4th EAC Partnership Fund high-level dialogue held in Dar
The 4th High-Level Dialogue of the EAC Partnership Fund was held on Wednesday, March 25, 2016 in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The dialogue was attended by Heads of Diplomatic missions accredited to the EAC and also members the EAC Partnership Fund.
The dialogue was co-chaired by the Norwegian Ambassador, H.E. Hanne Kaarstad and the EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera.
Addressing the Heads of Diplomatic missions, the Secretary General of the East African Community Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera expressed his appreciation for the support he has received from the development partners and noted that for the EAC Partnership Fund was more than monetary support. “The Partnership Fund is a forum for dialogue, creates avenues for discussing key integration issues and mobilizing political support for EAC regional integration”, added Dr Sezibera.
The EAC Secretary General noted the positive growth of the fund since 2011, and called on Development Partners to honour their pledges through actualizing pending disbursements which currently stand at 24% for the financial year 2015/16.
Dr. Sezibera underscored the importance of the basket fund to the EAC, noting the significant support the Partnership Fund has given to the EAC including: financial support to the Implementation of the Customs Union and Common Market Protocols; Private Sector development; finalization of the One-Stop Border Post regulations; negotiations and finalization of the EAC Monetary Union Protocol; institutional strengthening including the EAC Institutional Review; enhancing public awareness of the EAC; and development of EAC Vision 2050 among many other projects that have been completed or currently ongoing.
The Secretary General further disclosed to the Heads of the Diplomatic missions that the use of Video-Conferencing facilities at EAC has significantly reduced the need for physical meetings by one third, resulting in huge cost savings.
The EAC Chief called upon Trademark East Africa to join the Partnership Fund in order to better synchronize prioritization of EAC integration projects. Dr. Sezibera urged the Development Partners to provide technical and financial support to South Sudan being a young country joining the EAC.
In her welcome remarks, Amb. Kaarstad, on behalf of the Development Partners thanked the outgoing EAC Secretary General for the constructive cooperation and tirelessly promoting the work of the EAC as established in the Treaty and protocols.
“The large turnout this afternoon is a testament to a strong and continued interest in the EAC’s role and in the regional integration processes”, said Amb Kaarstad.
Amb. Kaarstad further emphasized, “the accomplishments of the Secretary General span all pillars of the EAC integration. The benefits of easier movement of people, goods, services and capital are the results. The EAC has under Dr Sezibera progressed in eliminating Non-Tariff Barriers, harmonizing common and external tariffs as well as standards and quality”.
Amb. Kaarstad noted that although the Development Partners account for 43% of final budget at the EAC, a small portion of this goes through the Partnership Fund.