IUCEA - World Bank Scholarship Recipients for 2018/2019

Written on 10 August 2018. Posted in Education, Science & Technology News

Inter-University Council for East Africa August 10, 2018: On May 4, 2018, the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the Regional Facilitation Unit for the Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACE II) Project, announced a Call for Applications for Masters fellowships targeting female students in the nine participating countries of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique and Malawi.

The aim of the competitive scholarship is to enhance the participation of young African female scientists at postgraduate level, encourage regional student mobility and identify and cultivate future leaders in the region.

A total of 30 fellowships were available for the 2018/2019 academic year and another 30 will be announced next year. The selected students will study full time at any of the 24 ACEs in the priority disciplines of the ACE II Project, namely: (i) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) or Industry, (ii) Agriculture, (iii) Health, (iv) Education and (v) Applied Statistics.

The Scholarship will cover cost for tuition, stipend, research, visa fees, laptop, books/stationeries and a round trip air ticket between the beneficiary’s home country and the study destination.

Names of candidates recommended for the award, areas of specialization and host institutions can be viewed on the list below. IUCEA shall contact all scholarship recipients through personal contacts submitted at the time of application.

“We congratulate the successful applicants and extend to them our best wishes for success in their studies. We have no doubt that when they return to their country of origin after completing their studies, they will play meaningful leadership roles at national and regional levels in identified priority science and technology areas for Africa,” said Prof. Goolam Mohamedbhai, the Chairperson of the Independent Selection Panel.

LIST OF STUDENTS AWARDED MSc. FELLOWSHIP UNDER THE ACE II PROJECT FOR 2018/2019 ACADEMIC YEAR

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For more information contact:
Agnes Asiimwe Okoth
Communication Officer
Mob: +256-752-980079
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://ace2.iucea.org/

Appraisal Workshop on Germany's Support to the EAC integration process held in Arusha

Written on 10 August 2018. Posted in Press Release

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 9^th August, 2018: A one-day appraisal workshop on the Federal Republic of Germany’s support to the EAC integration process was held on Wednesday 8^th August, 2018 at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

The appraisal workshop, which was co-chaired by the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo and Dr. Kirsten Focken, the Cluster Coordinator-EAC-GIZ Programme based in Arusha, was attended by the Director General of the EAC Customs and Trade Directorate, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, Heads of Departments that are involved in implementing the activities supported by GIZ, and the representative of the German Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Ms. Norzin Grigoleit-Dagya.

Also in attendance were the Consultants undertaking the appraisal exercise for the 4^th phase of the EAC-GIZ Support Programme that comes to an end in mid-2019.

Addressing the workshop participants, Hon. Bazivamo commended the long standing support of the German Government to the EAC integration and urged the participants to come up with clear and smart project objectives, outputs and indicators for the next phase of the cooperation.

On her part, Dr. Focken, the Cluster Coordinator-EAC-GIZ Programme, thanked all the participants for active participation and input into the mission. She said that the cooperation will continue in many areas with more focus on implementation to achieve tangible results and demonstrate the benefits of regional integration in East Africa.

The process of planning for a new phase of the programme started with consultations between the EAC and the German government, which took place on 18 September 2017. The consultations took into consideration the key strategic interventions as laid down in a document presented by the EAC Secretariat.

Both sides agreed in their joint minutes that Regional Economic Integration should remain the priority area for technical cooperation.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

In a first appraisal mission held from 12^th to 23^rd March, 2018, the appraisal team visited the EAC Secretariat and selected stakeholders for discussions in order to pave the way forward. Based on these findings, GIZ developed a proposal.

Implementation of the Customs Union and continued implementation of the Common Market will remain the core areas of support and cooperation. The concept includes support to selected economic sectors through regional cooperation and improved trade integration. It also focuses on strengthening the capacities of the EAC Secretariat and selected regional partners, improved inclusion of the private sector and communication of success stories on regional integration through the Incubator for Integration and Development in East Africa (IIDEA).

