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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 11th October, 2017:
Good governance is an important ingredient for the success of regional integration in East African Community.
Dr. Susan Kolimba, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation in the United Republic of Tanzania, said that good governance in the EAC Partner States would lessen the possibility of instability in the region thereby ensuring peace and security which are the cornerstones of socio-economic development in the region.
Dr. Kolimba said that there was a need to address governance challenges which lie at the core of whatever efforts are deployed to promote the integration agenda, whether at the national, regional or continental levels.
“The challenge to us all is how best we can collectively address governance challenges that confront our region in a manner that responds to the opportunities that surround us,” said the Minister.
Dr. Kolimba further urged EAC Partner States to iron out contentious issues and finalize the Protocol on Good Governance as a framework for good governance in the EAC.
Dr. Kolimba was officially opening the 6th Annual Conference on Good Governance at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The two-day conference themed “Strengthening Democracy for Sustainable Integration” brings together national agencies/institutions responsible for human rights, anti-corruption efforts, electoral processes, judicial processes and legislatures.
On the convening of sessions of the East African Legislative Assembly, Dr. Kolimba told a media briefing held after the official opening that the Assembly would convene once the Kenya National Assembly had finalized the election of MPs to represent the country in the regional Parliament.
Addressing the conference, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge, said that while economic integration was a priority, it would not by itself be sufficient to enable the region to consolidate the gains and ensure mechanisms for equitable distribution of benefits.
“We need to look beyond economic integration for us to move towards the ultimate goal of our integration process – the Political Federation. Also we must realize that the East African Political Federation will not be an event but a process, and not an end in itself but a means to an end,” said Mr. Njoroge.
Mr. Njoroge noted that a number of the escalating violent conflicts and political instability in African countries were the product of undemocratic practices and good governance deficits.
“The resultant challenges thus far have had negative implications to achieving human security, reducing poverty and realizing other general human development. In the East African region in particular, countries have adopted different approaches to address violence and civil unrest mostly through judicial and security sector reforms,” said the DSG.
Also present at the official opening was the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice, Justice Emannuel Ugirashebuja.
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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, 6th October, 2017:
EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko today received the Finnish Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania and the EAC, Amb. Pekka Hukka, who paid him a courtesy call at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Amb. Mfumukeko and Amb. Hukka discussed potential areas of collaboration between the EAC and Finland namely support for technical and vocational education, and student exchange programmes.
Amb. Mfumukeko thanked Finland for its continued support to the EAC especially through contributions to the Partnership Fund, adding that the EAC Secretariat had already finalized the recruitment of staff who would manage the Fund on a fulltime basis.
The Secretary General informed the Finnish envoy that the EAC would present its 5th Development Strategy and Priority Areas for the 2018/2019 Financial Year to Development Partners on 23rd October, 2017.
Amb. Hukka reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continue contributing to the Partnership Fund and supporting the Community in the implementation of its programmes and projects.
Also present at the meeting were the EAC Deputy Secretaries General Eng. Steve Mlote (Planning and Infrastructure) and Hon. Jesca Eriyo (Finance and Administration).
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 5th October , 2017:
The Program Officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. John Ndunguru accompanied by Director of National Payment System from the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) Mr. Bernard Dadi, today paid a courtesy call on the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The two officials discussed a wide range of issues surrounding the EAC integration process including the Financial Sector Development and Regionalization Project, a project funded by the World Bank in collaboration with the EAC Secretariat which focuses on mutual recognition of national IDs for free movement of persons, access to services across borders, and mobile money/non-bank transfers.
Mr. Nduguru reiterated the importance of the EAC-Bill and Melinda cooperation in furthering regional integration efforts and re-affirmed the commitment of the foundation towards a concept for advancing financial inclusion in East Africa
He said the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been a strong supporter of the strategies and innovations that have extended digital financial services to the poor, demonstrating how they can overcome traditional barriers to financial inclusion.
On his part, Amb. Mfumukeko noted the strong collaboration that exists between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the East African people. The Secretary General urged the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand its support to all EAC Partner States since the foundation was only working with United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Kenya and Uganda at the moment.
“In my view, in order to get a buy-in of the Community, especially at the level of the EAC Council of Ministers, please consider expanding your support to the Republics of Rwanda, Burundi and S.Sudan," said Amb. Mfumukeko.
The Secretary General was accompanied by Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, Ms. Jesca Eriyo, and other senior staff of the EAC Secretariat.
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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; 02 October 2017:
EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko (centre, front row) in a group photo with Ms. Karen Freeman, USAID Kenya and East Africa Mission Director at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha. Also in the photo are top officials from USAID Kenya East Africa office and the EAC Secretariat.
EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko (right) with Ms. Karen Freeman, the Mission Director of USAID-KEA. The two discussed issues of mutual interest between the EAC and the United States of America.
EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko (left) greets Mr. Patrick Wilson, Deputy Mission Director at the USAID Kenya and East Africa (USAID-KEA) office at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. Looking on is Ms. Karen Freeman, USAID-KEA Mission Director.
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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; 02 October 2017:
‘Today I learned that you can be bitten by a dog when you bother it and when it is sick with Rabies. I also learned that if you care for dogs they will be very friendly’, says 11 year old Clara Yuda Opasi, who is in Standard 5 C of the Imani Primary School in Arusha’s Sombeteni ward during the celebrations of the World Rabies Day at Imani Primary School on 28th September ,2017. The Imani Primary School is one out of 70 primary schools that participated in the celebrations of the World Rabies Day and Clara is one out of nearly 600 pupils who attended the awareness raising campaign around the risks connected with rabies at Imani Primary School alone.
Rabies is an infectious disease of public health concern, globally and in particular in the East African region. Rabies is the most fatal viral-zoonotic disease transmitted between animals and humans. Once an infected person shows signs, there is no cure.
Many humans and most of them children get infected by rabies through dog bites. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the vaccination of dogs as the most effective intervention against rabies. Decreasing rabies in dogs directly impacts on public health by reducing the transmission to humans. It is worth noting that care given to dogs can also make a huge difference in the fight against rabies.
This is one of the messages of Bernadette Mathias of Mbwa wa Africa, who thrilled the Imani teachers and pupils with her advice on how to care for dogs, how to prevent being bitten and what to do in case this still happens.
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH joined the awareness campaign on World Rabies Day for the first time this year to set a sign that rabies is not only a Tanzanian, but a regional concern. ‘I would like to see this campaign rolled out in all our Partner States next year’, said Fahari Marwa, Head of the EAC’s Agriculture and Food Security Department.
The coming Saturday and Sunday the World Rabies Day celebrations will culminate in free of fee vaccinations of dogs all over Arusha City. Jens Fissenebert of Mbwa wa Africa urged the pupils to bring their dogs to the stations nearest to their homes. Geoffrey Muchai, Head of the Imani Primary School agreed with Dr. Onesma Mandike from the Arusha City Council and Joel Changalucha from the Ministry of Agriculture in the meaningfulness of the awareness day: ‘This campaign is very good and I have learned many new things, for example that dogs should not be killed to prevent rabies or about the high number of people who die each year from rabies – 1500, that is a lot’.
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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; 27 September 2017:
Revenue losses from inefficient border procedures in some African countries are estimated to exceed 5% of the Gross Domestic Product, a Roundtable Conference on Trade Facilitation (TF) held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, was told today.
Citing a 2013 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) study, Mr. James Kisaale, an Assistant Commissioner with the Uganda Revenue Authority, said that reducing global trade costs by 1% would increase worldwide income by more than US$40 billion, with developing countries being the biggest beneficiaries. Kisaale said the areas that would contribute the most to lowering trade costs in Sub-Saharan Africa were formalities, namely automation, the simplification and harmonisation of documents, and information availability.
Kisaale was speaking during the opening session of the one-day roundtable on trade facilitation which brought together EAC Development Partners as well as Customs and Trade experts from the EAC Secretariat and Partner States’ Ministries of Trade.
The EAC Secretariat organised the Roundtable Conference to review and fast-track the implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA). The Conference brought together Development Partners who will work with the EAC in the implementation of the TFA.
Opening the roundtable, the EAC Director General (DG)-Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, said that TF was an integral part of the EAC Customs Union Protocol which explicitly provides for reduction in the number and volume of trade documents.
“TF also provides for the adoption of common standards of trade documentation and procedures, coordination and facilitation of trade and transport activities. There is also the reviewing of procedures adopted in international trade and transport facilitation with a view to simplifying and adopting them for use in the EAC,” said the Bagamuhunda.
The DG disclosed that an EAC Trade and Facilitation Sub-Committee has been established to, among other things, supervise the implementation of the WTO TFA at regional and national levels.
He said that Regional and National Implementation Plans for the WTO TFA have been finalized and adopted by the Policy organs.
“Amendments of regional laws, regulations and procedures; development of project proposals for resource mobilization, and; sensitization of stakeholders is currently underway,” added the DG.
He cited the Single Customs Territory (SCT) and the interconnectivity of customs systems among some of the key TFA components that have been implemented by the EAC. “The SCT provides for the free circulation of goods, reduces cost of doing business, reduces Non-Tariff Barriers, ensures competitiveness, boosts business predictability and promotes investment,” he said, adding that SCT is premised on the use of electronic systems.
