EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

Workshop on Institutional and Strategic Frameworks for Sustainable Development in Africa

Addis Ababa-Ethiopia7-9 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

A prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa

Outline and Content1. Introduction2. Current status3. Progress and achievements in sustainable

development a) Policy , b) institutionsc) Projects, programmes and activities

a. Economic ,b. social and c. Environmental issues

4. future outlook

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A prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa

INTRODUCTIONEstablishment, 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

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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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A prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa

- 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

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• 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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A prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa

Policy documentsThe 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

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A prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa

Policy documentsThe EAC Treaty (Art5)

• 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;

InstitutionsSteps 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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InstitutionsThe 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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A prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa

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)

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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A prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa

plans, Projects , programmes, and activities

Environment and Natural Resources• LVEMP II• MERECP• Harmonisation of Biosafety Policies/Framework • Mara River Basin Biodiversity for Water resourcesClimate 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

future outlook4th 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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A prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa

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

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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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A prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa

Thank You! Asante! Merci

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