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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. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified

50 Million African Women Platform to be up and running in the next six months

Written on 08 August 2018. Posted in Gender, Community Development & Civil Society

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 8^th August, 2018: A four-day workshop bringing together implementing agencies of the 50 Million African Women Speak (50MWS) project, a software developing firm and representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the project financiers, is currently underway in Lusaka, Zambia.

The 50MWS Project is being implemented by three different Regional Economic Communities (RECs), namely the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern (COMESA), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

COMESA, which is coordinating the 50MWS Project, recently hired Izertis, a Spanish consulting firm to develop the 50MWS platform and the main objective of this workshop is for the implementers to clarify the scope of the platform and provide design inputs to the consulting firm.

The 50MWS Project aims at contributing to the economic empowerment of women through the provision of networking platforms to access information on financial and non-financial services so that they can start, grow or scale up their businesses.

At the opening of the workshop, Ambassador Dr. Kipyego Cheluget, COMESA Assistant Secretary General, assured the AfDB that the 50MWS project will be implemented for the benefits of all women.

Amb. Cheluget said that the different implementing RECs had held consultative meetings with their stakeholders to gather their views on how they want the project to be implemented.

‘’This is an opportunity for us to utilise the feedback from our partners,’’ Ambassador Kipyego said.

“This project comes when RECs are moving towards Digital Economic Integration, towards the full adoption of digital technologies with the objective of establishing seamless processes across the RECs Partner States to enable ease of doing business/trade and to enhance regional integration using ICT as a tool,” Amb. Kipyego added.

Amb. Kipyego urged the participants to volunteer ideas that would assist the consulting firm to create user-friendly platforms that could easily be accessed by women entrepreneurs.

The COMESA official suggested that the ideal platform should have unique features differentiating it from other multiple social media platforms that were already in existence.

Ms. Mary Makoffu, EAC Director of Social Sectors and head of the EAC delegation to the workshop, said in her opening remarks that the project was being implemented at a time when the EAC Partners States were rolling out instruments of Digital Trade to minimize physical barriers to trade in the reion.

Ms. Makoffu said that the 50MWS project would complement ongoing efforts to enhance the EAC economic integration agenda.

David Sabiti, COMESA 50 MWS Coordinator, expressed hope that women entrepreneurs would start using the platform six months after the Lusaka workshop.

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For more information please contact:
Achel Bayisenge,
Content Manager for the 50MWS Project
Tel: +255 786726230;
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified

Appellate Court Session set for next week

Written on 08 August 2018. Posted in Press Release

East African Court of Justice, Arusha, 7th August, 2018: The Appellate Division will start its sessions on Wednesday 8^th up to Friday 24^th August, 2018. The Division will handle six (6) matters of Appeal and one for Arbitration before it; among these are two scheduling conferences, four hearings and two Judgments. All matters will be brought before the Honourable Justices: Dr Emmanuel Ugirashebuja (President of the Court), Liboire Nkurunziza (Vice-President), Justice Edward Rutakangwa, Aaron Ringera and Geoffrey Kiryabwire.

The arbitration matter coming up for hearing is by the Winglink Travel Limited Vs the Secretary General of the East African Community. It will be heard on Thursday 16^th August before Justice Dr Emmanuel Ugirashebuja (Chair), Justice Edward Rutakangwa and Justice Aaron Ringera.

Article 32 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, provides arbitral jurisdiction to the Court to hear and determine any matter arising from arbitration clauses or Special agreements. The Court arbitrates any dispute at no cost. So far the Court has received three (3) arbitration matters, two have been determined while one is in progress.

Article 35 of the Treaty gives mandate to the Appellate Division to handle appeals from the Judgement or any order of the First Instance Division of the Court on points of law, grounds of lack of jurisdiction or procedural irregularity.

The Appellate Division also has jurisdiction under Article 36 of the Treaty to give advisory opinion of the Court, if requested by the Summit, Council or a Partner State on a question of law arising from the Treaty which affects the Community.

Under Article 34, the Appellate Division also gives preliminary rulings on questions raised by any Court or tribunal of a Partner State concerning the interpretation or application of the provisions of this Treaty.

