The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism) and other international, regional and sub-regional organizations in Arusha, including the African Court for Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Institute of International Law; the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption, the East African Community and its Organs and Institutions, the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute, and the Pan African Postal Union, will host the second Arusha International Organizations Open Day on Saturday, 3 November 2018.
Similar to last year, this year’s event will take place from 10:00 to 17:00 at the premises of the Mechanism at Lakilaki, Arusha, Tanzania.During the Open Day, the public will have the opportunity to listen to welcoming speeches from Mechanism Judge William H. Sekule, the Heads of the International Organizations, and from the guest of honour, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Hon. Dr. Augustine Mahiga, or his representative, as well as from the Regional Commissioner for Arusha and the Lord Mayor of the city of Arusha.
Following these speeches, there will be a variety of presentations through the course of the day at the courtroom and the stands of the respective international organizations.As part of the programme, presentations will be given by representatives of the Mechanism, including by Judge Sekule.
In addition, documentaries produced by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) will be screened, including the documentaries entitled “Justice Today” and “The Path to Reconciliation.
The public will also have the opportunity to visit an exhibition at the library about the rich archives of the ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
There will also be a medical team present to conduct free medical check-ups, as well as a children’s corner with activities for the younger visitors.
The Arusha International Organization’s Open Day is an annual event which aims to provide the general public with an opportunity to learn more about the mandate and functioning of the various international institutions based in Arusha. Snacks and refreshment will be served.
Getting to the IRMCT
The easiest way to get to the Mechanism by public transportation will be as follows:
Route 1: Njiro – Kijenge – City Center – Nairobi Road Junction – Lakilaki, Kisongo Pick-up Points
i. Arusha Institute of Accountancy ii. Impala Roundabout iii. Clock Tower Roundabout iv. Nairobi Road Junction – Lakilaki, Kisongo
i. Kimandolu Cette Garden ii. Phillips iii. Sanawari iv. Clock Tower Roundabout – Lakilaki, Kisongo
Route 4: Ngaramtoni ya juu – Majengo – Dodoma Road – Lakilaki, Kisongo Pick-up Points
i. Ngaramtoni ya juu ii. Majengo iii. Majengo/Dodoma Road junction
-ENDS-
For more Information Contact:
Saida Joy Kessy, External Relations, Arusha Branch, UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, (Mechanism) IRMCT Haki Road, Plot No. 486 Block A, Lakilaki Area, Arumeru District, P.O. Box 6016,|Arusha, Tanzania |Office B-031, Tel: +1 212 963 2850 Ext 5013 (via New York); 179-5013, Direct: +255 27 256 5013/+255767466696 (international) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 25th October, 2018:The 5th and Final Round of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue bringing together political parties and political actors in the Burundian conflict started today at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania.
Speaking at the opening session of the Dialogue, the Facilitator to the talks, retired Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa, urged the participants to take advantage of the various roadmaps and come up with a roadmap that would incorporate basic principles for holding free and credible elections in 2020.
“Take note of the Kayanza Roadmap of 2018 and the Entebbe Roadmap of 2018 and the fact that the roadmaps are not consensual,” said President (Rtd) Mkapa.
The government and the ruling CNDD-FDD party came up with the Kayanza (II) 2018 Roadmap while the Entebbe 2018 Roadmap is a product of the country’s internal and external opposition groups.
President (Rtd) Mkapa said that his team would develop a roadmap based on the Kayanza Roadmap 2018 and the Roadmap that would be produced by the participants at the ongoing meeting.
The Facilitator expressed his displeasure at the failure by the government of Burundi to attend the 5th and Final Dialogue even though invitations were sent out to participants for the Dialogue to be held from 19th – 24th October, 2018.
“The Government requested the Dialogue to be postponed to begin from 24thOctober, 2018 onwards. The request was accepted and the Dialogue was scheduled to be held from 24th – 29th October, 2018,” he said.
The Facilitator disclosed that the Government requested again for the Dialogue to be postponed to November 2018, and asked the Facilitator to share beforehand the list of participants.
“The Government further proposed that the agenda of the Dialogue be discussions of the 2018 Kayanza Roadmap. The Facilitator could not accept such demands and excuses hence proceeded to arrange the Dialogue be held,” said President Mkapa.
“To date, there is no formal notification from the Government of Burundi on attendance,” he added.
The Facilitator urged the participants to work on a consensual roadmap to be submitted to the Summit of EAC Heads of State for consideration.
The Facilitator disclosed that the 19th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State held in Kampala, Uganda on 23rd February, 2018, expressly directed him to ensure “convergence and expeditiously conclude the Inter-Burundi Dialogue.”