Other components already implemented are: the establishment of One-Stop Border Posts; harmonisation of standards, reduction of Non-tariff barriers, and; publication of the EAC Trade and Investment report.
Speaking at the forum, Amb. Arthur Mattli, Switzerland’s Representative to the EAC, said that his country believes that bureaucratic delays and ‘red tapes’ pose an unnecessary and expensive burden for moving goods across borders for traders.
Amb. Mattli said the TFA would help developing countries diversify their exports and tap into global value chains.
He disclosed that Switzerland had so far disbursed US$3.5 million as part of its contribution to the TFA’s Trade Facilitation Support Programme, a multi-donor programme of the World Bank Group’s Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice which provides support for countries seeking assistance in aligning their trade practices with the WTO TFA.
“Every country is eligible to receive support under the programme. Eligible countries are expected to have demonstrated a strong commitment to implementing trade facilitation reforms in the areas covered by the WTO TFA. Moreover, the support programme will prioritize assistance to countries with other limited access to other donor support,” said Amb. Mattli.
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Notes to Editor:
The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) entered into force on 22nd February, 2017 following its ratification by two-thirds (2/3) of the WTO membership, including two EAC Partner States Kenya and Rwanda. The TFA contains among others provisions relating to the transparency, expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. The agreement also sets out measures for effective cooperation between Customs and other border agencies on trade facilitation, customs and trade compliance issues.
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; 27 September 2017:
Some 1,500 people die annually from rabies in the United Republic of Tanzania alone, according to scientific estimates. Official numbers are lower, because many cases are not reported and not all reported cases appear in the official statistics. Most rabies victims are children and dog bites are the main path of transmission.
Rabies is an infectious disease of public health concern for the entire East African region and beyond. Against this backdrop, the EAC Secretariat supports the World Rabies Day, which takes place on 28 September, 2017, through the ‘Support to Pandemic Preparedness in the EAC Region’ project that is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Rabies is the most fatal virus zoonosis (disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans) known to mankind. Once an infected person shows signs, there is no cure to rabies. In Africa and Asia, many humans get infected by rabies through dog bites. The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the importance of dog vaccination as the most effective intervention against rabies, decreasing rabies in dogs and having a direct impact on public health by reducing transmission to humans.
“The planned Rabies Vaccination Initiative around the World Rabies Day is a striking example for the importance of close cooperation between human and animal medical professions and for the necessity of the One Health approach when preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases,” emphasise both, Dr Stanley Sonoiya, Head of the EAC’s Health Department, and Fahari G. Marwa, Head of the EAC’s Agriculture and Food Security Department. The EAC Secretariat strives to implement the One Health approach in the EAC Region.
The 28th of September every year is observed to commemorate World Rabies Day, a day that marks the anniversary of the demise of Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine. While observing this day, we raise awareness on rabies prevention and highlight progress in the fight against rabies that puts human and animal health at risk.
Supported by the EAC Secretariat, WHO and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) among others, Mbwa Wa Africa Animal Rescue will vaccinate an estimated 5,000 dogs across 20 vaccination stations in Arusha City on World Rabies Day. In addition, Mbwa Wa Africa raises awareness in about 70 schools in Arusha on how to safely approach dogs and on how to read possible signs of rabies infection and to distinguish infected from healthy dogs. Weekly rabies awareness articles will be published in both English and Swahili newspapers.
The activities are planned in collaboration with the Arusha City Council in liaison with the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health. The EAC Secretariat intends to support the World Rabies Day 2018 celebrations in all Partner States to further emphasise the regional significance.
This is especially true for high risk cross-border areas among local communities surrounding National Parks and Game Reserves. The latter initiative will target transmission of rabies in wild dogs and foxes.
Below are the vaccination stations and respective dates.
DATE
WARD
LOCATION
30th September
Baraa
Baraa Primary School
Elerai
Elerai Primary School
Kati
Uhuru Primary School
Kimandolu
Kimandolu Primary School
Kimandolu
Suye Primary School
Levolosi
Levolosi Primary School
Sekei
Kijenge Primary School
Themi
Themi Primary School
Unga Ltd.
Unga Ltd. Primary School
Sekei
Arusha City Livestock Department
1st October
Engutoto
Njiro Hill Primary School
Lemara
Lemara Primary School
Moshono
Wema Primary School
Olasiti
Olasiti Primary School
Olorien
Olorien Primary School
Sinon
Sinon Primary School
Sokon
Sokon Primary School
Sokon
Muriet Primary School
Sokon
Ghati Memorial Primary School
Sombetini
Sombetini Primary School
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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.