Notes for editors:

ARTICLE 32

Arbitration Clauses and Special Agreement the Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any matter:

(a) arising from an arbitration clause contained in a contract or agreement which confer s such jurisdiction to which the Community or any of its institutions is a party; or

(b) arising from a dispute e between the Partner States regarding this Treaty if the dispute e is submit ted to it under a special l agreement between the Partner States concerned; or

(c) arising from an arbitration clause contained in a commercial contract or agreement in which the parties have confer red jurisdiction on the Court.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Yufnalis Okubo
Registrar
East African Court of Justice
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 27 2162149
mail: Okubo [at] eachq.org
www.eacj.org

About the East African Court of Justice:

The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.

Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the respective National Courts in the Partner States.

EAC Secretariat-AfDB Strategize to set up Partnership to accelerate Africa's transformation through regional integration

Written on 03 August 2018. Posted in Press Release

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 3 August, 2018: An African Development Bank mission led by Dr. Marcellin Ndong Ntah, Lead Economist and comprising Mr. Patrick Kanyimbo, Regional Integration Coordinator at the Bank’s East African Regional Hub (RDGE) in Nairobi visited the EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. Engineer Honourable Mlote, Deputy Secretary General, responsible for Planning and Infrastructure hosted the mission, while technical deliberations were chaired by Eng. Dr. Kamugisha Kazaura, Director of Infrastructure.

Discussions during the two-days of the mission focused on strategic priorities and corresponding indicative operational program to accelerate EAC’s integration agenda. These strategic and operational priorities and operations will be articulated in the Bank’s programming document, namely the Regional Integration Strategy for East Africa (EA-RISP) 2018-22, which is expected to be approved by the Bank’s Board in 2018.

The Mission explained that the EA-RISP seeks to operationalize the Bank’s Integrate Africa corporate strategy (2018-25) approved in May this year, and support the implementation of the EAC 5^th Development Strategy (2017-21).

Consultations on the new RISP started last year when the Secretariat presented a number of projects in November 2017 for consideration and support under the RISP. This mission therefore served to discuss Bank’s feedback on the proposed projects and further consult on the RISP prior to its approval by the Bank.

In his remarks, Eng. Steven Mlote, EAC Deputy Secretary General (DSG), Planning and Infrastructure thanked the AfDB for honouring the EAC’s invitation and thanked the Bank for its ongoing support on a number of projects managed by the Secretariat. He informed the AfDB team that a number of on-going projects are progressing well and promised that those lagging behind will be fast tracked.

In this regard, the DSG noted that EAC is looking forward to the approval of projects proposed to the Bank for funding under the new RISP, which will help operationalize the EAC 5^th Development Strategy (2017-21). Many of these projects have high-level political commitment and specifically the infrastructure projects have been endorsed by the EAC Heads of State during their Retreat held in Kampala, Uganda in February 2018, where the Bank and other development partners were called upon to collaborate with the EAC Secretariat to mobilize resources for implementation.

In this regard, Dr. Ndong Ntah highlighted that the prioritized projects are fully aligned with the 5^th EAC Development Strategy (2017-21) and aim at addressing the region’s pervasive developmental challenge, namely the slow pace of economic transformation. He explained that the strategic thrust of the RISP is articulated around two pillars, namely (i) Regional infrastructure development for economic transformation; (ii) Strengthening the policy and institutional frameworks for market integration, investment and value chains development.

Accordingly and as per the Bank’s High-5s Agenda, the agreed Bank-supported projects will focus on improving regional infrastructure connectivity to improve the business environment and accelerate transformation. In the transport sector the agreed projects range will focus on cross-border highways and bridging missing links on priority transport corridors, and developing multi-modal transport systems including inland waterways, air and railways.

In the energy sector, priority projects cover electricity generation, transmission lines to facilitate cross-border electricity trade, and promotion of clean cooking solutions. A number of project preparation activities have also been prioritized to increase the stock of bankable regional projects to crowd in investment, including from the private sector and non-traditional investors such as pension funds.

