IGAD Executiv Secretary Eng. Mahmoud MaalimThe Nordic countries sign agreement with IGAD
13.10.2009 //
The ambassadors from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark yesterday 12.10.09 signed an agreement with IGAD Executiv Secretary Eng. Mahmoud Maalim in Addis Ababa. The agreement is a joint financing arrangement for "A new Strategic Partnership to deliver IGADs mandate of Regional Stability, Integration and Prosperity.
Ambassador Jens-Petter KjemprudThe agreement was signed at the opening
ceremony of an IGAD Planning workshop for the harmonization of Partner's Support to IGAD Capacity Building Initiatives which was opened in Addis Ababa today with representatives from all IGAD countries (except from the self suspended Eritrea). The agreement is the first strategic partnership signed by IGAD. The Executiv Secretary said at the signing ceremony that the Nordic countries have taken a pilot role and he hoped that other partner countries will follow the Nordic example.
According to the agreement IGAD will implement institutional strenghtening measures and optimize its project and programme delivery in an open, dynamic and results-driven dialogue with the Pooled Fund Partners, while the Nordic Pooled Fund Partners will harmonize and align their contributions to the capacity building plan of the IGAD Secretariat.
Ambassador Kjemprud says "this is an important step in mobilizing more funds for IGAD as well as strengthening the dialogue to enhance IGADs capacity to support the member states in furthering their efforts for peace stability and regional integration".