The East African Community signed the International Energy Charter (IEC) on 25th November 2016 during the 27th Meeting of the International Energy Charter Conference and Ministerial Meeting held on 25th – 26th November 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General (Productive and Social Sectors), Hon. Christophe Bazivamo signed the Charter on behalf of the EAC. Other organizations and countries that signed the Charter at the same occasion included Economic Community of Central African Countries (ECCAS), the Permanent Secretariat of the G5 Sahel, Guatemala, Iraq and Iran. By signing the IEC, the EAC joined 73 other countries and organizations that have signed the Charter including four EAC Partner States namely Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
The IEC is a political declaration aimed at strengthening energy cooperation among signatory countries and international organizations. Signatories to the IEC commit to create favorable investment environment in the energy sector including the participation of the private sector. The IEC fosters development of energy resources, energy markets, unrestricted transit and distribution of energy resources, products and services.
The signing of the IEC by the EAC and four other signatories was one of the highlights of the 27th Meeting of the International Energy Charter Conference and Ministerial Meeting hosted by the Japan as the current Chairman under the theme “Relevance of the International Energy Charter to Global Challenges: its potential contributions to sustainable development and global efforts on climate change”.
The meeting issued the Tokyo Declaration on the Energy Charter, which highlighted the following issues: contribution of the Energy Charter to the Energy Sector; Challenges and Opportunities posed by the changing Global Energy Landscape and Energy Charter’s role in providing better investment climate for the Energy Sector.
As way forward, through the Tokyo Declaration expressed the members decision to enhance and support energy resource development and investment protection framework; adding new impetus to energy security and crises prevention; raise awareness of Energy Charter’s goals and values with particular emphasis to regions where demand is expected to increase; and enhance efforts to develop energy markets, free transit and distribution of energy resources, products and services.
In his address to the Ministerial session, the EAC Deputy Secretary General (Productive and Social Sectors), Hon. Christophe Bazivamo noted that the signing of the Energy Charter was an expression of EAC’s commitment to develop the energy sector in a responsible and sustainable manner embracing best practice in cooperation with other members of the Energy Charter.
He outlined EAC’s projects and programmes aimed at provision of sufficient, reliable, affordable and sustainable region. Noting that the EAC is continuously working on improving the existing favorable investment climate, the EAC official called upon developed members of the Charter to invest in the EAC’s energy sector to raise levels of energy access and help EAC attain its commitments to global targets under the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) and UN Sustainable Development Goals. In light of these commitments, the Deputy Secretary General challenged the meeting to consider declaring access to energy as a human right.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Deputy Secretary General (DSG) held several bilateral meetings. He held discussions with the Japanese Ambassador responsible for Regional Economic Communities, Amb. Fujita; the Secretary General of the Energy Charter and Georgia’s Minister for Energy.
During his meeting with Amb. Fujita, Hon. Bazivamo outlined the integration progress made by the EAC and highlighted Japanese contribution to the process especially in infrastructure and energy development.
He applauded Japan for choosing to host the first TICAD conference outside Japan in East Africa in August 2016 in Nairobi. On his part, Amb. Fujita expressed Japan’s commitment to continue supporting the EAC both at regional and national levels.
He disclosed that during TICAD IV, many Japanese companies expressed interest to invest in East Africa and that over seventy MoUs were signed in that regard. However, he noted that investment by the Japanese companies in the region would be greatly enhanced if Investment Agreements and Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements were signed between Japan and the EAC Partner States.
While meeting the Secretary General of the Energy Charter, Dr. Urban Rausnak, Hon. Bazivamo discussed ways the EAC could benefit from the Energy Charter. The Deputy Secretary General invited the Energy Charter to organize one of the outreach programmes in the region as it would also help to raise awareness on the Energy Charter and how membership to the IEC can help the region to access opportunities for mobilization of resources for increasing energy access and private investment in the energy sector in the EAC.