To finance the RISP, the Bank will deploy its full range of instruments including its concessional resources from the African Development Fund (ADF), the dedicated ADF Regional Operations Envelope, its non-concessional African Development Bank window, trust funds and explore innovative financing mechanisms to complement the Bank’s statutory resources. The Mission shared information on some of the steps taken by the Bank to unlock innovative financing, (such as Africa50, and Africa Investment Forum), and measures taken by the Bank’s President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina to ensure accelerated delivery of Bank-funded projects.

In conclusion, the two Parties were satisfied with the agreed projects and in the cordial atmosphere in which the discussions were heard, underscoring African character of these key developmental institutions.

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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. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified

Energy Experts discuss enhancement of Sustainable Energy Market in Eastern Africa-Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Regions

Written on 03 August 2018. Posted in Energy

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 3^rd August, 2018: A four-day third meeting of the Technical Steering Committee of the project on enhancement of sustainable regional energy market in the Eastern Africa-Southern Africa-Indian Ocean (EA-SA-IO) Region concluded on Thursday 2^nd August at Hilton Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

The project on enhancement of sustainable regional energy market in the Eastern Africa-Southern Africa-Indian Ocean (EA-SA-IO) Region seeks to address market governance and regulatory related challenges affecting the implementation of energy development projects in the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region. It is supported by a seven million euros fund provided under the 11^th European Development Fund (EDF) for a period of four years since the signing of the grant delegation agreement with COMESA in May 2017.

The meeting brought together five Regional Economic Communities: The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

Others were the Regional Association of Energy Regulators, Regional Power Pools, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Centres, and the European Union Delegation (EUD) to Kenya and Zambia.

The COMESA Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa (RAERESA) coordinates the implementation of the programme.

The programme has three results areas namely; a regionally harmonized energy regulatory and policy framework that integrates gender perspectives; enhancement of regulatory capacity of the National Regulatory Authorities and Power Pools to proactively influence developments in the energy sector; and lastly, enhancement of renewable energy and energy efficiency to attract investments in clean energy and build capacity in clean energy in the region as well as the domestication on a demand driven basis.

Officiating at the opening ceremony, Kenya’s Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Dr. Eng. Joseph K. Njoroge, noted that the meeting came at a time when the Republic of Kenya was fostering the development and utilization of renewable energies to enhance energy security and expand access to modern energy with the ultimate goals of improving the livelihoods of Kenyans and beyond. He said that it was indisputable fact that sustainable and affordable energy supply was pivotal to realizing economic and social development in the regions.

The Principal Secretary, who was represented by Eng. Julius M. Mwathani, the Secretary for Electrical Power Development at the Ministry, was confident that the initiative on enhancing Sustainable Regional Energy Market in the Eastern Africa-Southern Africa-Indian Ocean (EA-SA-IO) Region will lead to harnessing of the best minds in Africa, and channeling technical and financial resources in an efficient and effective manner to address contemporary developmental challenges, and catalyze the private sector to make it, as mandated, a significant contributor to the development process in Africa.

Addressing the same audience, the Assistant Secretary General (Programmes), of COMESA, Amb. Dr. Kipyego Cheluget, disclosed that the programme will influence developments in the the five RECs’ energy sector and enhance the capacity of regulators in providing and enforcing regulations that enhance the regional market. “It will also enhance the renewable energy regulatory frameworks to promote investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as integrate gender perspectives in energy policy and regulation”

The COMESA Assistant Secretary General, who was represented by Dr. Mohamedain Seif Elnasr, Chief Executive Officer of the COMESA based Regional Association of Regulatory Authorities in the Eastern and Southern Africa, commended the role of the European Union in developing Africa’s infrastructure including energy infrastructure and applauded the contribution by the EU through the different European Development Funds and other mechanisms in advancing the implementation of many continental, regional and national projects, related to infrastructure in general and specifically energy projects, among others.

On his part, the Representative of the EU delegation program manager and Ag. Head of Sections Infrastructure, in the Republic of Kenya, Mr. Jean-Noel Gangloff, said that building an energy market that stimulates power trading and promotes energy security, as well as leverages on each countries strengths and shields the risk of country level inadequacies was very important for the Eastern Africa-Southern Africa-Indian Ocean (EA-SA-IO) Region.

