The Intergovernmental Authority on Development has called for a shift in regional development planning to place borderland areas at the centre of economic growth and integration efforts across the Horn of Africa.
Speaking during the 28th Horn of Africa Initiative meeting on prioritising key corridors for trade and connectivity, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu emphasised that border regions should no longer be treated as peripheral zones but as critical drivers of sustainable development.
Dr. Gebeyehu underscored that while infrastructure investments such as roads and transport corridors are essential, they must go beyond physical construction to deliver meaningful benefits to local communities.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that development initiatives actively involve border populations, strengthen livelihoods, and expand economic opportunities.
“Borderlands must be central to development, not left at its margins,” he noted, highlighting the need for inclusive approaches that address long-standing inequalities in cross-border regions.
The Horn of Africa Initiative meeting brought together regional leaders, policymakers, and development partners to discuss strategies for enhancing trade, connectivity, and economic cooperation.
A key focus of the discussions was how to design and implement corridor projects that are both economically viable and socially inclusive.
IGAD reiterated that sustainable development in the region depends on integrating local perspectives into planning processes, particularly in areas that have historically faced underinvestment and marginalisation.
By prioritising community participation and equitable resource distribution, the bloc aims to ensure that infrastructure projects translate into real improvements in people’s lives.
The call comes amid growing recognition that border regions, often characterised by informal trade and shared cultural ties, hold significant potential to drive regional integration if supported through targeted policies and investments.
As countries in the Horn of Africa continue to pursue ambitious connectivity projects, IGAD’s message signals a broader push to align economic growth with inclusivity, ensuring that no region is left behind in the development agenda.