East African Community Secretariat, Bujumbura, Burundi, November 3, 2017:
A two-day workshop on the Integrated Corridor Development Initiative—Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme organized by the East African Community and the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency in close collaboration with the World Bank is underway at the Le Panoramique Hotel in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The objectives of the workshop are threefold: to identify and support project packaging to be included in the Programme for matching with available funds and additional fund mobilization; identify the next steps to finalize programme design and move to its implementation, and; identify potential Development Partners and investors to support the programme.
The workshop will give an opportunity to Partner States and regional organizations to highlight the projects they would like to be considered under the LTTP. In addition, Development Partners will also make presentations on projects they are committed to support.
Opening the workshop, Burundi’s Minister for Transport, Public Works and Equipment, Hon Jean Bosco Ntunzwenimana, underscored the importance of infrastructure development in the region and called for more financial support from stakeholders both in public and private sectors to implement all the project under Lake Tanganyika Programme.
Hon. Ntunzwenimana thanked the World Bank for supporting the Integrated Corridor Development initiative in and its continued commitment in supporting the implementation of the intermodal projects.
The Minister said improving connective infrastructure and removing policy barriers to trade can help drive economic diversification, the creation of new jobs and poverty reduction. He challenged member states to improve the regional transport network, in sustainable manner because it is essential for competitive and improved integration into the region and global market.
On his part, the EAC Director General—Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, said that the Community recognizes that an integrated and efficient transport system is critical for attaining socio-economic development at the desired pace.
Mr. Bagamuhunda noted that the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme represents yet another coordinated initiative between Partners States, Development Partners and Regional Organizations to deliver an integrated, efficient and cost effective transport system in the regions.
The Director General (DG) who represented the EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko emphasized the importance of infrastructure and efficient transport systems to the regional economic development in the EAC remains imperative.
“It is also apparent that required investment to deliver infrastructure projects to bridge the existing infrastructure deficit at a desired pace, cannot be achieved single-handedly by respective Governments,” added the DG.
Mr. Bagamuhunda commended the World Bank for their commitment to support the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme.
The World Bank, Country Director in Burundi, Mr. Nestor Coffi, said that the Bank recognizes that regional integration plays a critical role in connecting people to markets, both within Africa and the global economy.
He reaffirmed Bank’s commitment to support the Riparian Countries, EAC, Central Corridor for Transport and Trade Facilitation, as well as Lake Tanganyika Authority, to design and implement infrastructure development programmes.
NOTES TO EDITORS
In 2014, the East African Community in collaboration with the World Bank commissioned a study to define an Integrated Corridor Development in EAC Countries (the Intermodal Strategy). The Strategy was endorsed for implementation during the Heads of State Retreat on Infrastructure Development and Financing held in Nairobi on 29th November 2014. The Strategy identified a mix of physical and institutional interventions to facilitate the implementation of an efficient and cost effective inter-modal transport system along the East African corridors.
The interventions have been packaged into a program for Integrated Corridor Development in EAC Countries comprising of (i) Lake Victoria Transport Program, (ii) Lake Tanganyika Transport Program (iii) Capacity building interventions and (iv) Restoring and strengthening of the physical infrastructure for ports and surface transport system. Implementation of the LVTP under this program has already commenced and the 2ndphase of the integrated corridor initiative will involve implementation of projects under the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme.
Initiatives for integrated corridor development have also been undertaken by the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) along the Central Corridor. In March 2015, the Central Corridor Presidential Round Table endorsed the Corridor Acceleration Initiative and tasked the Central Corridor Secretariat to coordinated resource mobilization to implement the identified programme. In the course of implementation of the corridor Acceleration initiative, a Central Corridor High Level Consultative Meeting held in July 2017 Kigoma, Tanzania; prioritized and developed an Action Plan for the ‘’Lake Tanganyika Integrated Transport Programme.
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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 East African Community Bujumbura, Burundi, 1st November, 2017:
The East African Community Secretary General, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko, on Tuesday addressed the Media on the upcoming Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme workshop to be held from 2nd to 3rd November, 2017 in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The Secretary General was accompanied by the Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers and Uganda’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Affairs, Rt Hon. Kirunda Kivejinja, the Executive Secretary of Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency, Captain Dieudonne Dukundane, and the Executive Director of Lake Tanganyika Authority, Engineer Nibirantije Jean-Marie.
