MOGADISHU, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Tuesday signed 78.6 million U.S. dollar grant with Somalia and South Sudan governments to strengthen drought resilience whilst addressing chronic hunger and malnutrition.
AfDB said in a statement that it has granted Somalia 34.8 million dollars to benefit 804,000 individuals while 43.8 million dollars was given to South Sudan to benefit 300,000 individuals.
The African bank also signed agreement with Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGADF) under the Bank's "Say No To Famine-Short Term Regional Emergency Response Project" (STRERP).
"IGAD will oversee the implementation of the project through an agency to be recruited in each of the countries," AfDB said in a statement.
Under this framework, the Bank plans to invest about 1.1 billion dollars as a coordinated response to its regional member countries that have been severely affected by prolonged drought periods and unstable food production.
The agencies will work with the governments to put in place structures, systems and facilities that will enable them take on increasing responsibility for disaster management and delivery of humanitarian assistance.
"We are delighted that through STRERP, we will provide immediate action to increase food security, boost household incomes, promote regional trade in food products and kick start community recovery, ultimately contributing to inclusive growth and resilience in Somalia and South Sudan," said AfDB Director General, Eastern Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office Gabriel Negatu.
The project will strengthen the capacity of relevant ministries such as the ministry of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management in Somalia and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in South Sudan.
"It is great to see AfDB provide support to deal with this humanitarian emergency currently being experienced in the two countries; Somalia and South Sudan. IGAD is thrilled to be associated with this project and we look forward to its implementation," said IGAD Executive Secretary, Mahboub Maalim.
In addition to meeting the daily nutritional needs of vulnerable members of the population, STRERP will facilitate resilience-oriented activities.
"This will be accomplished through meeting communities' nutritional needs and creating opportunities for affected communities to re-engage in agricultural production," the Bank said.
Integral to this will be stimulating the local private sector and reducing drought and hardship-induced cross-border migration in search of scarce food, water and pasture.