The Deputy Secretary General also held a bilateral meeting with Georgia’s Minister for Energy who shared his country’s experience in the development of small hydropower and extended an invitation to the EAC to visit Georgia to draw lessons on small hydropower development. Hon. Bazivamo welcomed the invitation noting that EAC is endowed with small hydropower potential that is currently not fully tapped.
Consultation meetings were also held with the delegations from the EAC Partner States participating in the meeting which included Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Rwanda and Tanzania were represented by their respective Ambassadors to Japan, while Uganda was represented by the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Irene Muloni.
The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko hosted over the weekend Machakos County Commissioner, Hon. Matilda Sakwa and 7 Deputy County Commissioners, who paid him a courtesy call in his office at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. Present at the courtesy call were Hon. Justice Aaron Ringera (Republic of Kenya) of the Appellate Division of the East African Court of Justice and Hon. Peter Mathuki, a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
Welcoming his guests to the EAC Headquarters, Amb. Mfumukeko commended the Commissioners for the visit saying; “regular interaction with officials from local governments was part of my agenda during the next five years in order to make our integration a people-centred one”.
The Secretary General briefed his guests on the progress being made in the regional integration pillars and emphasized the great potential that the East African region is yet to realize, stating that; “We need to cultivate a sense of confidence and patriotism amongst the citizens within this region. To realize our potential, we need to strengthen our local economies in order for us to have a competitive advantage globally.”
In addition, Amb. Mfumukeko highlighted the key priorities, which he coined, the 5 Ms during his leadership thus; More Food Security, More Employment (job creation for the youth), More Health Care, More Knowledge and Technology, and More Peace and Security, as well as Industrial Development.
On her part, the leader of the delegation, Hon. Matilda Sakwa, commended the Secretary General for his commitment to the regional integration agenda and stated that Machakos County officials were keenly following developments within the Community’s integration pillars. Hon. Sakwa acknowledged that the Commissioners would be Ambassadors of the EAC in their respective capacities at the grass-root level back in Machakos County; Kenya.
At the same occasion, Hon. Peter Mathuki urged the Community to focus on building East Africa for the benefit of the people by Partner States’ channelling their resources and investing within the region.” We should put the interests of the Community first by maintaining and promoting peace and security throughout the region for Partner States to fully integrate”, affirmed the EALA Member.
The Danish Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania and EAC, His Excellence Einar H. Jensen today paid a courtesy call on the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko in his office at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The two officials discussed a wide range of issues geared towards taking forward and realizing the noble objective of “people-centred” regional integration. They conferred on issues pertaining to strengthening bilateral relations between EAC and Denmark; Danish support to regional integration initiatives; status of EPA negotiations; Burundi peace process; and the steps EAC was taking to strengthen operations of the Partnership Fund.
Welcoming his guest to the EAC Headquarters, the Secretary General noted the strong bond that exist between the Danish people and the East African Community. He also briefed the Danish Envoy on the reforms instituted at the EAC Organs and Institutions meant to cut on cost and improve performance, which were already showing some positive results. The Secretary General hailed the Development Partners for their growing confidence in the regional integration efforts and the EAC leadership.
On his part, His Excellence Einar H. Jensen reiterated the importance of the EAC in furthering regional integration efforts and re-affirmed the commitment of Denmark to the MoU signed between Denmark and EAC in August 2016, in which Denmark will provide additional Danish Krone (DKK) 7 million to support the regional integration agenda.
Amb. Jensen noted that long term development of each EAC economy was influenced by the success of the regional integration efforts and that individual EAC economies were too small to compete effectively in international markets.
“To sustain higher growth, they need to expand, specialize and integrate to achieve economies of scale”, reiterated Amb. Jensen, adding that “the integration process supports deregulation, harmonization of rules and regulations and reduction of non-tariff barriers. This reduces trade costs which will benefit EAC businesses as well as Danish businesses with an interest in the region”.
The Danish Envoy noted that restrictions still remain on the free movement of goods, persons, labour, capital, and services in the region and there was need for stronger coordination and cooperation between the Partner States on economic, trade and industrial policies. “EAC institutions are becoming stronger and need to be further developed, as well as substantial investments in infrastructure are needed to sustain the integration agenda”, said Amb. Jensen.