The EU Representative noted that this was an opportunity to integrate the regional electricity market sustainably, which requires the process of consensus building from a policy and regulatory perspective. “It is therefore important that the various actors in the region engage in the process of building a common understanding and a harmonized approach in how the sector is governed”, noted the EU Envoy.

He asserted that in partnering with the regional economic organizations on the 7 million Euro regional energy programme, “the European Union recognizes and believes that we can together enhance the regional energy market in a harmonized way, as well as promote energy efficiency and other renewable energy sources, thus taking the development of the regional energy market a step further”.

The Program Manager - Infrastructure, European Union in Zambia, Mr. Graham Ching’ambu, noted that the project was not only about rules and regulations but also about the creation of an energy market. In this regard, he pointed out that the project could be a driver for market and industrial growth within the region and could also contribute to lowering production costs hence enhancing competitiveness.

The 3^rd meeting of the Programme Technical Steering Committee (PTSC) of the project, which was chaired by the EAC Senior Energy Officer, Mr. Elsam Byempaka Turyahabwe, reviewed progress on the status of implementation of the First-Year Work Programme 2017 – 2018; considered the Annual Report of the Project, and adopted the 2018 – 2019 Second-Year work plan and Budget of the Project on Enhancement of a Sustainable Regional Energy Market in the EA-SA-IO Region.

Prior to the energy experts meeting, an awareness-training workshop for regional journalists and communication experts from the participating organizations was conducted on July 30, 2018 as part of the project’s communication and visibility strategy.

Communication experts from the RECs, Ministries of Energy, Energy Associations and Power Pools participated in the one-day training and study tour on Kenya’s renewable energy project, the 25.5 MW Ngong Hills Wind Power Station/Wind Farm. Journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi attended the training and study tour.

Chairing and hosting of the meeting of the Programme Technical Steering Committee is on rotational basis among the regional blocs hence the Nairobi meeting was chaired and hosted by the EAC. The next PTSC will be held in March 2019 and hosted by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

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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. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified

EAC-Germany Renewable Energy Technologies Exhibition opens in Arusha

Written on 25 July 2018. Posted in Energy

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 25th July, 2018: From 23^rd July to 10^th August, 2018, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in collaboration with the East African Community is holding an exhibition on renewable energy initiatives.

The 12-day exhibition, also known as Energiewende, which seeks to increase energy efficiency, protect the climate and the environment opened in Arusha at the EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania on Monday, 23rd July, 2018.

Speaking during the official opening session, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, said the exhibition had come up at a right time and would the increase access to modern energy services in the region, there by reducing poverty and providing sustainable energy for socio-economic development.

Hon. Bazivamo that the exhibition is geared towards achieving the targets of the Regional Strategy on Scaling Up Access to modern Energy Services which provide access to; modern cooking practices for 50% of the population that currently uses traditional cooking fuel; reliable electricity for all urban and peri-urban poor; modern energy services for all schools, clinics, hospitals and community centres and  access to mechanical power for heating and productive uses for all communities.

Hon Bazivamo disclosed that the EAC Secretariat was in the process of mobilising funding to: Formulate the Regional Renewable Energy Master plan as well as  Regional Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Strategic Plan; Undertake Policy and Standards harmonisation; and Promote information exchange through knowledge management by facilitating the formation of the Regional renewable Energy association.

The Deputy Secretary General extended his appreciation to the GIZ team for making the exhibition a reality, adding that the endeavour was geared towards technology transfer.

On her part, Dr. Kirsten Focken, the GIZ Programme Manager said the German government decided to fully move to renewable energy over 20 years, adding that it was one of the first governments to undertake the initiative.

"We are glad to demonstrate how to move towards secure, affordable and sustainable energy in a highly industrialized country such as Germany. East Africa is developing rapidly and already deploying sources of renewable energy," added Dr.Focken.

She pledged Germany's continued support to the EAC region on renewable energy as a basis for sound and sustainable economic development.

