The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through its Secretariat Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD), is spearheading a regional initiative to strengthen the surveillance, prevention, and control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) across Kenya and neighbouring countries.
Meeting in Moyale, Kenya, on 15 December 2025, ICPALD, in collaboration with IGAD Member States, announced the development and signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and an Information Sharing Protocol aimed at enhancing cross-border coordination in animal health management.
The frameworks are designed to improve timely information exchange and joint responses to livestock disease outbreaks that frequently affect pastoral and border communities.
To support the effective understanding and operationalisation of these agreements, ICPALD has partnered with national and sub-national authorities from the Departments of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Somalia.
The partnership has facilitated a series of MoU awareness meetings targeting key stakeholders in cross-border counties, including Turkana (Lodwar), Marsabit (Moyale), and Mandera.
The meetings bring together veterinary officers, county and regional officials, and other actors involved in livestock health to align disease surveillance systems, harmonise control measures, and strengthen collaboration across borders where pastoral mobility is high.
The initiative is funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (EU-BMZ) under the Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Programme (PRBP).
It forms part of broader efforts to promote stability, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods in border areas where livestock is a critical economic and social asset.
By fostering stronger regional cooperation, IGAD aims to reduce the impact of transboundary animal diseases, protect pastoral livelihoods, and enhance food security across the Horn of Africa and neighbouring regions.