A two-day regional consultative workshop aimed at developing a training curriculum for One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) operations in the East African Community is currently ongoing in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The main objective of the consultative workshop is to create a platform of interaction at the technical level between relevant stakeholders with a view to develop a training curriculum on OSBPs to enhance and accelerate their smooth operationalization.
The workshop will also look at how best to allow the different agencies to play their roles at the OSBPs and work together.
Addressing the participants at the official opening today, the EAC Director for Infrastructure, Mr. Philip Wambugu appreciated the Germany Technical Cooperation Agency, GIZ, for facilitating the workshop. The Director also recognized that the development of OSBPs in the region was being supported by many other development partners including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Trade Mark East Africa, among others.
The EAC official informed the participants that the World Bank had carried out a comprehensive study on the cost of transit transport in the region and that study found out,, among others, that approximately 40% of the cost (financial and temporal) was attributable to the two stop border posts in the region.
Arising from the recommendations of the study, the World Bank set aside resources to undertake a pilot programme to transform selected two border posts into OSBPs. In that programme the World Bank partnered with TMEA and the results were the development of a number of the current OSBPs including Holili/Taveta, Lungalunga/Horohoro, Malaba/Malaba, Milama Hills/Kagitumba border posts, among others.
“At the same time, JICA under the TICAD programme, had commenced the development of the Rusumo/Rusumo and in collaboration with the African Development Bank, the Namanga/Namanga border posts, Nemba/Gasenyi, and Ruhwa. All these border posts comprise the many operational OSBPs in the region” disclosed Mr. Wambugu.
He informed the participants that with JICA support, the EAC developed the OSBP Law to support and anchor the operationalisation of the OSBPs in the region. That Law has since been assented to and the development of regulations and operational manuals is in the final stages. The EAC OSBP Law, which commenced operations on 1st of October, 2016, largely informed the development of the continental OSBP Sourcebook launched by the CEO of NEPAD on the side-lines of the 6th TICAD Summit in Nairobi, Kenya in August, 2016.
He said the OSBPs have or is easing border crossings and reducing dwell-times at the common borders. “This improvement, coupled with the enhancements on the vehicle load control, removal of the many illegal road blocks, the reduction of other Non-Tariff barriers, the implementation of the Single Customs Territory, and the improved road networks will certainly precipitate to the reduction of the costs of transit transport in the region, a cry that has persisted for a long time from transporters, industrialists and other business persons in the region”, reiterated the EAC official.
The East African Community Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sector, Hon Christophe Bazivamo, has called for fast-tracking of the study on automotive industry in EAC region and have in place the final study report with policy recommendations possibly before the expected submission in April 2017.
“This exercise and the overall study is therefore crucial as it is intended to inform the EAC and potential private sector investors on policy options and modalities that should be adopted to drive automotive industry to the next level”/
The EAC Deputy Secretary General made these remarks at the meeting with the Deputy Head of Japan International Cooperation (JICA), United Republic of Tanzania Office, Mr. Kuniaki Amatsu who paid a courtesy call on him at his office today at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Hon. Bazivamo expressed his appreciation to JICA and the government of Japan for agreeing to provide financial and technical support for undertaking the study on automotive industry in the region.
The EAC official disclosed to Mr. Amatsu that the Community has developed a regional industrialization strategy which outlines a number of sector to be promoted including iron and steel, metals; agro-processing, petrochemicals, gas and fertilizers. It is on the basis of this broad policy framework that the region has made a deliberate decision to promote the development of Automotive Industry, added Hon. Bavizamo.
”As a region, we have been motivated to develop the automotive industry as we consider it is crucial to provide the population and the business community with affordable means of transport”.
Hon. Bazivamo informed JICA official that EAC leadership (both Summit and Council) is keen and aspire for the development of a competitive automotive sector in the region.
