EALA & EABC set to deepen co-operation on integration matters

Written on 21 August 2018. Posted in Press Release

East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania: August 20th, 2018: The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the East African Business Council (EABC) have agreed to deepen co-operation in a bid to strengthen the integration process.

 This afternoon, EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin, received the EABC Chairman, Mr Nicholas Nesbitt, in the Speaker’s Chamber in Arusha, where both officials revealed the need to take the partnership a notch higher.

“Both institutions are to set to deepen areas of co-operation, the specifics of which shall be worked out later in September 2018, under an engagement framework”, it was agreed.

Speaker Ngoga rallied for a clear avenue of engagement that institutionalizes the efforts of the regional legislators and the private sector. “This is something we need to bring to fruition so that we strategize together and regularly consult over key matters of integration”, he added.

 The Speaker remarked that EALA remained keen to enhance its legislative, representative and oversight role for the benefit of all stakeholders including the Business Community. He further lauded the regional private sector body for the tremendous work it continued to undertake in the region noting that it was a major driving force and engine for integration.

Rt Hon Ngoga said it was vital for stakeholders in the integration process to think ‘regional in their approach to issues’ saying the nationalistic tendencies should be discarded.

On his part, the EABC Chairman, Mr Nesbitt reiterated the EABC was focused on the ultimate prize of full integration and said the apex body as part of its strategy would be aligning itself with key institutions to realise mutual beneficially relationships.

Mr Nesbitt informed the Speaker that EABC would be holding a full Board meeting in Arusha in September 2018 and that a second meeting between both institutions (EABC and EALA) was necessary to discuss the “nuts and bolts” of co-operation.

The EABC Vice Chairman, Mwine Jim Kabeho said the Private Sector had continued to face a number of challenges which the Assembly was best placed to address while EABC’s Ambassador (and former EALA Chair of the Legal Rules and Privileges Committee), Hon Peter Mathuki said it was necessary for both institutions to interface and resolve many issues for a stronger integration and for posterity’s sake.

 In attendance were senior EABC staff led by the CEO, Lilian Awinja, and the EALA Senior Public Relations Officer, Bobi Odiko.

NOTES TO THE EDITORS

The East African Business Council (EABC) is the apex body of business associations of the Private Sector and Corporates from the 6 East African Countries. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the Private Sector in the integration process of the East African Community. Originally comprising members from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, its membership was expanded after 2007 to include private sector from Burundi and Rwanda as well as South Sudan in 2017.

EALA is an Organ of the East African Community established in 2001 with a mandate of legislation, representation and oversight.

- ENDS -

For more information, please contact:

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

About the East African Legislative Assembly:

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

Tanzania Women Netballers thrash Burundi Team

Written on 21 August 2018. Posted in Culture & Sports News

As the 1^st EAC Games enters day 4 in Burundi

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 21^st August, 2018: The EAC Games themedFostering EAC Integration and Peace through Sports taking place at various play grounds within Bujumbura City and at Gitega Stadium entered day four (4) with Tanzania Women Netballers thrashing the Burundi team 79 to 14 in a game played at the ENS play ground in Bujumbura, Burundi.

In another thrilling opening home match between Burundi and Uganda played at the Parque play ground in Bujumbura, Uganda beat Burundi 3 sets to 0 in women volleyball. Burundi takes on Uganda in the 1^st home match men volley ball on Tuesday 21 August, while in Women Volleyball; Uganda will play Burundi on Friday 24^th August in their away match at the same venue.

In Karate match played on Sunday 19 August, Burundi won the 1^st Gold medals of the tournament in both the Individual and Team Kata having taken on Kenya and Tanzania at the Dojo Nationale. Karate Individual and Team Kumite (Burundi Kenya and Tanzania) matches are scheduled on 21^st and  24^th August  respectively at the same venue.

In Boxing, Burundi and Uganda will be on the stage on Saturday 25^th and Sunday 26^th August at the Dojo Nationale.

Burundi, Kenya, Uganda have registered for Lawn Tennis for Men and Women singles and Doubles which are scheduled to be played on Wednesday 22^nd August when Burundi will take on Uganda Men Singles, and Kenya will tussle it out with Uganda in Women Singles at the Entente Sportive arena in Bujumbura.

