EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
Workshop on Institutional and Strategic Frameworks for
Sustainable Development in Africa
Addis Ababa-Ethiopia
7-9 March, 2011
East African Community (EAC) role in advancing
Africa ,s sustainable development agenda with
particular regard to enhancing sustainable
development in the EAC Region
Presented by
Wivine Y. Ntamubano
Principal Environment and Natural Resources Officer
Outline and Content
1. Introduction
2. Current status
3. Progress and achievements in sustainable
development
a) Policy ,
b) institutions
c) Projects, programmes and activities
a. Economic ,
b. social and
c. Environmental issues
4. future outlook
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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INTRODUCTION
Establishment, Objectives and Mission of EAC
• REC /IGO of R. of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania
and Uganda
• EAC Treaty of 1999 and enforced in 2000
• Strengthen economic, social, cultural, political,
technological, defense & security, legal & judicial
affairs for sustainable development and jointly
address sustainable development issues
• Widen and deepen integration to improve the quality
of life of the people of EA through increased
competitiveness, value added production, trade and
investment
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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CURRENT STATUS
• Regional integration process marked by the following
– Encouraging progress of the EA Custom Union which became
fully fledged in January, 2010
– The enlargement of the Community with the admission of
Rwanda and Burundi,
– The successful negotiations and conclusion of the Protocol
on the Establishment of EA Common Market in Nov, 2009;
ratification by all Parties in 2010.
– The Launching of consultations in the Partner States on the
proposed establishment of the East African Monetary Union,
and
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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- The underpining process towards the EA Federation that
collectivelly underscored the serious determination of the EA
Leadership and citizens to construct a powerfull and
sustainable East African economic and political bloc
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
• There is no regional body spearheading the
sustainable development as such that..
• Sustainable Development issues are
addressed within the Framework of policies,
programmes, projects plans and activities .
• In that regards, EAC has developed the
following policies:
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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Policy documents
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The Treaty
Protocol on ENRM
Protocol on Sustainable Development of the LVB
Regional EIA Guidelines for shared ecosystems
EAC Common Market Protocol
EAC Development Strategies (1st to 4th )
EAC Climate Change Policy
Rural Development Policy, Strategy and Food Security Action
Plan.
• The EAC Social Development Policy Framework
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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Policy documents
The EAC Treaty (Art.111,112)
• Recognizes the negative impacts of development on
environment (environmental degradation, change
and depletion of natural resources)
• Acknowledges that a clean, healthy and safe
environment is a prerequisite for Sustainable
Development
• Calls for cooperation in development, harmonization
and adoption of common environmental
management policies and strategies
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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Policy documents
The EAC Treaty (Art5)
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Calls the Partner States to, among others
– the strengthening and consolidation of co-operation in agreed fields that
would lead to equitable economic development within the Partner States and
which would in turn, raise the standard of living and improve the quality of life
of their populations;
the promotion of sustainable utilisation of the natural resources of the Partner
States and the taking of measures that would effectively protect the natural
environment of the Partner States;
(d) the strengthening and consolidation of the long standing political, economic,
social, cultural and traditional ties and associations between the people of PS so as
to promote mutual development of these ties and associations;
the mainstreaming of gender in all its endeavours and the enhancement of the
role of women in cultural, social, political, economic and technological
development;
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
Institutions
Steps already taken in this regard include
• The launching in 2007 of the full operation of the LVBC which rolls out
the development of the Lake including safety of navigation ,
environmental protection and conservation and overall sustainable
development of the Lake and its basin.
• Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation, which coordinates measures for
sustainable utilisation of the fisheries resources of the Lake
• E A DB play a more substantive and sustainable role as a regional
development finance institution
• The Interuniversity Council of East Africa(IUCEA) for the strategic
development and management of higher education in EA
• the establishment of new Commissions: EA Science and Technology
Commission, the EA Health Research Commission,…..