Speaking at the press conference Amb. Mfumukeko said he was delighted at the take-off of the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme saying the programme would yield tangible benefits for ordinary East Africans.
“Lake Tanganyika is uniquely placed to provide intermodal linkages between Tripartite Regional Economic blocks of EAC, COMESA and SADC and therefore a critical conduit not only for transport needs but also for wider economic benefits,” said Amb. Mfumukeko.
Amb. Mfumukeko told the press that the World Bank had committed about US$500 million to support the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme. He however called for more support from other Development Partners by way of project uptakes, co-financing and blending.
The Secretary General said that Investment in infrastructure projects continues to receive the utmost political attention by the EAC Heads of States as expressed during their biennial retreats on infrastructure development and financing.
He said successful implementation of the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme was expected to result into numerous benefits for the riparian states and the communities around the Lake.
On his part, the EAC Council of Ministers Chairperson, Rt Hon Kirunda Kivejinja, thanked the World Bank for supporting the Integrated Corridor Development initiative in EAC through the Intermodal Strategy.
He assured East Africans that the Community was fully committed to putting in place an integrated transport system with the Lake Tanganyika Transport Programme as part of the system.
“I wish to re-affirm the EAC’s commitment to building an efficient and reliable transport infrastructure that will spur economic growth and development throughout East Africa,” said Hon. Kivejinja.
The Executive Secretary of the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency, Captain Dieudonne Dukundane, emphasized the importance of Lake Tanganyika in providing intermodal linkages between the EAC, COMESA and SADC.
Captain Dukundane said Lake Tanganyika was critical for promoting movement of people and goods within the East African region.
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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 31st October, 2017:
The 27th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP) is currently underway in Arusha, Tanzania.
The five-day meeting started with the Session of Senior Officials which was scheduled for October 30th and 31st, 2017 followed by the Coordination Committee comprising Permanent/Principal Secretaries from 1st November to 2nd November, 2017. The meeting will be capped by the Ministerial Session which will take place on Friday, 3rd November, 2017.
Among the items on the agenda of the meeting are:
Consideration of report on the Implementation of previous decisions of the SCMEACP;
Consideration of the report on the status of integration for the period July 2016 – June 2017;
Consideration of a Progress Report on the Status of Implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol;
Consideration of a Progress Report on COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Arrangement;
Consideration of the Draft 5th EAC Development Strategy (2016/17-2020/21);
Consideration of the key priority areas for the FY2018/19;
Consideration of the Progress Report on the Development of a Roadmap for the Integration of the Republic of South Sudan into the EAC;
Consideration of the Progress Report on the Status of Implementation of the EAC Brand Architecture Strategy, and;
Consideration of EAC Audit and Risk Committee Matters
The Session of Senior Officials is being chaired by Dr. Andrew Musiime, Director of EAC Affairs at the Ministry of EAC Affairs in the Republic of Uganda. Uganda is the current Chair of the Community.
The Session was officially opened by the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Steven Mlote.
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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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 23rd October 2017:
The East African Community Short Term Election Observation Mission to Kenya’s 26th October Presidential Election has been launched in Nairobi, Kenya.
Launching the exercise this morning, the Head of the Mission, Hon. Prof. Edward B. Rugumayo commended the people of Kenya for being an example in the region on the promotion of the rule of law through use of judicial processes to address electoral disputes, respect for governance institutions and an open space for political competition and contestation so far exhibited.
The Head of the Mission noted that the forthcoming Presidential Election in Kenya was unique and the first of its kind in the region where a Presidential Election is repeated as a result of Court decision.
He urged the EAC Observers to remain focused to their role and professionalism as they undertake the mission and ensure thorough exercise of due diligence in thier tasks and positive discretion in making judgements on the situation on the ground.
“By its very nature it is expected that this election carries with it a heavy sense of emotion and anxiety among the difference stakeholders and therefore no wonder that tension and elements of violence is being reported in some parts of the country”, asserted the Head of Mission.
He therefore urged the EAC Observers to be cautious of the emotions in regards to the personal and collective conducts and always remember that as International Observers, their mandates and limits were well stipulated by the International Election Observation Standards, as well as the EAC Principles for Elections Observation and Evaluation.