He said that his intentions to expeditiously conclude the dialogue was affected by the Government of Burundi’s decision to postpone any activity related to the Dialogue until such time after the Referendum. The Referendum was held on 17thMay, 2018 and the new Constitution of Burundi was promulgated on 17th June, 2018.
After the promulgation of the Constitution, the Facilitator directed the Facilitation Team to consult with the Government of Burundi, political parties, the external opposition, civil society, youth, women, religious groups and media on the holding of the 5th Session and the possible agenda.
After the consultations, the Facilitator arrived at the view that there was a general consensus amongst most stakeholders on the need to continue with the Inter-Burundi Dialogue under the auspices of the EAC, so as to provide a platform for the Barundi to discuss pending issues and prepare a roadmap for 2020 elections.
The Facilitation Team advised the participants to consider for thematic areas in coming up with a roadmap to the 2020 general election, namely: Political Issues; Electoral Issues; Socio-economic Issues, and; Security Issues.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Summit of EAC Heads of State in 2015 appointed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as the Mediator in the Burundian conflict. In 2016, the Summit also appointed retired Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa as the Facilitator to the Burundi Dialogue.
The Kayanza I Roadmap was a UN sponsored initiative that sought to tackle issues surrounding the 2015 general election. It brought together government and other stakeholders including the ruling party and opposition parties.
Kayanza II Roadmap is largely a roadmap by government and the ruling CNDD-FDD Party towards the 2020 election.
The internal and external opposition groups who were not party to Kayanza II roadmap met in Entebbe, Uganda in September 2018 and came up with the Entebbe Roadmap to the 2020 election in Burundi.
It is this documents that the Facilitator wants the participants in the 5th Dialogue to combine into a common roadmap to the 2020 election that the Facilitator will present to the Summit of EAC Heads of State.
-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.
East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 24th October, 2018: The government of Burundi was by Wednesday evening yet to confirm its participation in the 5th and final round of the Inter-Burundian Dialogue that is aimed resolving the conflict in the country.
Amb. David Kapya who briefed the media on behalf of the Facilitator, retired Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa, said that there had been no confirmation from the government of Burundi on whether they attend the talks or not.
The talks that are being held at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge near Arusha, Tanzania have the goal of arriving at consensual roadmap towards the 2020 general election in Burundi.
The 5th and Final Round of the Burundi Dialogue, which will go up to 29thOctober, 2018, will involve the Facilitator engaging political parties and political actors in arriving at the roadmap.
Amb. Kapya, a Senior Adviser to the Facilitator, said that retired President Mkapa had so far engaged with international actors to seek their assistance in bringing all the parties to the negotiation table.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Summit of EAC Heads of State in 2015 appointed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as the Mediator in the Burundian conflict. In 2016, the Summit appointed retired Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa as the Facilitator to the Burundi Dialogue.
-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.
to host the BIOPAMA Regional Resource Hub for Biodiversity and Protected Areas in Eastern and Southern Africa
BIOPAMA is seeking a suitable host organisation for the BIOPAMA Regional Resource Hub for Biodiversity and Protected Areas in Eastern and Southern Africa. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, regionally active organisation that shares the mission of BIOPAMA and is interested in becoming part of, and helping to shape, the development of the Regional Resource Hub and supporting the delivery of its core functions.
BIOPAMA is a collaborative programme that aims to improve the long-term conservation of biodiversity in Eastern and Southern Africa by promoting the use of the best available science and knowledge and building capacity to strengthen policy and decision-making on biodiversity conservation and protected areas management and governance (terrestrial and marine). Towards this aim, the Regional Resource Hub is being established to enable the provision of relevant information and decision-support tools, to promote and facilitate exchange of information with a variety of end users (esp. decision-makers and protected area managers and practitioners). It is also intended to facilitate capacity development, as well as the exchange and improvement of knowledge about biodiversity conservation and protected area issues and responses.
The objective of this call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) is to identify organisations in the region that have an interest in hosting the Regional Resource Hub and that share the vision of BIOPAMA for Eastern and Southern Africa. IUCN and EC-JRC (European Commission Joint Research Centre) will use the submissions as a basis for selecting a host organisation and for negotiating a hosting agreement for the establishment and implementation of the Regional Resource Hub.
The hosting arrangement will be formalised through the conclusion of an Agreement between IUCN and the hosting organisation, initially for two years with potential to extend this into a second phase based on an evaluation of progress in the first two years.
