Drafted in line with the Social Policy Framework for Africa, the main purpose of the East African Community (EAC) Social Development Policy Framework is to provide an overarching policy structure to assist EAC Partner States in the development of their national social policies to promote human empowerment and development.
This Policy Framework is a result of various contributions from the meetings of the Forum of Ministers responsible for Social Development, Development Partners, Civil Society Organisations, scholars from Universities and the Private Sector.
Social Protection is how states respond to and protect its members against the effects of poverty. Majority of people in East Africa, just like in the rest of Africa, are poor. Social protection encompasses set of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets, diminishing people’s exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and the interruption or loss of income.
The EAC is committed to develop a Social Protection Strategy to support vulnerable populations to overcome their exposure to risks. This means the respective governments are concerned about the welfare of their populations towards a more equitable society.
In respect of Provision Article 120(c) of the Treaty where Partner States have committed to cooperate in the field of social welfare with respect to among others, the development and adoption of a common approach towards the disadvantaged and marginalised groups, including children, the youth, the elderly and persons with disabilities has accomplished the following:
A compendium of major international and regional instruments on children, women, youth, and persons with disabilities, older persons and indigenous people’s rights has been developed.
Following the adoption of the Persons with Disabilities Policy (2012), a legally binding instrument in form of a Bill on Persons with Disabilities has been drafted and tabled to the East African Legislative Assembly.
The EAC Partners states have policy measures to mainstream disability concerns at both the national and regional level. The EAC recognises the need to empower Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in line the provisions of Article 120(c) of the Treaty that calls upon Partner States to co-operate amongst themselves in the field of social welfare with respect to, among others, the development and adoption of a common approach towards disadvantaged and marginalised groups, including children, the youth, the elderly and persons with disabilities through rehabilitation and provision of, among others, foster homes, healthcare, education and training.
In that respect, the EAC Policy on Persons with Disabilities was adopted in March 2012. The policy is a yardstick to inform other policies, programmes and sectoral plans among the EAC Partner States. The policy was developed after a comprehensive analysis of national legislations, policies and reports on the status of implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Several gaps and challenges affecting PWDs were also identified during the several consultations in the Partner States. Therefore, the EAC policy on PWDs aims at the provision of an enabling environment by Partner States for the empowerment of PWDs to facilitate their effective participation in and their eventual benefit from development initiatives.
The Second EAC Persons with Disabilities Conference was held in June 2014. The main theme was “Empowerment: The Disability Concern in the EAC Regional Integration Agenda”. Sub-themes included: Empowerment for employment (with emphasis education, skills and affirmative action); MDGs and Post MDGs; Towards Agenda 2063; Unpacking the EAC Policy on Persons with Disabilities; and Presentation of the draft EAC Disability Bill and experts presentations on how to make international legal instruments work at National and Regional levels. A communiqué outlining the actions to be undertaken at both national and regional levels to take the empowerment agenda forward was adopted by the Stakeholders.
Psychosocial wellbeing is when individuals, families, or communities have cognitive, emotional, and spiritual strengths combined with positive social relationships. This state of wellbeing motivates the development of life skills which enables individuals, families or communities to understand and engage with their environment, and make healthy choices which leads to hope for the future.
Children and youth across East Africa experience a range of challenges which affect their overall development. These challenges include HIV and AIDS, poverty, orphan hood, unemployment, limited access to basic services such as education and health (including sexual reproductive health), abuse, violence, exploitation and neglect. Studies show the negative short- and long-term psychosocial and mental health impacts of these challenges.
The EAC together with the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative are developing a programme to:
work with other stakeholders to develop and domesticate the minimum package of services for children and youth in the region;
develop indicators for psychosocial support and strengthen monitoring capacity at Partner States level;
sensitise and raise awareness at the EAC Secretariat, to parliamentarians in the East African Legislative Assembly and to Policy makers at Partner States level on the psychosocial needs of children and youth in the region;
create platforms to share good practices and information across countries so as to promote the psychosocial wellbeing of children and youth in the region;
support EAC Partner States to develop, implement and monitor initiatives to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of children and youth; and,
jointly mobilise resources to strengthen the capacity of mainstreaming and delivering psychosocial support in the region.
The declaration was made in Bujumbura on 3rd September 2012 during the First EAC Child Rights Conference under the theme, “Addressing the issues that negatively impact on the realisation of child rights in the EAC”.
The declaration was subsequently adopted by the 27th Ordinary Meeting of EAC Council of Ministers.
It is the as the foundation for the development of the EAC Child’s Rights Policy.
The primary source of inspiration for the work of the EAC on the rights and welfare of the child is mandated under Article 120 of the Treaty establishing the East African Community. Under the provision, Partner States have agreed to closely cooperate in the field of social welfare and to develop common approaches towards supporting the disadvantaged and marginalized groups including children.
As such, the EAC has developed Child and Youth Policies that provide a functional regional framework to facilitate the development, coordination and strengthening of policies and programmes that aim towards the protection and promotion of the rights of children and young people.
The Action Plans of the policies set out various priority areas that include provision of care and services to the most vulnerable, strengthening national child protection systems and community mechanisms within the EAC region; and developing an integrated approach to providing quality education, health and social protection to children among others.
With support from partners who comprise the Inter-agency Working Group on Children (IAWG), the EAC Secretariat and Partner States are implementing the action plans and various initiatives to respond to some persistent and emerging child rights issues are underway.
The Inter-Agency Working Group on Children (IAWG) is a group of international and regional non-governmental organisations that have supported the development and implementation of the East Africa Community Child Policy.
This has been the avenue for most active participation of the highest number of young people. This includes youth development sector specific meetings, meetings with specific groups of young people, and public meetings led by young people.
Sector meetings and direct engagement
The EAC Directorate of Social Sector Development through its Department of Gender and Community development continually engages directly with young people and youth organisations. The meetings and discussions have resulted in the formation of the East African Youth Network as direct a platform for direct engagement between youth and the EAC Secretariat at the regional level. At the National level, the EAC Secretariat engages with the youth through their respective National Youth Councils.
Youth Learning Exchange Programmes
The Department of Political Affairs and in collaboration with the Directorate of Social Sectors have engaged youth on issues pertaining to the integration process through youth platforms, dialogues, exchange programmes and sensitisation fora under the EAC Nyerere Centre for Peace Research. Between 2011 and 2013, over 90 students from East African universities have benefited from the exchange training programmes in Peace and Conflict Resolution, Good Governance and Human Rights. These programmes equip young people with skills and confidence to eventually play an active role in the integration process as well as offer a platform for young people in institutions of higher learning to learn more about the EAC Region.
The Annual EAC University Students Debate
Since 2012, the Department of Political Affairs has hosted the EAC University Students Debate on Regional Integration every year. This event has provided a regional platform to promote dialogue among university students and youth, and interest them in advocating for Regional Integration. In preparation for the Debate, the university students submit essays that express their perspectives on the EAC integration process. The debate is aimed at demonstrating the extent of interest and knowledge of university students on East African integration and youth views on the integration process.
To deepen reach and impact of this process, post-debate activities include the selection of EAC integration champions, well performing debaters to return to their countries and learning institutions to share their views and learning, referred to as the “EAC Youth Ambassadors”. In a bid to ensure the continued engagement of university students in accelerating integration through knowledge and experience sharing, the EAC Youth Ambassadors Platform was launched in September 2013 to serve as a forum for current and alumni Ambassadors and representatives of the EAC clubs that they form in universities at national level. At national level, the Ambassadors have worked in close collaboration with ministries responsible for East African Community affairs.
EAC Youth Clubs and EAC Integration Clubs
Since August 2012, the EAC Youth Ambassadors have been engaging and empowering students to enhance their contribution to the EAC integration agenda, through effective peer training and establishment of EAC Youth Clubs in Universities across the Partner States. The EAC clubs are self-sustaining entities with their own leadership structure, and some are formally recognised by Universities as an student bodies. The clubs increase young people’s enthusiasm among the youth and heighten support for the EAC Regional Integration as they engage in constructive dialogues on the integration process.
Through such national-level sensitisation and education activities, the EAC Youth Ambassadors reached over 5,724 students and university administrators in 25 universities directly and indirectly through electronic and other media between September 2013 and July 2014 alone. They have formed 30 EAC youth clubs at University level which continue to sensitise students on progress of integration long after the Ambassadors have left.
The successful roll-out of this initiative necessitated the establishment of EAC clubs in Secondary Schools as well. This was aimed at further building a formidable structure of sensitisation activities, which coordinates and promotes youth dialogue, sensitisation and awareness creation on the EAC Integration process, right from the secondary to the university levels.
So far, EAC Integration Clubs have been formed in pilot secondary schools in all Partner States. Evidenced by the growing membership to the clubs, and a host of exciting activities rolled out such as debates on the EAC Integration process and regional developments, the EAC aims to expand the growth of the Clubs in all Secondary Schools and eventually to Primary Schools in all Partner States.
The fact that the youth constitute the largest segment of the population in all Partner States, makes them a critical section of society to forge forward the EAC integration agenda. Therefore, the overall objective of the Youth Policy is to guide the East African Community on the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes to address youth issues in the region while assuring sustainable social, economic and political development.
