According to bank provided information, the Program to Build Resilience for Food and Nutrition Security in the Horn of Africa (BREFONS) is designed as a follow-on phase of the DRSLP with the objective of improving the living standards for women, youth, and the population in general. BREFONS is one of the priority programs identified under the Horn of Africa Initiative. This regional Program was prepared and designed to be implemented in six countries, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan. Due to the uncertain security situation in two of the countries, Ethiopia and Sudan, Program implementation in these countries will be deferred until a more conducive environment is attained. Implementation will therefore be undertaken in a phased approach with the first phase being in four countries (Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan) with a follow up phase in Ethiopia and Sudan at a later period. The Program has four components: (i) strengthening pastoral and agropastoral production systems’ resilience to climate change; (ii) supporting the development of agribusiness; (iii) building the capacity of pastoral and agropastoral communities to adapt to climate change; and (iv) coordination of the program. The total program cost is UA 97.60 million which will benefit approximately 3 million pastoralists and farmers.

The main outcomes include: (i) Increased agricultural (crops and livestock) production to up 30%, (ii) Increased annual income per capita by about 30%, (iii) 180,000 pastoralists and farmers with access to TAAT innovative technologies and practices, (iv) 450,000 pastoralists and farmers benefiting from extension by using digital advisory services under the program, (v) 35,000 additional jobs created for youth and women, (vi) Increased number of farmers and pastoralists using climate services e.g., index-based insurance, with a gender focus to 800,000 people and (vii) Periodic monitoring and reporting of the state of resilience at the national and regional levels.

BREFONS’s beneficiaries include populations in the Horn of Africa affected by climate change, including increased temperatures, high rainfall variability, and intense flooding, each of which have serious socioeconomic consequences. The program’s approach is to deploy an integrated suite of interventions to build resilience to climate change in these populations and improve food and nutrition security. Priority is given to areas in the IGAD cross-border clusters and economic corridors.