Notes to Editors

The German Government has decided to move towards renewable energy to increase energy efficiency, protect the climate and environment through an initiative known as Energiewende. Energiewende seeks to make energy supply secure, affordable and sustainable. An exhibition organized at the EAC HQ from 23^rd July to 10^th August, 2018 will present many aspects of Energiewende, its multi-dimensional aspects, challenges, its ambitious targets and precise roadmap that will make the country switch to renewable energy by 2050.

The exhibition has been shown in about 60 locations in 25 different countries. The various stations of the exhibition at EAC HQ will cover: Energy efficiency, heating, mobility, renewable energies, costs for consumer, climate protection, nuclear power, economic aspects, international aspects, electricity grid, security supply, energy storage, civil participation, and the future of energy supply.

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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. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified

6th Annual EAC Secretary General's Forum ongoing in Nairobi, Kenya

Written on 24 July 2018. Posted in Press Release

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 23^rd July, 2018: The 6^th Annual EAC Secretary General’s Forum themed Strategizing for impact: People-Centred and Market-Driven Integration is underway at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

Addressing the over 100 delegates attending the Forum, Uganda’s 2^nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of EAC Affairs and Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, Rt. Hon. Dr. Kirunda Kivejinja, called upon all Partner States to strengthen mechanisms to guide the national level implementation of EAC Policies and Programmes and to utilize the Consultative Dialogue Framework (CDF) already established to facilitate exchange and sharing of ideas on regional integration on a sustained basis.

Rt. Hon. Kirunda Kivejinja, who was represented by Ms. Ronah Nandaula Serwadda from Uganda’s Ministry of EAC Affairs, noted that a number of the Forum’s initiatives had been supported by policy directives from the EAC Council of Ministers to address some of the recommendations that were made during the past Forums.

He cited a few of them as follows; the reduction in the costs of communication via mobile phones, internet and other means through harmonization of the roaming fees by some Partner States after the adoption by the Council of the One Area Network; the passing of the EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill by EALA in 2017; the Non-Tariff Barriers Bill (currently undergoing assent); EAC HIV/AIDS Act, 2012; and the EABC regional code of conduct for doing business, among others.

The 2^nd Deputy Prime Minister pledged continued support and partnership of the EAC Council of Ministers to the Annual EAC Secretary General’s Forum including mainstreaming of the Dialogue in regional initiatives and at the national levels.

He re-iterated the commitment of government of Uganda and that of the EAC Council of Ministers in supporting the implementation of the recommendations including ensuring active participation of all Parties to the Dialogue in the EAC regional integration process.

Addressing the same occasion, Kenya’s Principal Secretary in the Ministry of East African Community and Northern Corridor Development, Dr. Susan Koech recognized the important role of the incubator for Integration and Development in East Africa (IIDEA). Furthermore, she disclosed that to date, Kenya and Uganda’s Cross-Border Traders had benefited from real time market information on prices of goods in over 100 markets in the region through the Incubator for Integration and Development in East Africa (IIDEA) project from the Sauti Africa/EASSI web based trade information platform, which was a classic example of how important the Consultative Dialogue Framework (CDF) can impact positively on the lives of rural East Africa.

The Principal Secretary highlighted another innovative project, ClincPesa by CreativeDNA, which if fully implemented will facilitate access to health care services across the region and applauded the Regional Dialogue Committee for a job well done.

Dr. Susan Koech challenged the forum participants to propose a sustainability mechanism that will ensure funds growth with a possibility of an independent revolving fund to support young innovators especially in the agricultural value chain, which is the back bone of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) involved in intra-EAC trade.

She urged the Dialogue Parties to use the forum to come up with reforms that will see more involvement of the rural communities with activities in the EAC integration process for it to have the intended meaning and desired impact.

“There are very few projects, if any, touching on the youth in the region and something need to be done to get them fully integrated in the CDF programmes - everybody counts in the EAC integration agenda”, observed the Principal Secretary.

“As a country Kenya, we have embraced inclusivity by bringing on board the County governments especially those that are in the transit routes between Kenya and Tanzania and Uganda who play a critical role in policy development and implementation”.