On his part, the Deputy Head of JICA, United Republic of Tanzania Office, Mr. Kuniaki Amatsu reaffirmed his country’s commitment to support EAC integration process especially in the area of Automotive industry development.
He reiterated Japan’s readiness to continue close cooperation with the EAC Secretariat through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The courtesy call was also attended by the EAC Director of Productive, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is challenging the East African Legislative Assembly to concert its efforts in ensuring the integration process is not only on course, but geared towards meeting the aspirations and high expectations of the people. The President is emphatic that the people of the region want nothing else but a Community that works for all and that is effective.
In this regard, the President is calling on the Assembly to up the stakes on the sensitisation process and on its consultations with legislative processes including engagement with the Partner States’ National Assemblies as envisioned under Article 65 of the Treaty of the Establishment of the EAC.
The President’s remarks were delivered on his behalf by the Speaker of the Senate, Rt Hon Ekwe Ethuro at the Special sitting of the 3rd Meeting of the 5th Session held at the Parliament Chambers (Senate) yesterday. In attendance were EALA Members, former Members led by Speaker Emeritus, Rt Hon Abdirahin Abdi and representatives of the Private Sector.The President noted the various achievements realised by the Community to date.
“I note with appreciation the progress that the Community has made to date. Eleven (11) years ago, we established the EAC Customs Union. It has generated positive results. This is clearly demonstrated by the trend in intra-EAC trade over the period. For instance, the value of the total intra-EAC trade rose from US Dollars 1.8 billion in 2004 to US Dollars 5.1 billion US Dollars in 2015 representing a significant growth of 190 percent”, he said.
The President hailed the business community whom he termed keen partners and drivers of the integration proces. “I laud and commend them for their efforts in boosting our investment profile and partnership in creating jobs for our people. We are therefore duty-bound to support them in addressing the challenges they face in conducting and expanding their businesses in the region”, he added.
The speech noted the various challenges the region continues to face.“There still exists a considerable number of trade restricting measures that are a hindrance to actualizing free trade in the EAC. Among the obstacles, include long clearing procedures; road blocks and changes in applicable regulations, which together, contribute to impact trade negatively”, it said in part.
The Head of State reiterated Kenya’s commitment to the integration process and cited the infrastructure projects as keen in the integration process.
“We have every reason to take pride in what we have achieved in here in Kenya. We have commenced work on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and we expect it to be operational by the middle of 2017. On-going development works on the Port of Mombasa and regional roads confirms Kenya’s commitment to building and achieving sound infrastructure for the greater benefit of the region”, he said.
The President noted that EAC needed a strong oversight body and hailed the EALA for rising up to the occasion.
“For example, among the notable achievements of this Assembly include the passage of over 20 Bills cutting across various areas of integration. The Assembly’s legislative priority and performance in the last four years has indeed exhibited clear appreciation and understanding of matters that are of great relevance and urgency in deepening and widening the EAC integration”, the President remarked.
In his remarks, the Speaker of EALA, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega, maintained that citizens of the region were keen to see the process of integration fortified.
“I can confirm the Assembly is often inundated by citizens’ concerns to see the Common Market agenda become a reality. Essentially, it is important that we open our East African markets to African people and beyond to create jobs and opportunities. Likewise, we must avoid situations where we export jobs and allow cheap goods from outside the EAC to permeate the local markets”, Speaker Kidega noted.
The Speaker noted the fight against Corruption needs to be taken a notch higher in the Partner States. “At the regional level, EALA is on the verge of enacting a Bill on Whistleblowers and on Anti-Corruption, thereby, putting in place a legal framework to report instances of corruption to authorities – given the fact that the vice knows no borders”, he added.
The Speaker termed matters of peace and security as of paramount importance to the development in the region and further called for the fight against terrorism to be sustained.
He termed the approximation of the national laws in order to create uniformity within the Partner States as necessary and called on the Partner States to move with haste in the matter.
An EALA Report adopted at the Sitting shows that Republics of Rwanda and Uganda have each approximated ten pieces of laws each, Republic of Kenya (6 laws), United Republic of Tanzania (6 laws) and Republic of Burundi (3 laws). Approximation of National Laws is vital in line with the Article 126 (2b) of the Treaty for the EAC is fundamental.