The Mission Leader was optimistic that the whole process will be peaceful and successful and will forever remain a reference point of best practice in electioneering in the EAC region and beyond. He wished the Kenyan people peaceful, free and fair elections as they exercise their rights to choose the Leader of their choice.
At the same occasion, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge, reiterated that the Kenya democracy was advancing and the adherence to the rule of law and democratic principles and respect of Institutions was growing in the same measure.
He said Kenyans will go back to the polls on 26th October 2017 to elect the President in fulfilment of the requirements of the very laws governing democratic dispensation on elections.
The EAC official said nullification by the Supreme Court of Kenya of the outcome of the Presidential election of 8th August 2017 is a testimony to the operational independence the Constitution of Kenya grants to the Organs of governance, which is an important example in the region on the promotion of the rule of law through use of judicial processes to address disputes of all kinds.
“The repeat elections are thus a sacrifice Kenyans have to bear in promotion of democracy, access to justice and rule of law”, affirmed the EAC Deputy Secretary General.
Notes to Editors
The Observation Mission is partly a continuation of the August 2017 mission that was deployed to observe the General Elections in Kenya. It is also partly a result of developments that took place after the declaration of the Presidential Election result of August 2017 where the Supreme Court of Kenya annulled the same results.
As the EAC commitment to fulfil the obligation of enhancing democratic principles as enshrined in the Articles 3 (3)(c) and 123 6(d) of the Treaty, the Community is deploying again to observe this presidential election in accordance with the EAC Principles for Elections Observation and Evaluation and Council decision.
The Mission comprises over 60 members, drawn from Electoral Management Bodies, National Legislative Assemblies, members of the Former East African Legislative Assembly, National Human Rights Commissions, Civil Society, EAC Youth Ambassadors and the EAC Secretariat. The Mission will be deployed in most of the Constituencies in the Republic of Kenya.
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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 1st EAC Development Partners Consultative Forum kicked off at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania today.
The EAC called the forum purposely to share with Development Partners the 5th EAC Development Strategy and priorities for the Financial Year 2018/2019.
Speaking when he officially opened the forum, EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said that the EAC had significantly strengthened its financial systems and procedures.
Amb. Mfumukeko disclosed that the Community had largely attained most of its objectives under the 4th Development Strategy, its implementation had suffered from inadequate financial resources.
“Development Partners’ contribution to the EAC Budget for the last five years remained almost constant for financial years 2012/13 and 2013/14, increased in 2014/15 and started decreasing in 2015/16 and significantly went down in 2016/17,” said the SG.
The SG said that despite the challenges, the Community had registered a number of achievements including the establishment of an interim Projects Coordination Unit to improve the management of donor-funded projects in the EAC.
The SG further said that the EAC had already recruited a Fund Manager for the Partnership Fund who has since reported for work, adding that this would enhance the management of the Fund and increase its efficiency.
“The Partnership Fund is a very special vehicle for EAC in terms of coordinating Development Partner support. It has continuously played a pivotal and catalytic role in supporting activities geared towards accelerating the Community’s agenda since its inception 10 years ago,” he said.
The 5th Development Strategy has seven key Priority Areas including: the consolidation of the Single Customs Territory to cover all imports and intra-EAC traded goods, particularly agricultural and other widely consumed products; infrastructure development; enhancing free movement of all factors of production as envisaged in the Common Market Protocol, and; enhancement of regional industrial development.
Other priority areas are: improvement of agricultural productivity, value addition and facilitation of movement of agricultural goods to enhance food security; promotion of regional peace, security and good governance, and; Institutional transformation at the regional and Partner States levels.
On the upcoming presidential election in the Republic of Kenya, Amb. Mfumukeko urged the Kenyan electorate to uphold the country’s pride as a regional leader by conducting their election peacefully on 26th October, 2017.
In his remarks, Danish Ambassador to Tanzania and the EAC Einar Jensen said that Partner States would eventually take full control of funding the Community and urged them to remit their contributions to the EAC in time.
Amb. Jensen, who is also the Chair of the Partnership Fund, observed that funding levels to the EAC had been on the decline over the years, adding that this was not healthy for the Community’s financial situation.
“There is need for immediate intervention to address this situation. The Development Partners remain optimistic that together with steady, persistent effort, with strong principled commitments and hope, we will resist the challenges and emerge as stronger and truly collaborative partners,” said the Danish envoy.
Amb. Jensen said that misalignment between the EAC Medium Term Expenditure Framework and activities/projects approved by the donors have increasingly posed challenges in implementation of annual work plans, including notorious delays in approving the annual plans,” he said, adding that this has at times led to poor performance and a series of negative impacts.
He said that the potential of EAC as a region lay in the possibility of making it a truly single market, free from barriers, unnecessary tariffs, mutual understanding, predictable business environment in addition to peace and stability.
“It is out of such space the Partner States will do business and grow businesses, and create value and companies that will last and that will help to build a great future for the region. The Development Partners are determined to be that partner to accelerate the next era of East African growth for all East Africans,” said Amb. Jensen.
“The EAC is expected to be a real stimulant of growth and enrichment of the EAC people. We would like to see the EAC as a booming, growing, thriving market, where we can do business and where you have a young population that is surging. We are your partners in making this a reality,” he added.
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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.
EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko today held talks with Dr. Stephen Bainous Kargbo, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Representative to Tanzania, Mauritius and EAC.
EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko (right) presents a gift to Dr. Stephen Bainous Kargbo, UNIDO Representative to Tanzania, Mauritius and EAC at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha. The two had earlier discussed issues of competitiveness, innovation and value addition within the industrial sector in East Africa.
EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko (second right) in a group photo with the NIDO Representative to Tanzania, Mauritius and EAC, Dr. Stephen Kargbo, and other officials of UNIDO and EAC in Arusha.
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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.
East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 14th October, 2017:
Floods, landslides, drought and conflicts are some of the major factors that trigger disasters that cause people to flee from their homes within the East African Community.
EAC Deputy Secretary General (DSG) in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon. Jesca Eriyo, said that East Africans also move into areas prone to natural hazards, particularly urban centres on floodplains, rivers exposed to floods and along coastlines exposed to cyclones and storms.
Hon. Eriyo said that many East Africans remained vulnerable to natural hazards due to factors associated with poverty including lack of knowledge, technology to adapt or to be adequately prepared for disasters.
“Environmental degradation, growing human populations, unsustainable exploitation of environmental resources and poor land use planning are the other predisposing factors. The region is equally predisposed to manmade disasters such as urban fires, water pollution, HIV and AIDS and outbreaks of disease epidemics,” said the DSG.
Hon. Eriyo said that most of the affected populations were generally poor and unable to pay for more secure pieces of land and build stronger houses.
The DSG disclosed that data on displacement in the EAC region indicates that internally displaced populations were on the rise with South Sudan leading with 281,000 people, Kenya 40,000, Tanzania 38,000 and Uganda 23,000, adding that there were no statistics for Burundi and Rwanda.
“Research shows that the impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and environmental degradation will increase displacement risk further. All these occurrences continue to remind us of the potentially harmful effects of global warming and the need to adopt an ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction Approach,” said Hon. Eriyo.
She cited the ongoing drought in the Greater Horn of Africa region, the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that hit North West Tanzania, the Mount Elgon landslide as some of the recent disasters whose impacts were still being felt in the region.
Hon. Eriyo was speaking when she presided over an occasion to mark the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
She said EAC Partner States had switched emphasis from managing disasters to managing disaster risks as outlined in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) – a global instrument adopted in Sendai, Japan in 2015.
The SFDRR is framework is a disaster response mechanism with a two-pronged strategy to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): reducing disaster mortality and reducing the numbers of people affected by disasters.
“The EAC has made positive moves in integrating DRR into its policies and programmes. In addressing disasters, Partner States have established DRR comprehensive policy frameworks, enacted several legislations and formed DRR platforms that guide interventions in DRR,” she said.
She said the EAC had developed DRR institutions and instruments including the EAC DRR Strategy, adding that the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Act that was recently passed by the East African Legislative Assembly had provisions for displaced persons among other things.
“The EAC has established Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit that will be supervised director by the Secretary General. The Unit will play a key role in the implementation of the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction Act and the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the region,” said Ms. Eriyo.
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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.
East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 14th October, 2017:
The East African Community Secretariat has embarked on the training of officers from all state agencies and players operating on all One Stop Border Posts (OSBPS) in the region.
The first beneficiaries of the training were 30 officers and stakeholders at the Lunga Lunga/Horohoro OSBP on the border between Kenya and Tanzania.
Speaking when he opened the training workshop, Mr. Alfred Kitolo, Director of Productive and Services Sector at Kenya’s State Department of East African Community Integration said that the operationalization of the OSBPs would act as a catalyst in promoting trade and investments among EAC Partner States.
Noting that OSBPs will significantly alter the way business was conducted at the borders, Mr. Kitolo said that for OSBPs to operate effectively, it was important to involve traders, regular border post users and communities in the proximity of the border posts, adding that this would secure buy-in and ownership of all stakeholders.
Mr. Kitolo said it was expected that once border posts would improve efficiency by between 30% - 40% once became operational.
“The OSBPs also aim to improve on enforcement efficiency through cooperation, sharing of intelligence and better resource utilization. By working side-by-side, cooperation is enhanced and communication made easier,” said Mr. Kitolo, adding that the concept also provides for sharing of ideas, information and experiences.
“By way of example, the OSBP concept can be used to combat fraud by enabling easier and faster clearance of goods on the basis of a single customs declaration, thereby preventing the substitution of one set of documents with another,” he said.
The beneficiaries of the four-day training included officers from the departments of immigration, customs, police, wildlife service, directorate of criminal investigations, intelligence services, fisheries, agriculture and livestock, clearing agencies, port and plant health inspectorate services, and bureaus of standards from the two countries.
Mr. Stephen Analo, the Customs Training Expert at the EAC Secretariat said that the training targets 450 Customs Officers and cross border stakeholders.
“We are training at least 30 for each of the 15 formal OSBP and train at least 30 OSBP facilitators through conducting training of trainers’ (TOT) sessions. We have already trained 12 officials through TOTs. We will also mainstream the OSBP training in the EAC training programme at the national level,” said Mr. Analo.
The OSBP training programme will be effected over a period of nine months stretching from October 2017 to June 2018.
“The objectives of OSBPs are to, among other things, achieve smoother flow of East African citizens across the region and facilitate by combining border clearance activities in a single location, reducing transit delays, simplifying clearance procedures, as well as fostering data and intelligence sharing,” said Mr. Analo.
Mr. Analo said that the EAC Secretariat has since 2016 been involved in the development of a harmonized training tool for the OSBPs.
“The objective of having one regional training tool is to create the same cadre of personnel in the six Partner States with the necessary skills and competencies to operationalize and manage OSBPs,” he said.
“Through common training, the officers from different backgrounds brought under roof through the implementation of the OSBPs can have the level of information, understanding and attitude and therefore able to work more smoothly and harmoniously,” he added.
The EAC regional training curriculum on OSBPs is the result of joint efforts between the Secretariat, Partner States and Development Partners, namely GIZ, TradeMark East Africa, International Organization for Migration and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
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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 East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO),Kigali, Rwanda, October 13th, 2017:
Permanent Secretaries of Ministries responsible for East African Community Affairs (MEACA), held a two-day meeting at EASTECO Headquarters to discuss the EASTECO Strategic Plan and Priority Programmes, starting on Wednesday 11th October 2017.
The delegation include Mrs. Edith N. Mwanje, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of EAC Uganda, Mr. Claude Nikobisanzwe, Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community, Rwanda, Amb. Ali Idi Siwa, Tanzanian High Commissioner to Rwanda, Mr. Nshunguyinka John, Director of Social Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community, Rwanda, Mr. Musiime Andrew Director of EAC Affairs in Ministry of East African Community Affairs (MEACA) Uganda.
The meeting was also joined by Mr. Badru Ntege, the EASTECO Governing Board Chairman.
In her welcome remarks, Ms. Gertrude Ngabirano, the EASTECO Executive Secretary, informed the meeting on the status of development and implementation of the EASTECO 5-year Strategic Plan, 2017/18 - 2021/22, as well as the ongoing EASTECO regional activities in Science, Technology and Innovation for the FY 2017/18, including the development of a Regional Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation, the establishment of an EAC Journal on Science, Technology and Innovation and organizing the Second EAC Regional E-Health and Telemedicine Workshop, Ministerial Conference and International Trade Exhibition, 2018.
The Permanent Secretaries made recommendations to enable the smooth implementation of the EASTECO strategic plan including mechanisms for funding Regional Programmes in Science, Technology and Innovation. They underscored the need for a coordinated regional approach in harnessing gains in science and technology including putting in place an enabling environment at the regional level.
The permanent secretaries recognised that high levels of investment in research and innovation are essential for economic competitiveness in areas such as agricultural value addition, healthcare, energy technologies and ICT which have high potential to make immediate and tangible improvements to quality of life of the population in the EAC partner states. The further underscored the commitment of the EAC Partner States to promote the development and use of science and technology in solving socio-economic development challenges.
Mrs. Edith N. Mwanje expressed her gratitude to the Government of Rwanda for hosting EASTECO and their commitment to provide land for the Commission to build its headquarters. She reiterated the EAC Partner States commitment to guide organs and institutions in their collaboration in harmonizing their activities. She further expressed the commitment of Partner States to make Science and Technology a key enabler of social economic development and achievement of regional integration agenda.
The delegation also visited Positive GBH which is assembling laptops and other electronics, K-Lab and FabLab which constitute an ICT Hub and Incubator in Rwanda.
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For more information, please contact:
Richard Irakoze Communication Assistant The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), 2nd Floor Telecom House, Kacyiru, Kigali, Rwanda Mobile: +250 783047164 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; C.C. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About EASTECO
The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) was established as an institution of the EAC, with an overall objective of “promoting and coordinating the development, management and application of Science and Technology in Partner States” composed with the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda.
It is a semi-autonomous institution of the EAC established by the 5th Extra-ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State held on 18th June 2007,in accordance with Chapter 16, Article 103 (a) of the Treaty on the Establishment of the East African Community, where the Partner States undertook to promote cooperation in the development of Science & Technology within the Community.
EASTECO Headquarters are in Kigali, Rwanda, 2nd Floor Telecom House, Kacyiru.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha. 13th October, 2017:
The East African Community will join the rest of the world in celebrating the 2017 International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) on 13th October, 2017. The event will take place at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The overall objective of the IDDR celebration is to create awareness and promote a culture of disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness in the EAC region, and promote best practices at regional level and across all sectors to reduce disaster with a particular focus on reducing the numbers of people at risk and disaster losses.
The UN General Assembly has designated 13th October as IDDR. Since it began 25 years ago, the day has grown into a major global awareness event celebrated in many ways to recognize progress and encourage efforts to build more disaster-resilient communities and nations.
The IDDR is an opportunity to acknowledge the substantial progress being made towards reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries. Such an outcome is the aim of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, a global instrument adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan in March 2015.
The 2017 IDDR is the Second year of “The Sendai Seven” Campaign and the focus on the day will be Target (b) of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction whose focus is on reducing the numbers of people affected by disasters by reducing exposure and displacement. The theme of the day is “HOME SAFE HOME…A home saved is a family saved from displacement, poverty, injury and ill health.” This implies protection against injury, against ill health and loss of livelihood by minimizing disasters risks.
“Home Safe Home” slogan for IDDR in 2017 was adopted following a year in which 24.2 million of new displacements by disasters were recorded by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). A key focus of the campaign is on the issue of disaster-related displacement and what can be done to protect people in the home and workplace from disasters, and to make these locations more resilient to disasters. This is a key challenge in many hazard-exposed parts of the world but notably in low and middle-income countries
The EAC Celebration is expected to come up with an increased awareness of the Sendai Framework and a key target; a greater focus on risk-informed investment in housing stock and slum upgrading; protective measures and the importance of reducing injury and ill-health as consequences of disaster events; a greater focus on protecting livelihoods and places of work in hazard-prone areas; and an increased awareness on the role everyone/ every sector can play in reducing disaster risk.
The celebration will include an EAC Statement on the occasion of the IDD, to be published, a seminar and other activities involving community participation and cooperation. EAC internal stakeholders namely Productive and Social Sectors, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Security, Human resources and Administration, and Corporate communication will technically contribute to the success of the event.
NOTES TO EDITORS
EAC region is vulnerable to disasters
The EAC sub-region like any other region in the world is suffering from Disasters that are caused by natural and manmade hazards. The East Africa region is prone to natural hazards such floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, strong winds, lightening and their secondary impacts of diseases and epidemics making the region the most vulnerable and least resilient to disasters. This is attributable to climate change impacts, Geographic situation (Western Rift, volcanoes, earthquake, hilly...), Poverty: including lack of knowledge, technology to adapt, or to be prepared to Disasters, environmental degradation, growing human populations, over and unsustainable exploitation of environmental resources and poor land use planning among other factors.
The region is equally predisposed to manmade disasters such as urban fires, environmental degradation, water pollution, HIV and Aids and outbreaks of disease epidemics. Pest infestation, Conflicts, fires, livestock diseases, Terrorism Environmental degradation (desertification, pollution, soil erosion, etc.), lightning, wind-storms, hailstorms, are also common hazards of the region. Drought and Floods are the most frequent disasters in the region. Drought and its associated famine has become a major setback to economic development due to its direct impacts on the lives and livelihoods and caused homeless, sometimes called Climate Refugees. Floods and conflicts are the most current causes of displacement. Those hazards have for a long time reversed economic gains whereby resources meant for development programmes have to be diverted to fight drought emergencies
EAC achievements in Disaster Risk Reduction
The EAC has made positive moves in integrating DRR into policies and programmes. In addressing Disasters Partner States have established DRR comprehensive Policy frameworks, enacted several legislations and formed DRR Platforms that guide interventions in DRR. The fourth EAC Development Strategy (2011-2016) also emphasizes on the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action and the Africa Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction. The EAC Climate Change Policy emphasize on DRR as a tool for climate change adaptation. A Climate Change Strategy and a Climate Change Master Plan are being implemented. The EAC region developed DRR institutions and instruments including the EAC DRR Strategy. The EAC DRRM Act that was recently passed b EALA has provisions of other institutions that include the DRRM Board, the DRRM Authority and the DRRM Fund.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk reduction
The Sendai Framework was adopted by the United Nations (UN) Member States at the 3rd UN World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in March 2015 in Sendai, Japan and endorsed by the UN General Assembly. The aim of the Sendai Framework is to achieve „The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries‟ by 2030 through progress monitored with indicators against seven global targets.
These targets aim to reduce: (a) mortality, (b) the number of affected people, (c) economic losses, and (d) critical infrastructure damage; and increase; (e) the number of national and local disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, (f) level of international cooperation, and (g) availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments. To attain those targets, the Sendai Framework has defined 4 priorities: 1)Understanding Disaster Risk, 2) Strengthening Disaster Risk governance to manage disaster Risk, 3) investing in Disaster Risk reduction, and 4) enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to build back better in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The Sendai Seven Campaign
The year 2016 saw the launch by the UN Secretary-General of “The Sendai Seven Campaign” to promote each of the seven targets over seven years. This year’s target is focused on prevention, protection and reducing the number of people affected by disasters, Target (b). It concerns the safety of all but particularly those at greater risk of death, injury, ill-health, loss of livelihood, displacement and lack of access to basic services from disaster events including women and children, people living with disabilities, and older persons. These groups have varying degrees of exposure to disaster events and also need to be included in disaster risk management planning.
The International Day’s rallying cry implies all this but focuses on the primal importance of the family home as a sanctuary and safe refuge in times of disaster with a particular focus on preventing displacement. The Campaign will also encompass the other key indicators for Target The Sendai Seven Campaign is an opportunity for governments, local governments, UN agencies and all stakeholders including the private sector, science and technology partners, community groups, civil society organisations, international organisations, to promote and advertise best practice at international, regional and national level across all sectors, to reduce disaster risk and disaster losses.
October 13th: International Day for Disaster Reduction
The United Nations General Assembly has designated 13 October as International Day for Disaster Reduction to promote a global culture of disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness. Since it began 25 years ago, the day has grown into a major global awareness event celebrated in many ways to recognize progress and encourage efforts to build more disaster-resilient communities and nations.
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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.
