Press Release

AfDB Executive Directors vist EAC Secretariat

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 06 March 2017:
A delegation of African Development Bank (AfDB) Executive Directors paid a working visit to the EAC Headquarters and held discussions with the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko and other EAC Senior officials.

The purpose of their visit was to discuss the Bank’s collaboration with the Community since the signing of a cooperation agreement in 1998. The agreement has resulted in the funding of several regional projects by the Bank, mainly in the transport and energy sectors.

In his welcoming remarks, the Secretary General thanked the African Development Bank for being the first bilateral partner way back in 1998 to sign a Cooperation Agreement with the EAC signalling a commitment to support the developments in the nascent Community then.

He disclosed that on the basis of the Cooperation Agreement, AfDB has not only emerged as the foremost development partner in supporting the integration process in the EAC, but has also supported some of the most transformative projects and programmes in the Community.

“I, therefore, wish to warmly appreciate the current Bank administration under the leadership of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and all the previous Bank Administrations for the enormous support that has been extended to the Community over time.’’

Amb. Mfumukeko assured the Bank that EAC is committed to deepening the regional integration process and align well with the Bank’s initiatives that aim to realize an Africa that effectively trades with itself, able to feed her population, interlinked through efficient infrastructure and services, develops and unleashes its human capacities, as well as applies science and technology in its developments among others.

The Secretary General also briefed AfDB Directors on the status of implementation of the project/programmatic which indicates the extensive support that the Bank has availed to the EAC.

Accompanying the Secretary General, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon Jesca Eriyo, briefed the AfDB delegation on the major developments taking place in the integration process, notably the status of implementation of the infrastructure projects going on in the region.

On her part, the leader of delegation from AfDB , Ms. Mmakgoshi E.P. Lekhethe thanked her host for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to them and commended the EAC Secretariat for the enormous work done that has led to important milestones in the integration process.

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For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

EALA to Sit in Kigali Next Week

Posted in Press Release

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 02 March 2017:
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) holds its sitting in Kigali, Rwanda, next week. The Fifth Meeting of the Fifth Session of the Third Assembly takes place from Monday, March 6th, 2017 to Thursday, March 16th, 2017.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega shall preside over the Sitting. President Paul Kagame is expected to address a Special Sitting on March 6th, 2017, in line with Article 64 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC as is customary whenever EALA sits in the Partner States.

The three key Bills on the agenda are the EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016, the EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016 and the EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Bill, 2016.

The EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016 makes provision for gender equality, protection and development in the Community. The Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC in Article 121 recognises the significant contribution that women make towards progress of socio-economic transformation and sustainable growth and the importance of full participation of women and men in the economic and social development of the Partner States.

The EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016 moved by Hon. Patricia Hajabakiga, aims at providing a legal framework for the preservation of a clean and healthy environment through the prohibition of manufacturing, sale, importation and use of polythene materials. The Bill was re-introduced during the Sitting held in August 2016 in Arusha, Tanzania.

The EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Bill, 2016, on its part, anticipates provision of legal framework for matters relating to sexual and reproductive health, to protect children, adolescents and young children from sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation and to provide for assisted reproductive technology and for related matters.

Also to be deliberated on during the two week period are reports from various Committees of the House, including that of the Communications, Trade and Investment Committee on the status of the Railway Infrastructure Development in the Partner States and another on the oversight activity on the One Network Area in the EAC.

A report on the newly established EAC Institutions and another one on the Pastoral cross border Communities of Longido, Tanzania and Kajiado in Kenya shall also be tabled and debated. The latter report follows an oversight activity carried in the Kenya-Tanzania border by the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution while the former is as a result of an oversight activity by the Assembly’s Committee on Accounts.

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For more information, please contact:

Mr Bobi Odiko
Senior Public Relations Officer
East African Legislative Assembly
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-27-2508240
Fax: +255-27-2503103
Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org
Web: www.eala.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the Legislative Organ of the Community and has a cardinal function to further EAC objectives, through its Legislative, Representative and Oversight mandate. It was established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

Secretary General to Host Executive Directors from African Development Bank

Posted in Press Release

East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 01 March 2017:

The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko will host Executive Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) on Friday 3rd March, 2017. The high powered delegation will pay a courtesy call on the Secretary General and will consist 10 Executive Directors.

The ADB Mission will be in the United Republic of Tanzania from 28th February to 4th March 2017, as part of the annual agenda of the Board of Directors of the Bank. The agenda requires Executive Directors to undertake consultative missions to evaluate the quality of Bank supported projects in member countries and this year, it was decided that Tanzania and the EAC Secretariat will be visited.

During their mission to Tanzania, the Executive Directors will meet with officials from the Ministry of Finance and other line Ministries, agencies that are recipients of Bank support and execute Bank supported projects. They will also hold consultations with the Governor of the Bank of Tanzania in order to appreciate the macroeconomic and financial sector developments of the country.

Since the Bank works closely with other Development Partners to leverage its resources, the delegation will also hold consultations with Development Finance Institutions, UN agencies and overseas development agencies. In addition, a dialogue with the private sector will be held to enhance the understanding of the Executive Directors on the potential role of the private sector in driving inclusive economic growth and how the Bank can be positioned to catalyze this function.

At the EAC Headquarters, the Executive Directors will discuss the Bank’s collaboration with the Community since the signing of a cooperation agreement in 1998. The agreement has resulted in the funding of several regional projects by the Bank, mainly in the transport and energy sectors.

The following are some of the key projects funded by the Bank over the years:

i) Arusha – Namanga – Athi River road (construction completed in 2012)
ii) Arusha – Holili/Taveta – Voi road (Kenyan side completed, construction on Tanzanian side ongoing)
iii) Malindi – Lunga Lunga / Tanga – Bagamoyo road (studies completed)
iv) Nyakanazi – Manyovu / Rumonge – Bujumbura road (studies ongoing)
v) Lusahunga – Rusumo / Kayonza – Kigali road (studies ongoing)
vi) Formulation of the EAC Transport Strategy (2012), and
vii) The EAC Railways Master Plan (2009) and EAC Railways Sector Enhancement project (2016).

It is expected that EAC and the AfDB delegation will review the performance of Bank supported projects and discuss ways of addressing any challenges that may have hindered their smooth implementation.

The two institutions will also discuss the prospects for future collaboration in the existing portfolios and possible expansion of scope of cooperation in other sectors.

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Notes to Editor:

The African Development Bank was founded in 1964 and has three constituent Institutions namely; The African Development Bank (ADB), The African Development Fund (ADF) and The Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Its shareholders comprise 54 African countries (regional member countries) and 27 non-African countries (non-regional member countries). The AfDB mission is to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty in Africa.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno

Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department

EAC Secretariat

Arusha, Tanzania

Tel: +255 784 835021

Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org