The Principal Secretary disclosed that her Ministry had forged cross working relations with the County Governments and policy making organs (County Assemblies) to bring them to speed on EAC integration process to enable them appreciate cross border trade and how their policies relate with the Common Market Protocol with respect to Tariff and Non Tariff Barriers especially for the border Counties like Busia, Kisumu, Kajiado and Migori, among others”.

On his part, the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko disclosed that for the first time, the Republic of South Sudan was participating in the Forum and called upon the new Partner State to move quickly and establish all the required structures in the country for the effective Dialogue on EAC Integration up to the grassroots level.  

He appealed to the Parties to the Dialogue and participants to work towards a fully integrated East Africa with all East Africans living in harmony with each other.

The Secretary General commended the Private Sector through its umbrella organization, the East African Business Council, for improving the business and economic environment in the region through evidence-based policy advocacy in several areas including; harmonization of trade facilitation and regulatory framework, harmonization of product standards, advocating for free movement of the factors of production, as well as addressing trade barriers faced by women-owned businesses and Micro, Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Amb. Mfumukeko asserted that the sector had contributed towards monitoring and advocacy on elimination of NTBs, improved infrastructure network, and enhanced the competitiveness of firms in intra and extra-EAC trade and these efforts had tremendously contributed to reduction in the incidences of Non-Tariff Barriers.

Dr. Kirsten Focken, the Cluster Coordinator-EAC-GIZ Programme based in Arusha, Tanzania stated that the German support towards enhancing engagement of the privates sector and civil society is premised on the notion that Regional Integration can only become a reality when the citizens are aware, involved and own the process.

Dr. Focken urged the Dialogue Parties to address the current gaps in the CDF, review the stakeholder’s interests and mobilize resources for its implementation and sustainability.

The Executive Director of the East African Business Council (EABC), Ms. Lilian Awinja informed the Forum that working together with the EAC Secretariat and the Regional Dialogue Committee, the Parties had analyzed and discovered that out of the previous 5 EAC SG Foras, the level of implementation of the agreed recommendations was still very low, for example the analysis indicates that only 16% of the recommendations had been fully implemented, 43% partly implemented, 36% not implemented and 5% had no update at all.

“These figures are worrying and explains why this forum has been organized as a strategy forum such that the Dialogue Parties together with the EAC Secretary General brainstorm and agree on a clear path to the realization of the objectives of the Consultative Dialogue Framework as envisaged under Article 127(4) of the EAC Treaty.

The 6^th Forum, which is supported by GiZ, is being attended by about 100 delegates drawn from the Partner States’ Private Sector Organizations (PSOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), professional bodies, Academia/Universities, Media, EAC Organs and Institutions, Development Partners and Other Interest Groups.

The Forum aims to provide a platform for regular dialogue between the EAC Secretary General and the Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups on how to improve the EAC integration process. The annual Forum is convened by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Regional Dialogue Committee (RDC) which is comprised of membership drawn from Partners States which include the Private Sector, Civil Society, Representatives of Government and regional Private Sector, Civil Society, Trade Union, Employer and Professional Associations/Bodies.

The Forum is guided by the principles of cooperation for mutual benefit, trust, goodwill, active and constructive participation, inclusivity and respect for diverse views, among others.

-ENDS-

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. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified

6th Annual Secretary General's Forum for Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups set for 23 - 24 July 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya

Written on 18 July 2018. Posted in Press Release

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 18^th July, 2018: The 6^th Annual EAC Secretary General’s Forum themed Strategizing for impact: People-Centred and Market-Driven Integration is scheduled to take place from 23^rd to 24^th July 2018 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

About 100 delegates have confirmed participating in the SG’s Forum and they will be drawn from the Partner States’ Private Sector Organizations (PSOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), professional bodies, Academia/Universities, Media, EAC Organs and Institutions, Development Partners and Other Interest Groups.

The Forum aims to provide a platform for regular dialogue between the EAC Secretary General and the Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups on how to improve the EAC integration process. The annual Forum is convened by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Regional Dialogue Committee (RDC) which is comprised of membership drawn from Partners States which include the Private Sector, Civil Society, Representatives of Government and regional Private Sector, Civil Society, Trade Union, Employer and Professional Associations/Bodies.