The Siting came to an end with the next plenary expected to be held in January in 2017.
The EAC Regional Forensic Referral Centre (RFRC) located in Kampala, Uganda is set to receive a state-of-the-art Digital Ballistics Identification System (DBIS) compatible with the INTERPOL Integrated Ballistics Identification Network in the course of December 2016.
The Regional Forensic Referral Centre, which was designated through a proposal by the EAC Police Chiefs in 2011 as a Regional Centre of Excellence on Forensic Science, will be receiving the equipment from Ultra Electronics Forensic Technology of Dublin, Ireland at a cost of Euros 897,553 only.
EAC along with COMESA, IGAD and IOC have been implementing a joint cross regional project aimed at curbing maritime insecurity in the Indian Ocean. The Project whose implementation commenced in 2013 was a response to the acts of maritime piracy that had bedevilled the Somali Coastline and by extension the Indian Ocean and received EU support to the tune of Euros 37.5 Million spread over a five year period.
The EAC component included among others enhancement of investigative capabilities of the investigative authorities in the Eastern and Southern African-Indian Ocean (ESA-IO) region to effectively investigate maritime insecurity incidents. To this extent and acknowledging the use of firearms as a primary facilitator of criminal incidents, there was expressed need for establishment of modern ballistic examination and analysis capabilities. Thus the acquisition of the DBIS has been funded by the Project.
The equipment, which comprises a Bulletrax Station, a Brassstrax Station, a Match Point plus Station, a Data and Correlation Station, and a Server, was subjected to rigorous pre-shipment inspection and pre-testing by a team from the EAC Secretariat and RFRC on 28th November 2016, in compliance of the contractual terms.
The Secretariat Team led by the EAC Peace and Security Expert, Mr. Leonard M. Onyonyi; the Head of the RFRC in Kampala, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Samwel Ezati; and the Head of Ballistics at the RFRC, Ag. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mutuya Umar, are in Dublin, Ireland concluding the exercise today (29th November 2016), after which the equipment will be shipped to Uganda.
The Commissioning is expected to take place in February 2017 after which Partner States will as they may deem necessary take advantage of the facility for analytical purposes.
This is the only second such equipment in the EAC Region, the other being operated by the Kenya Police Service. The facility will also be used to impart ballistics training for Partner States deficient of the capacity.
The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko has commended the People’s Republic of China for the extensive support extended to the EAC not only in Civil Aviation sector but also in many other areas critical to the Community’s integration at the bilateral and regional levels.
The Secretary General, in particular, hailed the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and China Electronic Technology Group Corporation (CETC) for organizing and facilitating a three-day EAC-China High Level Forum on Air Traffic Management (ATM), which concluded on 27th November, 2016 in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Secretary General, who was represented by the EAC Director for Infrastructure, Mr. Philip Wambugu, disclosed that the EAC is currently the leading Regional Economic Community in matters of Civil Aviation, thanks to the many collaborative projects and programmes supported and implemented by the Partner States.
“Collaboration with China at the regional level has been growing and the Secretariat, on behalf of the Partner States, wishes to acknowledge the great support by the China Civil Aviation Administration during the MA 60 Aircraft Type Certificate Acceptance Procedures and the continued support to Burundi CAA in meeting its Safety and Airworthiness obligations to allow the commencement of MA 60 Operations in the region,” said Amb. Mfumukeko.
“The type, acceptance and certification of the MA 60 aircraft opens the doors for EAC and China to expand their cooperation in the aviation sector through various avenues including technology transfer, purchase/lease and operations of Chinese aircraft and parts among others. This is a critical milestone achieved by both parties and is also in line with the signed EAC-China Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement,” added the Secretary General.
The Political Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Mr. Yang Tong, underscored the readiness of the People’s Republic of China to support the development of a robust aviation sector in the EAC region. He also pledged to take forward with the Chinese government the implementation of the proposals arising out of the Forum.