Kenya will take on Uganda in Men Doubles on Friday 24^th August, while Burundi will play against Kenya in Women Doubles. On 26^th August, Uganda takes on Burundi in women doubles while Kenya takes on Burundi in Men doubles.

In Rugby 7s (Men), Burundi plays Uganda on 25^th August at the Tempete Fields in Bujumbura.

Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania registered  Football Women Teams  and  in the opening football encounter played on Monday 20^th August 2018 in Gitega town, Tanzania slashed the host Burundi  8 to 1. Tanzania will take on Kenya (W) on Thursday 23^rd August and Kenya versus Burundi (W) will be on Saturday 25^th August 2018 also at the Gitega Stadium.

Notes to Editors

The 1st Edition of the East African Community Games (EACoG) is being hosted by the Republic of Burundi from 16th to 30th August 2018 in the city of Bujumbura, and in the town of Gitega, under the themeFostering EAC Integration and Peace through Sports. The Games will take the form of all East Africa Games and will include multiple sports disciplines including: Football, Volley Ball,Karate, Boxing, Tennis, Rugby, and Half Marathon to be competed among the Partner States.

EACoG is a Regional Sports initiative that emanates from the decision of the 20th EAC Council of Ministers, which directed the Secretariat to organize and hold Sports Tournaments on regular basis with partnership of private sector, civil society, voluntary organizations/ institutions/individuals and Development Partners.

EAC Games website: https://www.eac.int/eacog;

Inaugural EAC Games kicks off in Bujumbura

Written on 18 August 2018. Posted in Culture & Sports News

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 17^th August, 2018: The 2^nd Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, His Excellency Joseph Butore officiated at the kick-off of the 14-day inaugural EAC Games at the Lycee SOS HG in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Addressing Honourable Ministers; Members of Parliament; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; Sports men and women from the Partner States, and the citizens of Bujumbura, who thronged the Play field of SOS HG School, the 2^nd Vice President, who represented H.E. Pierre Nkurunziza, reaffirmed the commitment of the Republic of Burundi to the promotion of close cooperation among the Partner States in the field of sports, particularly by promoting and valuing the various sports activities.

H.E Butore informed his audience that sports was a channel for strengthening and safeguarding unity and peace in the development of the world, adding that “Faced with the issues and challenges of the globalized world, the EAC Games are one of the answers to the question of youth employment, who are the majority of the population, and a pathway for their socio-economic integration”.

The 2^nd Vice President asserted that the major concern in the region was to strengthen interstate partnership, to build and consolidate synergy, in order to achieve the goals of sustainable development. “We must therefore turn the page of history and build a world united in the spirit of the people, in order to invite them to reject violence, and give a place of choice to the culture of peace in African in general, and in the East African Community in particular”, noted H.E Butore.

At the same occasion, Uganda’s 2^nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of EAC Affairs and Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, Rt. Hon. Kirunda Kivenjija, disclosed that the Council of Ministers will, in the next 5 years, endeavor to promote and support the development of Sports through public-private sector partnerships. “This will be done in fostering closer collaboration among Partner States to strengthen the sports institutional capacities and establish a conducive regulatory frameworks in the region”. 

He said greater emphasis will be put towards attraction of domestic and foreign investment for construction of sports facilities across the region, development of sports academies for effective tracking and nurturing of talents. He reiterated that the role of Sports in reinforcing the spirit of East African unity and development and galvanizing a passionate, visionary and broad participation among the East African people.

On his part, the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said the EAC Games being launched for the first time in the region will be conducted every two years on rotational basis in accordance with the Decision of the Council of Ministers.

He disclosed that in this 1^st edition, more than 1,000 sports men and women from the EAC Partner States were on the ground and will participate in Football, Volley Ball, Karate, Boxing, Tennis, Rugby, and Half Marathon.

He noted that the EAC Games was providing an opportunity for East Africans to showcase the diverse sporting talents and an avenue for sports talent exchange, learning and celebration. He said the EAC Secretariat’s focus is to make the regional sports event attractive to the public to enable East Africans to move across borders to interact freely within the Community.

