NAIROBI – H.E. Hassan Isse, Managing Director of the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) under the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), took part in a high-level policy dialogue in Nairobi, Kenya from June 3-4. The strategic forum focused on examining the crucial integration of mobility, climate adaptation, and disaster preparedness policies throughout East Africa and the Horn of Africa.

Co-organized by Kenya’s National Coordination Mechanism on Migration and the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), this two-day high-level event convened governments, regional institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners. Participants aligned strategies, shared evidence, and developed concrete policy recommendations addressing how recurring droughts, floods, and desertification compel human displacement.

This initiative falls under the “Managing the impacts of environmental change and conflict on mobility in Eastern Africa through evidence-based inclusive policy dialogue and collaborative actions” (MECMEA) project. A consortium comprising the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre and Network (HoA-REC&N), MMC, Association Djibouti Nature, South Sudan Nature Conservation Organization (SSNCO), and PanAfricare Kenya leads the project.

The European Union funds this high-level regional project. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) contracted it through the Migration and Mobility Dialogue (MMD) Grant Facility, establishing a knowledge exchange platform to enhance stakeholders’ capacity in addressing climate-related mobility challenges.

In panel sessions, His Excellency shared national field expertise based on primary data collection and disaster risk governance. He highlighted the humanitarian impact of advancing early warning systems and optimizing relief logisticswork that extends beyond data tracking to actively preserving the dignity of displaced families, protecting human lives, and strengthening vulnerable communities’ resilience.

The forum facilitated extensive discussions on enhancing policy coherence by connecting local, national, and regional actors to align strategies. Participants also stressed the importance of strengthening evidence-based decision-making by synthesizing structural lessons and best practices to implement unified strategies that address complex environmental challenges and reduce vulnerabilities.

Sessions thoroughly examined concrete and actionable policy recommendations for national, regional, and development partners. Participants highlighted the critical need for continuous coordination in policy dialogues and knowledge exchange, ensuring sustainable stability for populations experiencing sudden ecological disruptions and socio-economic vulnerabilities due to global warming.

The delegation concluded by reaffirming SoDMA’s steadfast commitment to implementing the actionable policy outcomes from the Nairobi dialogue. They will collaborate with regional partners to translate these strategic visions into practical field programs that stabilize displaced families and establish sustainable livelihoods throughout the Horn of Africa.

The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) functions as the operational branch of the National Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), responsible for monitoring crises and directing emergency responses. The Nairobi forum emerged as a crucial platform connecting forced migration policies with accelerating climate changes and funding long-term adaptation throughout Africa.