The Forum was characterised by various presentations including on the status of the China Civil ATM; a glimpse of EAC Integrated ATM by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC); status of ATM in EAC by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority; and on the Establishment of the EAC Upper Flight Information Region (EAC-UFIR) Project. The main objective of the EAC-UFIR Project is the creation of a single bloc of upper airspace (above flight level 24,500 feet above sea level) to ensure efficient levels of safety and advantages in capacity, efficiency and performance over the present scheme in the Regional Air Navigation services provision.
The EAC-China Forum on ATM was also attended by the Chairpersons of the Partner States’ Civil Aviation Authorities; Representatives of CAAC and CETC; Director Generals of Partner States’ Civil Aviation Authorities; the Executive Director, Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency.
A Joint Statement on the EAC-China Air Traffic Management (ATM) High Level Forum was issued at the end of the Forum (attached).
The Assembly is recommending that Sensitisation and awareness on the integration process be institutionalised as a continuous activity on its agenda. This is in addition to a raft of resolutions it adopted late yesterday as it debated a key Report on Sensitisation.
The report follows the sensitisation activities carried out by the Assembly between October 27th 2016 to November 7th, 2016 in the Partner States. The sensitisation, the third such series this year for EALA, targeted various stakeholders in outreach and was anchored on the theme: “EAC Integration Agenda: Accessing the gains”
In the report, the Assembly urges the Partner States to fully implement the Common Market Protocol which provides for free movement of people, capital and services among others, to allow citizens of East Africa to enjoy their rights. With it comes the need for the Partner States to eliminate Non-Tariff Barriers which impact negatively on intra- Regional trade activities.
On matters of peace and security, the Assembly wants the matters prioritised for people to appreciate the benefits of integration. This includes the fastracking of the implementation of the EAC Peace and Security Protocol.
The Assembly is also urging EAC Summit of Heads of States to put more efforts to fast track the on-going peace negotiation for the Republic of Burundi.
Other areas include issuance of work permits to facilitate those who wish to work in EAC Partner States as well as addressing the issue of Certificates of Rules of Origin to facilitate cross border trade.
In a bid to foster integration, the Assembly is urging the Summit of Heads of State to upgrade Kiswahili to be one of the official languages of the Community.
The sensitization programmes targeted Parliamentarians, youth groups, representatives of the business community and local government authorities. Other groups include Government officials, students and media in the respective Partner States.
The objectives of the Sensitisation activities included creating awareness amongst the people of East Africa on the integration process; gains and challenges of integration and enhancing the mutual relationships and sustainable networking between EALA and the people of East Africa.
In Rwanda, the EALA Chapter toured the Rwanda Standards Board to hold discussions with the stakeholders. Also visited were the Nemba One Stop Border Post on the Rwanda/Burundi border as well as a tour to the Rusumo One Stop Border Post bordering Rwanda and Tanzania and at Gatuna on the Rwanda/Uganda frontier.
The Uganda Chapter on its part, met with students at the Kyambogo University before meeting with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. The Chapter also held talks with the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga. They later visited the Uganda Heart Institute which is an EAC Centre of Excellence and the Uganda Cancer Institute. The Chapter also visited the Kyambogo University, before holding Public Hearings on four Bills. The Bills are the EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016, EAC Prohibition of Female and Genital Mutilation Bill, 2016, the EAC Whistle Blower Protection Bill, 2016 and the EAC Retirement Benefits for Specified Heads of Organs Bill, 2016.
In Burundi, the EALA Chapter paid a courtesy call on the President of the Burundi National Assembly and the Minister for EAC Affairs before heading to Muyinga Province. There, the Chapter met with the Governor before proceeding to the Kobero One Stop Border Post. The Chapter also held talks with the Business communities living at the border, where discussions on the benefits of integration took centre stage. The EALA Burundi also held discussions in Ngozi Province with various stakeholders as well as public hearings on a number of bills.
