This is the powerful rationale behind the pact between the governments of Ethiopia and Kenya, which established a cross-border programme that straddles Marsabit county, Kenya, and the Borana/Dawa Zones of Ethiopia known as the Integrated Programme for Sustainable Peace and Socio-economic Transformation.
This initiative was launched in December 2015 by President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development Executive Secretary, Ambassador Mahboub Maalim. A short video.
The programme, which is implemented in partnership with Igad and the UN Country Teams of Ethiopia and Kenya, aims at preventing and mitigating potential violent conflicts and extremism in the borderland areas through conflict prevention mechanisms, addressing the root causes of violent extremism and focusing on the humanitarian, security and development nexus.
To take this programme another step forward, the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments signed the programme document on 22 June 2017.
To galvanise support for the programme, an event titled From Barriers to Bridges: The Ethiopia-Kenya Cross-Border Programme was organised on July 10, 2017 at UNDP New York. It was co-chaired by the Permanent Representatives of Kenya and Ethiopia to the United Nations.
Taking stock of the programme to-date, one cannot help but marvel at how far the two countries have come and what can still be achieved. As confirmed by local community elders, local conflicts have diminished and the programme has achieved impressive results in reducing the allure of extremist groups such as Al Shabaab among local youth, ever since joint interventions by the government of Kenya, the UN and civil society partners started in 2015.
There have been significant socioeconomic gains as well. The Isiolo-Merille-Marsabit-Moyale road, which is partially financed by the European Union, is now complete and is expected to be a game-changer in enhancing integration, connectivity and promoting trade between Ethiopia and Kenya.
The World Bank has also embarked on a huge infrastructure development programme to link Isiolo with Mandera. The EU is already proposing that the Ethiopia-Kenya cross-border programme be scaled up to include the Mandera Triangle, the Omo and Karamoja clusters.
These are all welcome developments for a region with substantial development needs and considerable potential. The areas involved are home to more than half of Kenya’s livestock, which can be harnessed to create bigger and better agro-business industries.
The region’s diverse and rich culture and heritage, evidenced by local historical and geographical sites, can be an asset in developing ecotourism. There is also a latent resource for clean and renewable energy exploitation, as proven by the recent launch of the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, which is expected to generate 310MW.
The recent discovery of major groundwater aquifers and massive oil deposits in Turkana provides further reason for optimism.
Cross-border trade could have a positive ripple effect. It is poised to generate tremendous revenue for both countries, reduce risks of conflict, facilitate prevention of violent extremism efforts (particularly if tied to approaches that aim to strengthen social cohesion and societal resilience as well as paying attention to the social/cultural/political dimensions that drive radicalization and extremism), and improve livelihoods, especially among the marginalized and poor communities to expedite the achievement of a core goal of the SDGs – ending poverty by 2030.
The UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa Mr. Abdoulaye Mar Dieye has said, “The Ethiopia Kenya Cross Border Programme has a high peace and development return. If we invest in the region we can boost development and reduce insecurity. This Cross Border Programme is a regional public good. It resonates far beyond Kenya and Ethiopia and can serve the entire continent”.
The Kenya-Ethiopia cross-border programme may well hold the key to an innovative approach to operationalising Mr António Guterres, the UN secretary general’s prevention agenda by addressing marginalisation, radicalisation and prevent violent extremism using human development and economic growth to spur peace.
Siddharth Chatterjee is the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Kenya.
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