• The establishment Forum for Ministers responsible for Social
Development in order to “provide a platform for poverty eradication and overall management of
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)”.
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
st Africa
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Institutions
The Forum :(Health and Social Services;Education, Science and Technology,
Sports and Culture;Gender, Youth, Children, Social Protection and
Community Development ; and Environment and Natural Resources)
A number of recommendations of the Forum implemented :
• establishment of decision-.making organs in social
development such as
– a Sectoral Council on Environment and Natural Resources
– a Sectoral Council on Gender, Youth, Children, Social Protection ; and
• establishment of a Community-Day (one a month) for public
participation in local community mass clean-up activities in order to
promote public health and sanitation, safe water supply and food safety,
environmental conservation, nutrition and human wellness
.
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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plans, Projects , programmes, and
activities
Steps already taken in this regard include:
• Collaboration on the Tripartite (COMESA/SADC/EAC)
Infrastructure Development ;
• Agriculture and Food Security (including adoption of an EAC
Action Plan and a draft EAC Protocol on Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures);
• Tourism and Wildlife Management (including the
implementation of the EAC Tourism and Wildlife Marketing
Plan and Strategy and the Hotels Classification Exercise)
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
plans, Projects , programmes, and activities
• Gender, Community Civil Society Mobilisation (highlighting the
formulation of an EAC Social Development Framework and the
preparation of draft Policies and Strategic Plans on Gender, Youth,
Children, Social Protection, Community Development, Persons
with Disabilities .
• Facilitation of the Movement of Persons, Immigration,
Labour/Employment and Refugee Management (covering implem
of the Summit’s Declaration on Employment Creation and Poverty
Reduction, and the implementation of the pilot phase of the
Regional Manpower Survey);
• Peace and Security (highlighting the development of a draft EAC
Peace and Security Protocol and a regional
EAC/IGAD/COMESA/IOC Anti-Piracy Strategy and Action Plan) ;
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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plans, Projects , programmes, and
activities
Environment and Natural Resources
• LVEMP II
• MERECP
• Harmonisation of Biosafety Policies/Framework
• Mara River Basin Biodiversity for Water resources
Climate Change
• EAC CC Policy developed in response to the Summit’s directive of Nov
2010 and adopted in May 2010 by the Council of Ministers
• EAC Climate Change Fund was established
• EAC CC Fund Operational Modalities developed
• Convened an EAC Heads of State Retreat on Food Security and Climate
Change , a HS Declaration on Food Security and Climate Change
• EAC Strategy and Master Plan currently under preparation to
operationalise the Policy
• Initiated a Tripartite CCAM Programme
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
future outlook
4th EAC Development Strategy(2011-2015)
Include the following Development objectives in the productive and Social Sectors:
• Promoting value additions, productivity and competitive
agricultural supplies to realize cross border trade for
sustainable food security
• Structural transformation of the region’s industrial base by
promoting high value added manufacturing & processing,
production diversification, industrial
linkages/complementarities and technological innovation and
cooperation.
• Diversify tourism products to maximize benefit and equity
from Tourism and Sustainable Utilization of Wildlife resources
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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4th EAC Development Strategy
• A completely harmonized East African education system that
enables free movement of the Community’s nationals as
provided for by the EAC Common Market Protocol
• enhance social cohesion and foster economic development
and regional integration through culture and sports
• Enhanced free movement of persons, labour and
management of refugees under the implementation phase of
the EAC Common Market
• To enhance community empowerment through people
centered and gender responsive development that creates
opportunities to harness potentials necessary for equitable
for equitable and sustainable development
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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4th EAC Development Strategy
• Sustainable resource use, management,
conservation of environment, natural
resources and adaptation to climate change
• Increased access to sufficient, reliable,
affordable and environmentally friendly
energy sources in the region.
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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Thank You! Asante! Merci
A prosperous, competitive, secure and
politically united East Africa
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