The policy prescribes strategic priority areas and actions to guide the implementation and address youth challenges. It also articulates the need for harmonising definitions of the youth, related legislation and programmes carried out across the region.
The Community’s greatest asset is its human resources, full mobilisation and effective involvement of all East Africans, men, women and youth for national development and social progress, should be a major instrument of development. In this context, the youth, who constitute the largest segment of the population in the EAC, should be accorded proportionate recognition and participation in all national and regional development activities.
The Youth is EAC’s future. It is therefore necessary to ensure the active and effective representation of the Youth in the society as well as in the national and regional integration processes, in order to express their views and interests. The EAC has a Sectoral Council on youth, children, gender and community development which among others is responsible for mainstreaming cross-cutting issues, including youth in EAC policies and programmes.
Upon recommendations of the Sectoral Council, an EAC Youth Policy was adopted in August 2013 in order to provide a binding framework for effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of youth programmes and projects. It also provides clear strategies in the sector, and a strategic plan which takes into account youth issues.
Mainstreaming youth in EAC programmes aims at:
formulating a harmonised comprehensive regional policy that provides a binding framework for effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of youth programmes and projects;
empowering the Youth so that they can fully participate and benefit from the regional economic, social and political integration;
establishing a regional mechanism that will promote and sustain youth culture, values, morals and ethics; and,
implementing mechanisms outlined in the youth policy.
The EAC Secretariat is working towards:
Establishment of an East Africa Community Youth Council to mainstream youth issues in all development policies and programmes;
The EAC Gender and Community Development Department is currently negotiating with development partners for support of a Youth Exchange Programme for sharing new opportunities and best practices in business and technology;
Empowering the Youth so that they can fully participate and benefit from the regional economic, social and political integration;
Establishment of a regional mechanism that will promote and sustain youth culture, values, morals and ethics;
EAC in collaboration with the International Labour Organization is in a process of developing and exchange program for young workers within the EAC Partner States; and,
Availing opportunities for the youth to directly participate in the EAC activities through internships, short consultancies, research, etc. at the EAC and EALA headquarters.
EAC Conferences on Women in Socio-economic development and Women in Business
The Community through the East African Customs Union and Common Market integration phases have opened up borders and unlocked opportunities for East Africans to freely move across the borders as persons or workers, and to establish themselves as self-employed persons and traders in agreed upon service sectors in the Partner States. As such, through the EAC Gender and Community Development Strategic Plan (2012-2014), the 4th EAC Development Strategy (2011/12-2015/16), the participation of women in business, trade and investment has been prioritised by Partner States as a vital path to equitable socio economic development.
In view of the above rationale, the EAC regularly organises conferences to review and discuss the role of women in business and in the socio-economic development of the region. The first conference under the theme, “Unlocking Business Opportunities for Women within an EAC Common Market” was held on 5th-6th August 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda. The second conference under the theme “advancing and expanding the participation of business women in Intra-EAC trade” was held in in Nairobi, Kenya from 20th-21st August 2015.
The conferences are organised in collaboration with the East African Business Council and the host Partner States. The conferences bring together participants from all EAC Partner States including representatives of the Partner States Ministries responsible for EAC Affairs, Trade, and Gender and Development; Women entrepreneurs from the region and beyond; EABC Representatives; Civil Society Organisations and observers.
There were also representatives of Women Entrepreneurs from the Republic of South Sudan. The Conference made several recommendations to be incorporated in the ongoing EAC programmes on promoting women in socio-economic development.
As a result of the conferences, a database of Women Entrepreneurs has been developed and a network of business women in the region called the “East African Women in Business Platform” has been formed. Sources of affordable financing for women in business have also been identified and projects initiated.
Projects to Promote Participation of Women in Business, Trade and Investment
Regional Financial Facility to be developed in collaboration with the East African Development Bank (EADB). This will target women-owned businesses and aim at reducing the risk of loans extended to women-owned businesses, limit transaction costs as well as guarantee payment in case of default.
A Regional Strategy for Promoting Women in Business for Socio-Economic Development has been developed.
The Vision of the Strategy is “a Region in which women enjoy economic, social, and political rights and are empowered to secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities”.
The Mission of the Strategy is to “increase the number of women engaging in viable and value adding economic activities; and also, capable of equitably contributing to the socio-economic development of the Region”.
Celebrating of the International Women’s Day
Every 8th of March, the EAC joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Women's Day. This is to honour our mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, colleagues and all the ladies who have inspired, paved the way and given hope to so many of us; the true pillars of the region.
An EAC Women’s website was developed to popularise this day and as a constant avenue of interaction, providing tailored information on women, gender and the other achievements and successes made by women.
