Ministers endorse establishment of Regional Consultative Process on Migration
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 1st April, 2022: Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs, Labour/Home Affairs and Directorates of Immigration from the EAC Partner States have endorsed the establishment of the EAC Regional Consultative Process (EAC-RCP) on Migration in the region and recommended the same to the Sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning for approval.
The decision came during the 2nd Regional Conference on establishment of the EAC-RCP on Migration which took place in Nairobi, Kenya. The EAC-RCP will provide a platform for information-sharing and policy dialogue dedicated to deliberate specific migration issues in a comprehensive manner amongst the EAC Partner States.
In addition, the EAC-RCP is expected to enhance networking relations amongst relevant governments’ ministries, departments and agencies with migration-related mandates; establish a platform for stakeholders for setting agenda as well as priorities and niches in migration in the region; enhance linkages and partnerships with the national, other regional, continental and global platforms among others.
Addressing the Ministers on behalf of the EAC Secretary General, Dr. Peter Mathuki, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, underscored the importance of establishing the regional consultative process on migration for the EAC which would complement the existing Forums of Ministers responsible for Labour and Employment and the Chiefs of Immigration that coordinate migration related matters.
“Establishment of the RCP will not only create a platform for Partner States to collectively consult on migration governance issues beyond labour but also offer a forum for multisectoral collaboration on migration matters,” he noted.
Hon. Bazivamo reiterated to the conference the great benefits that the RCP can bring to the region and urged the Partner States to fast-track its establishment so that implementation can commence.
The Deputy Secretary General disclosed to the Ministers that the EAC, under the EAC Common Market Protocol, has registered several achievements in facilitating the movement of persons and labour for citizens to enjoy the benefits of integration.
On his part, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Republic of Kenya, Hon. Simon K. Chelugui, committed the Government of Kenya’s support in establishing an EAC – RCP as an important forum that will present members states an opportunity to share experiences of good labour migration governance practices and strategies to use in collecting labour migration data and information.
“EAC–RCP will not only enhance dialogue, cooperation and complementarity on migration among the EAC Partner States, but also timely exchange of information and Kenya is ready to support its establishment,” said Hon. Chelugui.
Regional Director( East and the Horn of Africa) of International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Mohammed Abdiker, said the EAC-RCP once established, will be a critical step for the region towards a common approach in addressing migration in a holistic manner against the backdrop of intensifying regional efforts to reinforce migration-related commitments and relevant implementation frameworks.
“I want to reiterate IOM’s commitment to support processes on migration as part of our core work, fully respecting their State-driven nature,” reaffirmed the Regional Director.
Notes to editors
In Article 130 of the Treaty for establishment of the East African Community, the Partner States committed themselves to foster co-operation arrangements with other regional and international organizations whose activities have a bearing on the objectives of the Community. The Partner States also undertook to accord special importance to co-operation with the Organization of African Unity, United Nations Organization and its agencies and other international organization.
As part of the operationalization of the above provision, the EAC Secretary General and the IOM Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding on 18th June 2021, which repealed the earlier signed one in 2006. The MoU provides for joint implementation of migration related areas of cooperation in the Treaty; the EAC Common Market Protocol; the EAC Vision 2050 and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
The MoU also provides for the establishment and operationalization of the East African Community (EAC) Regional Consultative Process on Migration (RCP) as a State-led platform within the EAC to comprehensively address some of the following thematic areas under migration: - migration and diaspora engagement; migration and sustainable development; migration and climate change; risk reduction; migration and health; migration and employment creation etc.
The recommendations of the RCP will be persuasive and will be implemented upon consideration by the relevant Sectoral Council of Ministers.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001: 2015 Certified