Notes to Editors

The 1st Edition of the East African Community Games (EACoG) is being hosted by the Republic of Burundi from 16th to 30th August 2018 in the city of Bujumbura, and in the town of Gitega, under the theme Fostering EAC Integration and Peace through Sports. The Games will take the form of all East Africa Games and will include multiple sports disciplines including: Football, Volley Ball, Karate, Boxing, Tennis, Rugby, and Half Marathon to be competed among the Partner States.

EACoG is a Regional Sports initiative that emanates from the decision of the 20th EAC Council of Ministers, which directed the Secretariat to organize and hold Sports Tournaments on regular basis with partnership of private sector, civil society, voluntary organizations/ institutions/individuals and Development Partners.

EAC Games website: https://www.eac.int/eacog

-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 Policy Briefs on Aflatoxin Prevention and Control launched in Nairobi

Written on 17 August 2018. Posted in Agriculture & Food Security

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 17^th August, 2018: A two day Regional Forum to launch the East African Community (EAC) Policy Briefs on Aflatoxin Prevention and Control came to a close on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya.

The workshop, which was geared towards enhancing levels of awareness on Aflatoxin control and prevention in the EAC region, was organized by EAC in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). To officiate the launch and representing the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation was Prof. Hamadi Boga, the Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya.

Prof. Boga hailed the EAC Secretariat for prioritizing aflatoxin prevention and control as one of its flagship projects in the region. He disclosed that that Africa loses up to US$ 670 million annually from lost exports due to aflatoxin contamination.

The PS further said that approximately 40% of food commodities in local markets exceed allowable levels of aflatoxins in foods.

The PS officially launched the 9 sets of policy briefs on Aflatoxin and underscored that they contain key recommendations on strategic policy action and interventions required to mitigate impacts and effects of aflatoxin along the food and feed value chains.

Aflatoxin contamination poses a serious threat to human and animal health, and to the economies of the EAC Partner States. Existing efforts to mitigate aflatoxin at national level have remained fragmented and not adequately supported, technically and financially. The 36^th Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers directed Partner States to mainstream EAC Aflatoxin Prevention and Control Strategy priorities in their national budgets and national agriculture investment plans.

In her remarks, the USAID/Kenya and East Africa Feed the Future Regional Coordinator, Ms. Kathryn Begeal, commended stakeholders for the efforts towards aflatoxin prevention and control.

Ms. Begeal further called on EAC Partner States to make real progress in implementing solutions to aflatoxin contamination such as disseminating information to communities, promoting farmer use of Alfasafe in extension and input packages, and scaling up improved post-harvest handling practices.

Pursuant to the directive of the Council, the EAC regional project on aflatoxin abatement was launched in 2014 with the aim of preventing and controlling adverse impacts of Aflatoxin along the food and feed value chains. The overall goal of this project is to contribute to Food Security and Safety in the EAC and Protect Human, Animal and Plant Health.

A Regional Forum was then established to create awareness and sensitize high level policy makers and other key stakeholders on the necessary policy action and interventions to mitigate impacts and effects of aflatoxin.

Speaking at the meeting, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, noted that Aflatoxin prevention and control is one of the flagship programmes implemented by the EAC Secretariat.

Hon. Bazivamo said that the overall goal of the programme is to contribute to food and nutrition security as well as to protect human, animal and plant health in EAC from the adverse impacts of aflatoxin along the food and feed value chains.

Participants at the event included government officers from the line Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock in the EAC Partner States as well as academicians, researchers, animal health, food safety and nutrition experts who shared presentations on observations, lessons learned, new technologies, challenges and recommendations with regard to aflatoxin mitigation efforts.

Addressing the closing session of the event on Thursday, Hon. Mathias Kasamba, the Chairperson of the East African Legislative Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources commended USAID Kenya and East Africa for funding the EAC Aflatoxin Prevention and Control project, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa, the US Centers for Disease Control, the private sector and other development partners engaged in dealing with the scourge of aflatoxin on the continent.

DOWNLOAD BRIEFS HERE:  https://www.eac.int/documents/category/aflatoxin-prevention-and-control

-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

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

-ENDS-

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).

-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

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.

-ENDS-

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.

-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

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)

-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