Expressions of Interest should be submitted by midnight (Pretoria, South Africa time) on Sunday, 25th November 2018.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 23rd October, 2018: The 2nd East African Community Development Partners Consultative Forum aimed at promoting better coordination of development support to the EAC by various development partners was held today at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The forum sought to foster synergies and leverage available resources while avoiding duplication of efforts in financing EAC programmes and projects.
Addressing the forum, the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko saidover the last five years, Development Partners had committed about $500 million direct and technical support to various aspects of the EAC integration.
“With this revamped collaboration, the EAC has been able to progress the integration agenda with remarkable speed,” said the Secretary General.
He diclsosed that the main contributors to the EAC Development Programmes include Germany, the USA through USAID East Africa, European Union (EU), and the African Development Bank. The total German contribution to EAC amounts to€286,541,354.42; USAID $237,823,555; and the EU Euro 65,000,000.
Amb. Mfumukeko expressed EAC appreciation for the approval of the African Development Bank Regional Integration Strategy Paper for Eastern Africa (EA-RISP 2018-22), in which EAC Projects worth about US$2 billion have been considered in the RISP indicative operational programme. This includes loans to the EAC Partner States for regional programmes and grant to the EAC.
The Secretary General said that the EAC has transformed itself from a loose co-operation framework into a fast-emerging, solid and dynamic regional economic bloc. He added that the EAC has evolved strong institutions and vigorous programme delivery, which are already making an impact on the economies of the region.
Amb. Mfumukeko disclosed to the participants that the EAC has been ranked as first among the eight (8) Regional Economic Communities (RECs) from the recently Africa Regional Integration Index Report launched in Addis Ababa through the collaboration between the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Commission (AUC)
He however called for more partnerships with the business community and, in particular, the East African Business Council in industrial development through investment in private sector development, improvement of doing business environment and finally an enhance.
On his part, the head of Delegation of the European Union, Amb. Roeland van de Geer, said the forum is valuable for Development Partners to ensure an alignment of their respective cooperation programmes with those of the EAC.
He appreciated the willingness of the EAC Secretariat to engage on sector specific priority areas particulary on key regional priorities given the wide and ambitious portfolio of EAC.
Amb. Roeland emphasized the need for involving all EAC institutions and representatives of key regional non-state actors including the private sector in the forum to share their valuable experience of regional integration.
Amb. Roeland assured the EAC that all Development Partners are willing to support the key priorities of as EAC articulated in the 5th Development Strategy endorsed in February 2018.
In his remarks, Mr. Marcellin Ndong Ntah, the lead Economist from the African Development Bank said the Development Partners Consultative Forum promotes the principle of ownership of the development assistance that may be availed to the EAC and its Partner states to drive Region’s development agenda.
Mr. Ndong hailed the EAC for establishing the forum noting that it would enable better coordination of development assistance by Development Partners to the Community.
The 2nd EAC Development Partners Consultative Forum was attended by: Ambassadors accredited to the EAC; Members of the Proposed EAC Development Partners Group; Other EAC Development Partners and Representatives from EAC Organs and Institutions among other.
-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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 23rdOctober, 2018: The 29th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence is currently underway in Arusha, Tanzania. The Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence has been convened pursuant to Article 10 of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs and in accordance with the EAC Calendar of Activities for the period July- December 2018.
The Meeting is considering several items pertinent to strengthening and widening the regional integration agenda in the Defence sector that include, among others, planning for the 11th EAC Armed Forces Field Training Exercise USHIRIKIANO IMARA 2018; issues to do with the EAC Command and Staff Colleges/Higher Military Training Institutions/Military Academies; Health Services of the EAC Partner States’ Armed Forces; Military Industrial Facilities availed for Shared Utilization; and EAC Counter Terrorism strategy.
The meeting is also considering the EAC Armed Forces’ Standing Operating Procedures; and the Draft Defence Sector Calendar of Activities for the Period January to June 2019.
The 29th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence is being conducted through the Session of the Defence Experts Working Group on Operations and Training from 22nd to 23rd October; Session of the Sectoral Committee on Cooperation in Defence on 24th October 2018; Session of the Consultative Committee on Cooperation in Defence on 25th October 2018; and session of the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence on 26th October 2018.
The ongoing session is being attended by the Partner States’ Defence Experts Working Group on Operations and Training.
-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.
East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, October 22, 2018: The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has resumed its Sitting in Arusha, Tanzania. The Second Meeting of the Second Session which commenced this morning (October 22, 2018) with meetings of respective Committees, continues until November 10, 2018.
Key items expected at the Sitting include the debate on the East African Community Statistics Bill, 2017 and that on the Report of the Accounts Committee on the EAC Audited Accounts for the Financial Year ended 30th June, 2017, both of which were deferred when the Assembly met two weeks ago in Arusha.
The EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017, seeks to establish the Statistics Bureau as an Institution of the Community under Article 9 of the Treaty and Article 21 of the Protocol on Establishment of the EAC Monetary Union. The Bill provides for the functions, powers, governance and its funding with a view to establishing the institution responsible for statistics in a bid to support the East African Monetary Union. The Bill is in line with Article 21 (c) of the Protocol on the Establishment of the EAC Monetary Union which provides for the Summit, on the recommendation of the EAC Council of Ministers to establish an institution responsible for statistics as one of the institutions to back the EAC Monetary Union. The debate on the Bill was deferred on October 3rd, 2018, to allow for further consultation. The Motion to postpone the debate on the crucial Bill was moved by Minister for EAC, Burundi, Hon Isabelle Ndahayo on behalf of the Council of Ministers and supported by legislators.
The Hon Minister (then) informed the House that, the EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017, which was a Council Bill needed time for more consultation before debate can ensue.
The House likewise received the report on the EAC Audited Accounts for the Financial Year ending 30th June, 2017. Debate is therefore expected to ensue. Also, for consideration is the EAC Annual Report 2015/2016.
This week, rigorous Committee work shall take place with all the Standing Committees of the House meeting to review reports, analyze pending issues as they prepare for the actual plenary sitting next week. The Assembly has 6 Standing Committees. These are:
The Committee on Accounts
The Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges
The Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment
The Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources
The Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution
The Committee on General Purpose.
The Assembly which holds six Plenary Sessions in every Financial Year, has a principle of rotation.
NOTE TO EDITORS ABOUT EALA
The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).
The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is put in effect by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 79 pieces of legislation.
- 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
East African Legislative Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland: 16th October, 2018:The 139th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly commenced in Geneva, Switzerland this week with over 1000 MPs and Parliamentary staff meeting to deliberate on issues under the umbrella theme of science, technology and innovation. EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Karoli Martin, addressed the congregation this morning (October 16th, 2018) urging legislators to harness the untapped value of technological innovations to build initiatives that abhor violence, enhance peace-building tools and support human security around the globe for positive societal impact.
Rt Hon Ngoga urged legislators to embrace technological innovation to maintain communication with their constituencies and to leverage liaison roles with governments and other stakeholders. While noting the detrimental effects of technology and innovation, the EALA Speaker remarked that it was similarly vital and a responsibility of Parliaments to regulate the industry.
“Today, technological revolution has enhanced communications and presents a phenomenal impact on the economy, society and environment since the days of mechanized production. It is equally recognized that technological revolution presents societal and economical challenges; resulting in loss of jobs occasioned by automation. Technological change further exacerbates inequalities due to the disproportion in certain segments of the populations, a characteristic that poses ramifications for peace and security – the very core of our deliberations here today”, Rt Hon Ngoga said.
“We are challenged to orient our legislative strategy towards tapping positive change aided by technological innovations”, he added.
The Speaker termed the costs of lack of peace and insecurity as critical.
“The Global Peace Index, 2018, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace “reveals a world where tensions, conflicts and crises remain largely unresolved resulting in a gradual, sustained fall in peacefulness”.In 2017, “the economic impact of violence on the global economy was pegged at US $14.76 Trillion in purchasing power parity terms; a figure equivalent to 12.4% of the world’s economic activity (Gross World Product) or USD 1,988 for every person’’, Rt Hon Ngoga remarked.
Rt Hon Ngoga implored legislators to pay attention to the availability, efficacy and affordability of ICTs and to shun the risk of elitism associated with technological innovations. Such is crucial to overcome perception and reduction of disengagement and further marginalization of constituents from the political processes guaranteed.
The Speaker called for a legislative framework enabling youth to comprehend and embrace technology without been prone to manipulation motives that hampers peace and security initiatives.
The Assembly is covering multiple subjects including fake news, sexism and harassment in Parliaments, human rights, disarmament, counter-terrorism, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and migration.
Gender equality in science and technology is one of the themes under discussion at the IPU Forum of Women Parliamentarians, a topical subject following the tripartite award of the 2018 Nobel Prize for Physics to Donna Strickland, only the third woman to have ever won the prize. MPs on the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security are also discussing parliamentary action on disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation strategies for weapons of mass destruction, conventional weapons and future weapon technologies.
Accompanying the Speaker are EALA Members, Hon Wanjiku Muhia, Hon Christopher Nduwayo, Hon Fancy Nkuhi Haji and senior Parliamentary staff.