The Chapter in the United Republic of Tanzania toured the Immigration Department in Dar es Salaam. They also paid a courtesy call on the Chama Cha Mapinduzi Secretary General and EALA Speaker Emeritus, Rt Hon Abdulrahman Kinana, as well as sensitisation of different stakeholders in the coastal areas of Dar, Tanga and the environs. The Chapter led by Hon Makongoro Nyerere, further visited the border post of HoroHoro, which neighbours that of Lunga-Lunga on the Kenyan side where they sensitised citizens who reside on both sides of the borders.
In Kenya, EALA visited Government authorities including courtesy calls on the Immigration department and its parent Ministry of Internal and Co-ordination of National Government. The Members similarly met with the Directorate of Immigration where key matters on the e-Passport and border management were discussed and at the Communications Authority of Kenya.
The report presented to the House also cites a number of challenges of the integration process. They include the overlapping of RECs Memberships by Partner States which continue to pose harmonisation and co-ordination challenges and lack of political commitment among Partner States. Weak institutions that lack the capacity to enforce sanctions against Partner States that fail to implement Protocols are also cited. Other challenges include Non-Tariff Barriers, poor infrastructure and energy shortages and corruption.
Hon Isabelle Ndahayo acknowledged that the sensitization programmes were a success and remarked that Burundi was safe and welcoming, contrary to sections of the report. She however said the issue of certificate of origin was least understood and that there was need for more attention to be given to the matter.
Hon. Shyrose Bhanji supported the report stating unity in the region could only be achieved if there was awareness. “EAC integration is not exclusive to politicians and corporates in the region, but it is a matter for every citizen of the EAC,” she said.
She stressed the point that senistisation is about communicating with stakeholders about what is happening in the Community.
Hon Dr Odette Nyiramilimo on her part, said sensitisation was playing a key part in bringing the Assembly closer to the people.
Others who rose up in support of the report were Hon Dr Martin Nduwimana, Hon Maryam Ussi, Hon Jean Marie Muhirwa, and Hon Oda Gasinzigwa. Others were Hon Martin Ngoga and Hon Yves Nsabimana, Hon Judith Pareno and Hon Pierre Celestin Rwigema.
The Assembly resumes its Sitting on Monday next week.
The 6th Africa Regional Platform (AfRP) on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) concluded over the weekend in Mauritius. It was organized by the African Union and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and co-hosted by the SADC and the Government of Mauritius. The East African Community was represented both at the Experts segment and in the High Level Ministerial Session by Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, the Director for Productive Sectors.
The AfRP is a biennial forum that brings together African Member States, intergovernmental organizations and development partners to review progress in the implementation of the continental and global disaster risk reduction frameworks.
The 6th AfRP on DRR is the first continental meeting on DRR organized after the adoption of the Sendai framework on DRR by UN member states in Sendai, Japan in March 2015. The Framework provides a critical strategy for building resilience and addressing the impact of disasters representing a serious threat to millions of people in Africa and across the world. The 6th AfRP was a concrete opportunity for Africa to set up a functional path to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable communities in Africa. The Platform also enabled delegates sharing of good practices, success stories and lessons learnt with a view to enhancing coordination, increasing awareness, and mobilizing commitments to disaster risk reduction across Africa.
The outcome of the 6th Africa Platform on DRR is an Africa Statement of DRR, the Mauritius Declaration on continental commitment and a revised Programme of Action on DRR for Africa.
During the Experts segment, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana was a panelist under the theme: “Risk governance to showcase the status of EAC in implementing the Sendai Framework and the role of the DRR Act in achieving priority two of the Sendai Framework - Enhancing Risk governance”. Mr. Havugimana further presented during the Ministerial Session the EAC Position Paper and Commitment in the implementation of the Sendai Framework. The Statement was a summary of discussions held by all EAC delegations during their session as a REC. Below is the East African Community Statement:-
6th Session of the AfRP on DRR, 22-26 Nov Mauritius
Statement of the East African Community
Preamble
The East African Community Secretariat wishes to congratulate the Government and the People of the Republic of Mauritius for the excellent hosting and the reception accorded to all delegates during the 6th Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction and management here in Mauritius.
