity, displaced communities, poverty and underdevelopment in the border areas are exacerbating both communal conflict and civil wars. By 2050, the population of IGAD will be 400 million; a substantial increase from today’s 226 million. More than 55 per cent of this population will then be at a relatively young age (below 20 years). With the current promising economic development and overall improvement in governance, there will be an increase of income, and an emerging middle class. The population growth of the region will become an asset or liability depending on the transformation that the region adapts in terms of inclusive development, governance, and food security. Peace and security at national and regional level will be vital ingredient in this regional transformation. ....