The 139th IPU edition has also attracted over 50 Speakers of Parliament and 40 Deputy Speakers. Of the MPs in attendance, 20 per cent are young MPs under 45 years of age and 33 per cent are women.
Other EAC Speakers and Parliamentarians are also in attendance. Republic of Kenya is represented by the Speaker of the Senate, Rt Hon Kenneth Lusaka, while Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda leads her delegation. Rt Hon Anthony Lino Makana, Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly of the Republic of South Sudan is also in attendance. Rt Hon Nyabenda Pascal, Speaker of the Burundi National Assembly leads his delegation while Rwanda is represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Gakuba Jean d’Arc.
The impact of technology on information, and the responsibility of Parliaments to regulate fake news, is also a subject of a panel discussion between MPs, journalists, and academics.
In addition, the Assembly is hosting a knowledge fair including exhibits by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
- 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 is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is put in effect by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States. EALA has to date passed 79 pieces of legislation.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 15th October, 2018: The 13th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Energy is underway in Arusha, Tanzania. The objective of the Sectoral Council meeting is to review progress made in the Energy sector and consider other issues of regional importance in the areas of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation and Efficiency, Fossil Fuels and Power.
The five day meeting started with the Session of Senior Officials which will run from Monday 15th to Wednesday 17th October, followed by the Session of Permanent/Principal Secretaries responsible for Energy that will take place from Thursday 18th October 2018. The meeting will be capped by the Ministerial Session on Friday 19th October 2018.
The Session of Senior Officials is being chaired by Mrs. Cecilia Nakiranda Menya, the Ag. Commissioner Electrical in Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. Mr. John Muhizi from Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and EAC is the Rapporteur.
Addressing the opening session, the Director of Productive Sectors Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, on behalf of the Deputy Secretary General Productive and Social Sectors, welcomed the delegates to Arusha and said that the meeting could not be convened earlier as was planned in the EAC calendar of activities due tight and clashing schedules in Partner States.
He emphasized the need for EAC Partner States and the Secretariat to go an extra-mile moving forward to implement the Council directive of having two regular meetings of the Sectoral Council per year. This would allow to follow up on matters of the Sector that require urgent policy decision and guidance.
-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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 15th October 2018: The African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Development Fund (ADF) have approve the Regional Integration Strategy with Projects worth USD2 Billion for EAC Region. The African Development Bank is among the top EAC Development Partners. The Bank’s support in the Region is oriented toward “Accelerating East Africa’s Transformation through Regional Integration”.
Since July 2017, the EAC Secretariat has been working with the Bank on a proposal to support the EAC priority projects under the Bank’s Regional Integration Strategy Paper (RISP) for Eastern Africa (EA-RISP 2018-22). The efforts to engage with the Bank are in line with the outcome of the Joint EAC Heads of State Retreat concluded on 28th February 2018 in Kampala, Uganda, at which the Secretariat was called upon to collaborate with development partners to “Mobilize resources required for implementation of new and ongoing priority infrastructure projects”.
A total of 20 projects worth $2 billion to be implemented by the EAC and EAC Partner States are included under the EA-RISP approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors on 10th October 2018 for the next five years.
Accordingly to a press release issued by the Bank on 12th October, 2018 the RISP is the Bank’s strategic and programming instrument to guide its support to regional operations in 13 countries, comprising the six EAC Partner States and their congruous neighbours in the greater Eastern Africa region such as Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan. EA-RISP is anchored on two mutually reinforcing pillars, namely ‘regional infrastructure for competitiveness and structural transformation’, and ‘strengthening the policy and institutional frameworks for market integration, growing investments and value chains development.
In line with this strategic thrust, the EAC priority projects included in the RISP cover regional transport connectivity, regional energy infrastructure, regional ICT connectivity, and management of transboundary water resources.
Under the second pillar, the Bank will support projects aimed at accelerating implementation of the EAC single market, trade development including tackling of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), and putting in place policy frameworks for industrialization and promotion of EAC as a single investment destination. On financial market integration, the Bank aims to scale up implementation of the EAC payment and settlement systems integration. A number of knowledge products have also been prioritized, including publication of the flagship Eastern Africa Industrial Competitiveness Report in collaboration with UNIDO.
The Bank has indicated that the indicative operational program updated at the Mid-Term Review in 2020. A range of instruments will be deployed to finance the selected projects, including the Bank concessional resources under the African development Fund (ADF) window, its non-concessional resources under the African Development Bank (ADB) window, trust funds and blending instruments, including through collaboration with other development partners such as the European Union, French Development Agency (AFD), and China’s Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF).
-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.