East Africa Community also wishes the African Union Commission and the United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction and Partners success in the on-going preparations for the forthcoming World Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction Scheduled for May 2017 in Cancun, Mexico.
East African Community also wishes to recognize with appreciation the continued support on implementing Disaster Risk Reduction Programme at the sub-regional level provided to the Regional Economic Communities through the Africa Regional Office, in particular the extension of Technical Assistance in form of Technical Advisor to the East African Community Risk Reduction and Management Unit.
Where are we? What are the challenges? And what are our future plans?
EAC has made significant progress in strengthening the Disaster Risk Management capacities and made some milestone achievements, key among of them being the East African Community Disaster Risk Reduction Act, 2016 and the Climate Change Vulnerability Impact Assessment Study.
I am pleased to inform you that the aforesaid Act was passed by the 4th Session of the 5th Assembly held in Arusha on 10th March, 2016, paving the way for the region to take necessary disaster preparedness, management, and protection and mitigation measures as well as in handling disasters in a more co-ordinated manner.
The Act is currently under consideration by Partner States officials and will be assented to during the 18th Ordinary Heads of State Summit scheduled to take place early next year.
Under the Impact Vulnerability Assessment study, Climate Hot spots maps have been prepared and the EAC Sectoral Council on Environment and Natural Resources Management adopted the results.
East African Community is in the process of Building a Climate Information Network and User Interface to respond to the needs of priority stakeholders. Four thematic areas have been identified a) Agriculture & food security; b) water resources & hydro climatic disasters; c) weather and climate; d) land cover, land use change and ecosystems.
We have started the process by designing a regional climate information network through collaborative partnerships with other regional organizations such as FEWS NET, RCMRD/SERVIR, and ICPAC with support from USAID.
Last but not least, EAC has established a dedicated Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit under its structure at the EAC Secretariat under the Direct Supervision of the Secretary General. The Unit reports to the Council of Ministers through the Secretary General.
The unit will play a key role in the implementation of the East African Community Disaster Risk Reduction Act and the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the Region
However, besides the achievements, there are still Challenges, which include the following:
Partner States are at different levels in Disaster Risk Reduction Legislation, which complicates the harmonisation process.
Lack of resources to support: (i) the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction into education curriculum; (ii) Development of regional emergency response plans; (iii) Development of web portal for depositing Disaster Risk Reduction and other related emergencies; (iv) the operationalization of the established Disaster Risk Reduction Unit at the EAC Secretariat; and (v) strengthening and harmonizing existing regional early warning systems. Other challenges include:
Limited budget allocation to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Programme at both regional and national levels.
Out-dated disaster maps
Lack of harmonised mechanisms and coordination in addressing transboundary disasters.
Climate variability, which is impacting key sectors including water, agriculture, health, wildlife and tourism, Energy and infrastructure.
What are our futures plans?
The East African Community commits to implement its Disaster Risk Reduction Law as soon as it is assented to and in line with the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction. In this regard, the EAC priorities will be the following: i. Strengthen existing institutional capacities and set up new institutions established under the Act by 2018. ii. Review the EAC DRR and Management Strategy 2012-2016 and plan of action in accordance with the aligned African Programme of Action by 2017. iii. Update disaster maps and map out disasters evacuation centres by 2018. iv. Ensure DRR Programmes are people-centred. v. Adopt best practice such as the “Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (EcoDRR) Management approach” for reducing disaster risks, and vi. Harmonising mechanisms and coordination for transboundary hazards.
In conclusion
EAC further reiterates its commitment to create the necessary conducive and enabling environment to strengthen resilience of communities to disasters to ensure sustainable development and poverty eradication, and to integrate, as appropriate both disaster risk reduction and building of resilience into policies, plans and programmes.
Therefore, the East African Community calls upon the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Office for disaster Reduction, the World Bank and all our partners, to join EAC in walking the talk in order to have more actions to support the communities that have entrusted us to serve them.
