OPENING REMARKS by H.E Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD) IGAD Executive Secretary

This Centre serves as an effective instrument for information sharing and utilization among our member states IGAD will work towards bridging the gap between early warning and early action for our Member States through enhancing the development of requisite anticipatory interventions and disaster risk mitigation measures. [...] Excellencies, Join me in applauding the commitment and leadership of ministers and the other policy makers from participating countries in Eastern and South Africa, for this truly unique Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA) adopted by this program. [...] 3 For IGAD, this is the second program employing this innovative approach (after the Food Systems Resilience Program) which also covers East and Southern Africa Region and supported by the World Bank. [...] This Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Program is a testament to our collective determination to build on our experiences and lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic, and other outbreaks such as Cholera and Ebola, to strengthen our health systems to confront similar challenges I must point out that this program is an answer to the political Declaration adopted at the UN General Ass. [...] Finally, I take this opportunity to again sincerely thank the World Bank team and their leadership for the strong support to our effort in strategic mandate and agenda.