This report was launched in Nairobi, Kenya on 24th September 2026. More than 40 million people in the IGAD eight countries are faced with food and nutrition insecurity requiring humanitarian assistance. Food security is a developmental issue and the most affected populations are in the ASALs and drylands of the IGAD countries indicating the historical neglect over the years in terms of development priorities. The statistics given in the report are not merely numbers but human and livelihoods affected and in require urgent actions to save from suffering and death. In Kenya, 2.7 million people are categorized as food insecure the 23 ASAL counties (IPC Phase 3 and above) due to poor performance of the long rains in March-May in 2026. The report proposes that the region:

  1. Strengthens early warning and anticipatory actions.
  2. Invest in resilient food systems and livelihoods (agroecology, smart agriculture, NbS, EBA and indigenous knowledge).
  3. Strengthen regional food markets, communication and trade and interconnected drivers of climate change and conflict.
  4. Promote technology, innovations and research.
  5. Strengthen data coordination and financing and
  6. Strengthen partnerships-government, private sectors, local communities and CSOs.