March 31-April 1, 2026 (ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia) The policy dialogue on ratification of the IGAD Transhumance protocol for national and sub-national local authorities, convened by ICPALD, made necessary progressive steps towards actualizing the Protocol’s endorsement.
In attendance at the two-day meeting were members of several parliamentary standing committees on: Foreign Affairs; Agriculture; Justice and Legal Affairs; and Water, Irrigation and Lowlands and Environmental Protection Affairs. Also present were representatives from relevant ministries: Agriculture; Irrigation and Lowlands; Foreign Affairs; and Justice.
During the opening ceremony, speakers expressed the desire to see the Protocol’s legal processes move forward.
“The richness of pastoralism in the region gives the basis for the Protocol. We acknowledge that the parliamentary standing committees help us draw political will from the countries to move the process forward,” said Dr. Guyo Roba, ICPALD Head of Drylands Development, speaking on behalf of Dr. Dereje Wakjira, ICPALD Director.
“The outcomes of this policy dialogue will contribute to informing the Government’s position and supporting a well-coordinated and legally sound ratification process,” said Mr. Aschalew Kebede, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“We commend IGAD for taking up this initiative that will benefit the region and hope the Protocol will be ratified in the shortest time possible so that it becomes a supporting instrument for all IGAD Member Countries,” said Hon. Dr. Dima Noggo, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Peace.
The dialogue’s focus was on making the Protocol part and parcel of Ethiopia’s national policy frameworks, prior to domestication and eventual full implementation. Currently, Ethiopia is the only IGAD Member State with a policy (national policy on livestock and pastoral development) that aligns to and complements the Protocol.
Following the deliberations the participants updated recommendations and way forward arising from the previous policy makers meeting held on 19-20 August, 2025 in Bishoftu. The Ethiopian government processes required to ratify the IGAD Transhumance Protocol were also discussed, including the new requirement to engage cross border stakeholder communities in these consultations.
This policy dialogue session was funded by the EU under Phase II of the Support to Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance in the IGAD Region.
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