Nairobi, Kenya, 9th November, 2021: 2nd Eastern Africa Bioeconomy Conference to be held on 10th and 11th November, 2021 is organised by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)/BioInnovate Africa in partnership with the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)-Africa Centre, and Biosciences eastern and central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub.
The forum, Africa’s largest convention on bioeconomy, is expected to attract government officials, scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and civil society actors, convening virtually (link), with limited in-person participation at icipe, under the theme: “Building a Sustainable and Resilient African Bioeconomy.”
Skillsmatch upscales Digital Transformation of East African Industries
Arusha, Tanzania, 9th November 2021: The East African Community (EAC), through its project ‘’Digital Skills for an Innovative East African Industry’’ (dSkills@EA), has launched an online matchmaking platform for skills. Skillsmatch links young professionals with businesses for jobs, internships and applied master theses and aims to bridge the skills gap, especially regarding digital skills for the application and development of digital products and services that are needed in the region’s industry. Skillsmatch is an easy-to-use online platform for providing businesses and young professionals with relevant matches to their needs, supported by Artificial Intelligence.
The launch took place at the YouLead Summit 2021 in Arusha, Tanzania, following the presidential addresses by H.E Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda and H.E Jakaya Kikwete, the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The EAC Secretary General, Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki, and the Ambassador of Germany to Tanzania, H.E. Regine Heß unveiled the platform to the public.
“Our goal is to help the youth in the EAC become better skilled to lead transformational change in the business environment under the current trend of digitalization. Together, we have an incredible responsibility and opportunity to share our experiences in an authentic way and ensure that our collaborative efforts are shaping the next generation of youth employment and innovation transfer,” said H.E. Regine Heß.
“We are putting more effort to support universities in the region to produce graduates that are relevant for the job market to reduce youth unemployment. We urge companies to use the Skillsmatch platform to spotlight and prompt action around key challenges to digital inclusion by supporting young professionals to gain industry practical experience through internships”, said Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, the IUCEA Executive Secretary.
John Bosco Kalisa, EABC CEO, noted that, “according to McKinsey’s survey on reskilling, it has been highlighted that nearly 9 in 10 executives and managers say their organizations either face skill gaps already or expect gaps to develop within the next five years. One-third of companies’ workforce across East Africa face disruptions resulting from technology and market trends that require reskilling of professionals; thus, it is relevant that the market has available a pool of talent that can help support businesses for socio-economic growth.”
Notes to Editors
dSkills@EA is a project of the EAC, in cooperation with the German Government, that aims at strengthening employment and innovation-related digital skills of youth in the EAC and supports the industry’s digital transformation. The project is implemented by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the Centre of Excellence for ICT in East Africa (CENIT@EA) at the Nelson Mandela African Institution for Science and Technology (NM-AIST), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and an East African-German academic consortium, including the DAAD and the University of Oldenburg. For any inquiries about the project please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We invite you to become part of the Skillsmatch community and register using the following link: www.skillsmatch-iucea.org .
For media inquiries contact
Godwin Bonge Muhwezi, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
…as 2021 Youlead Summit starts in Arusha, Tanzania
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 9th November, 2021: The President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, has urged fellow African leaders to prioritize the participation of youth on the continent in economic and political affairs Africa to expand Africa’s productive workforce and promoting entrepreneurship.
President Kenyatta said that the youth had lots of energy and ideas that could be harnessed as positive instruments of change to counteract the adverse impact of COVID-19 and climate change.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th November, 2021: The East African Community (EAC) and Germany sign Agreements on technical and financial cooperation worth up to USD 35 million in the areas of integrated water resource management, economic integration and pandemic preparedness
H.E. the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Tanzania, Regine Hess and the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki have today signed technical and financial cooperation worth up to USD 35 million between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the East African Community (EAC).
These agreements pave the way for the implementation of three new joint development projects.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th November, 2021: A five-day meeting of the Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (SCTIFI) is currently underway via hybrid (physical and virtual) means.
The SCTIFI meeting kicked-off with the Session of Senior Officials that is expected to conclude on Wednesday, 10th November, 2021. Among the items on the agenda of the SCTIFI are the: Status of Implementation of the Previous Decisions of SCTIFI; Report of the Sectoral Committee on Customs; Report of the Sectoral Committee of Trade; and; Report on Competition Matters.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 5th November, 2021: Ambassadors from EAC Partner States in Washington DC, USA, have committed to collaboratively cultivate cultural diplomacy to promote investment in the EAC bloc.
The resolution was made during a consultative virtual meeting with the EAC Secretary General Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, which discussed areas of collaboration in strengthening the regional integration agenda.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 05th November, 2021: The Republic of Burundi has pledged continued support for all efforts to strengthen the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) and enable the Court to efficiently execute its mandate as per the EAC Treaty.
Making the pledge, Burundi’s Vice President Prosper Bazombanza hailed the EACJ for making significant achievements since its establishment in 2001.
Vice President Bazombanza thanked the regional court for electing to hold its sessions in Bujumbura, Burundi from 8th to 26th November, 2021, adding that the sittings by the both the First Instance and Appellate Divisions of the Court would play a crucial role in bringing justice closer to ordinary East Africans, who are the owners of the integration process in East Africa.
…As 32ndMeeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning concludes in Arusha,Tanzania
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 5thNovember, 2021: The EAC Secretariat is planning to convene a high-level Retreat for the EAC Summit Heads of State on the EAC Common Market Protocol to consider progress and challenges, targeting key priority interventions to achieve full attainment of the EAC Common Market Protocol.
According to the draft concept paper on the proposed High-Level Retreat for the EAC Summit Heads of State presented to the just concluded 32nd Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP), the Retreat is expected to among others, take stock of the progress of implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol; Adopt strategic measures to unlock the lags and bottlenecks in establishment of the common market; Agree on a Roadmap for the full realization of the Common Market; and Identify key areas where Development Partners can contribute to the attainment of the Common Market.
…As H.E Jakaya Kikwete expected to grace the Summit
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 4th November, 2021: Over ten thousand youths from across East Africa will next week participate in the region’s largest youth summit, seeking to discuss issues pertinent to the regional development agenda including unemployment and access to economic resources.
The event dubbed the YouLead Summit, will be held on 8th to 12th November, 2021 at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) in Arusha and virtually. It is hosted by the EAC Secretariat and MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MS TCDC) in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 2ndNovember, 2021: The 33rd Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence is currently underway at the EAC Headquarters 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 2021.
The Meeting is considering several items pertinent to strengthening and widening the regional integration agenda in the Defence sector that include, among others, reports on Initial Planning Conference for the 12th EAC Armed Forces Field Training Exercise USHIRIKIANO IMARA 2020; Draft Defence Sector Calendar of Activities for the Period January to June 2022 and Status of Implementation of Previous Decisions of the Sectoral Council.