The 6^th Annual SG’s Forum will review the work plan and progress Reports on the Consultative Dialogue Framework (CDF) for Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups, which was adopted by the 26^th Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers; consider translating SG’s Forum Resolutions to Policy; define success stories of the Dialogue Process; and consider Sustainability of the Consultative Dialogue Framework by redefining the Roles of the Dialogue Parties.

Since the adoption of the CDF, five Annual EAC Secretary General’s Forums have been held. The first Forum took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in December, 2012, with the theme: “Review of Implementation of The EAC Common Market”; The Second was in Nairobi, Kenya in October, 2013 and themed “The EAC We Want”; The third was held in Entebbe September, 2014 under the theme “EAC: My Home, My Business”; The Fourth Forum was in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in March 2016, under the theme “Good Governance and Constitutionalism in the East African Community”; and the fifth forum was held in June 2017 in Bujumbura, Burundi, under the theme: “15 Years of The EAC: Towards a Borderless Community”.

Note to Editors

The Dialogue Framework Forum for Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups in the EAC integration process was endorsed by the EAC Council of Ministers at its 26th meeting in November 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Article 127 (4) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community provides that: “ The Secretary General shall provide the forum for consultations between the private sector, civil society organizations, other interest groups and appropriate institutions of the Community”, while Article 129 (2) requests the Council to “establish modalities that would enable the business organizations or associations, professional bodies and the civil society in the Partner States to contribute effectively to the development of the Community.”

The Forum is guided by the principles of cooperation for mutual benefit, trust, goodwill, active and constructive participation, inclusivity and respect for diverse views, among others.

-ENDS-

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. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified

EAC Partner States need to harmonise 100 laws to conform to the Common Market Protocol

Written on 17 July 2018. Posted in Press Release

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 17^th July, 2018: Over 100 laws in the six East African Community Partner States national legislation need to be reviewed to conform to the EAC Common Market Protocol.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo noted that harmonisation of Partner States’ relevant national laws to conform to the Protocol was a monumental task that would require lots of time and resources.

Hon. Bazivamo said that the concerned laws relate to the provisions of the protocol, namely: free movement of goods; free movement of persons; free movement of labour; free movement of capital; free movement of services; right of establishment, and; right of residence.

Hon. Bazivamo said that despite these challenges, the Community had made significant progress in terms of promoting the cross-border movement of skilled labour and cited the signing of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) among various professionals.

The DSG disclosed that MRAs had already been signed among Accountants, Architects, Engineers and Veterinarians.

“Negotiations of MRAs for Land Surveyors and Advocates were concluded and are awaiting signing by competent authorities. The negotiations of the MRA for Pharmacists have commenced,” said Hon. Bazivamo.

The DSG said that the main barriers to the free movement of persons in Africa were the mind-sets based on the geographical boundaries drawn by the colonial powers and regulations put in place by countries concerning immigration, customs and other cross-border procedures.

“Sensitisation of people at all levels is therefore necessary at all levels on the need to knock down these national barriers,” he said.

Hon. Bazivamo was speaking during a courtesy call by a team from the IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) which is based in Nairobi, Kenya. The IGAD led by ICPALD Director, Dr. Solomon Muchina Munyua, was on a two-day benchmarking mission to the EAC Headquarters specifically on the Free Movement of Persons. The Mission also sought to understand the EAC policy position and practice on transboundary pastoralism and cross-border transhumance.

In his remarks, Dr. Munyua disclosed that IGAD was currently working on protocols on Transhumance and the Free Movement of Persons, and thus the need to benchmark with the EAC whose membership and nationalities overlap with those of IGAD.

“The people of Eastern Africa share languages and culture across borders, for instance, the Digo, Maasai, Kuria and Luhya. Integration brings with it fears of the loss of jobs and resources. We are keen to learn from EAC on how it has managed to overcome these barriers,” said Dr. Munyua.

-ENDS-

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. 

The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified