East African Community, Sandton, South Africa 13th November, 2019: The East African Community (EAC) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) signed a strategic partnership agreement at the African Investment Forum in South Africa.
The strategic partnership with EAC will enable the DBSA to support collaborative initiatives that will crowd-in resources for the development of infrastructure that promotes regional integration. The partners will also work together on project preparation and ultimately co-financing of projects and capacity building.
East African Community Headquarters, Kigali , Rwanda 13th November, 2019: The East African Community (EAC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariats have come up with position papers to guide negotiations of the Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN) for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) also known as Conference of Parties (COP25) set for 2-13 December 2019 in Madrid, Spain.
The Position papers were agreed upon during a two-day regional technical consultative workshop in Kigali on 8 – 9 November 2019. The Secretariats, both beneficiaries of the European Union’s ACP’s Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) grant, jointly organized the Pre-COP25 technical meeting to come up with regional position papers consolidated from national positions of their respective member countries for submission to the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) to guide Africa in the negotiations during COP25 sessions.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 9th November, 2019: The 2nd East African Community Development Partner’ Group (DPG) Thematic Groups (TGs) meeting on Infrastructure and Economic Integration was convened at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The key objective of the thematic groups meeting was to discuss thematic strategic issues in details, while ensuring alignment with Development Partners’ respective strategic goals and also resource implications.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 6th November, 2019: The People’s Republic of China has made a commitment to give the East African Community 12 cars worth US$400,000 to be used in various capacity building programmes at the Community.
Making the announcement, Mr. Liang Lin, the Political Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, said that China was keen on working with the EAC in, among other fields, education, infrastructure development, trade, prevention of Ebola, peace and security, and capacity building initiatives.
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 2ND EAC JOINT MINISTERIAL, DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS’ AND INVESTORS’ ROUNDTABLE ON INVESTMENT IN HEALTH
THEME: ENHANCING HEALTH SECTOR INVESTMENTS, WELLBEING AND WEALTH CREATION IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
HILTON HOTEL, NAIROBI, REPUBLIC OF KENYA
1st NOVEMBER 2019
We, the Ministers responsible for Health in the EAC Partner States in collaboration with Investors, Development Partners, Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations’ Leaders, assembled here in Nairobi City, Republic of Kenya, today the 1st of November, 2019, for the 2nd EAC Joint Ministerial, Development Partners and Investors’ Roundtable on Investment in Health;
Noting that the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community provides for the promotion of the management of health delivery systems and better planning mechanisms to enhance efficiency within the Partner States;
Further noting that significant strides have been made in the development of policies to enhance cooperation in health and observing that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, target 3.8 on achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), especially access to quality essential health care services, equity and financial risk protection;
Acknowledging that Universal Health Coverage is only achievable if there is political commitment from the Partners States and accountable governance in the policy making and service delivery process;
Concerned that external funding in health especially vertical programs such as HIV, TB, Malaria and immunization, is expected to decline over the coming years and could affect the gains made in health for the EAC Partner states;
Appreciating the continued support and commitment from the health development partners, Investors, Civil Society Organizations and the Private Sector;
Concerned about the high level of out of pocket expenditure for health services in the EAC region, for Partner States, compared to the recommended WHO threshold of 20%, and leading to catastrophic expenditures and later on to impoverishment of families,
Recognising that health is wealth and that investing in health is the cornerstone for socioeconomic transformation;
We, the Ministers responsible for Health in the EAC Partner States, in collaboration with Investors, Development Partners, Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations’ Leaders, on this First day of November 2019 hereby resolve to:
Continue to provide leadership and support in the implementation of the Health Sector investment priorities especially the operationalisation of the EAC Regional Centers of Excellence in Partner States;
Explore and implement innovative financing mechanisms to increase domestic resources for health in Partner States
Continue to support the strengthening of EAC regional capacities for infrastructure and human resources development for the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery from epidemic prone infectious diseases
Support mechanisms geared towards strengthening health professional regulatory bodies to ensure availability and performance of qualified and skilled workforce for the delivery of quality health care services;
Strengthen the capacities of National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs) to improve access to quality, efficacious and affordable medicines in Partner States in line with the EAC decision;
Oversee the conduct of regular performance review, the generation of evidence for knowledge management and evaluation of programs in the health sector to inform policies for better delivery of quality health care;
Support the implementation of the digital health initiatives in Partner States for efficient health care service delivery;
Enhance Investors, Private Sector, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders engagement through Public Private Partnership to support governments towards better health care service delivery and attainment of Universal Health Coverage;
Sustain efforts in advocating for increased domestic financing for the Health Sector;
Promote and coordinate the establishment of an accountability framework for all health sector stakeholders.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 1st November, 2019: The East African Community in collaboration with the US Agency for International Development Kenya/East Africa (USAID/KEA) have launched a new programme for the conservation and sustainable use of East Africa’s natural capital.
The Conservation and Management of the Region's Natural Capital Programme is an initiative that seeks to improve the collaborative management and conservation of trans-boundary natural resources, reduce wildlife poaching and trafficking, and increase the perceived value of living wildlife.
East African Court of Justice, Arusha, Tanzania, 1st November, 2019: The First Instance Division Thursday heard case Reference No. 8 of 2018, a matter challenging the Constitutional Court of Uganda for an inordinate delay in delivering justice in a criminal case. The case which was filed by Hassan Bassajabalaba and Bassajabalaba Muzamiru, (Applicants) who are both Ugandans versus the Attorney General of the Republic of Uganda sued on behalf of the Government of Uganda.
The Applicants are seeking a permanent injunction restraining the Government of Uganda, its agents or persons claiming through it from re-instating prosecution of the Applicants, and staying all criminal charges and proceedings against the Applicants.
...as region looks to mobilize USD$3.5 billion for Nine (9) Health Sector Priorities
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 31st October 2019: The Chairperson of EAC the Sectoral Council on Health and Minister of State In charge of Public Health and Primary Health in Rwanda, Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi has said investment in health is critical for ensuring human and socio-economic development in East Africa.
“As we invest in health, it’s my conviction that our investments are made in strategic areas, that offer maximum value for money and benefit to the people of East Africa,” said Dr. Ndimubanzi.
The Minister called for stronger partnerships that leverage the unique skills and resources of governments, civil society, and the private sector to improve the delivery of health services in the region.
East African Court of Justice, Arusha, Tanzania, 31st October, 2019: The First Instance Division of the Court allowed Application No. 6 of 2019 filed by the Attorney General (AG) of the Republic of Uganda seeking court to enlarge time within which the response to the case (Reference) may be served to the Applicant in the interest of justice. The Court in its ruling, exercised its discretion under Rule 4 of the Court’s Rules of Procedure to grant the request.
Court allowing the Application followed the dismissal of Application No. 4 of 2019 filed by the Applicant (Mabirizi) seeking court to strike out the said Response to the Case (Reference) off the record of the Court on grounds that; the AG did file and serve his response within forty five (45) days as by the law, that the supporting documents of the impugned response were not filed together, that the response and affidavit in reply contain general and evasive denials, are frivolous and vexatious and the affidavit contains irrelevant and scandalous material.
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
