The interdisciplinary project aims to improve training for students of human and veterinary medicine, and subsequently to establish an interdisciplinary centre of excellence for health at the local university. Jigjiga University aims to become the health centre for pastoralist communities in the Horn of Africa, and eventually an attractive partner for neighbouring universities in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. Cooperation between the various educational and research institutions will foster long term the activities of the SDC and its partners in addressing health and food security-related issues.

The Physical Geography and Environmental Chnage Research Group contributes to the project through graduate student training, PhD supervision, exploration of remote sensing tools for assessing land quality and the development of soil and GIS labs at Jijiga University.