Context
Regional integration is a major development strategy for the countries of Africa, which all share the aim of continent-wide economic, social and cultural integration by 2028. An important aspect of this is trade liberalisation. This is to be achieved through regional free trade areas, progressing towards customs union, a common market and ultimately monetary union. The East African Community (EAC) is one of eight regional economic communities recognised by the African Union (AU), and the only one that has a vision of political federation. In the treaty establishing the EAC, the partner states decided to expand and intensify their economic, political, social and cultural integration. Since 1998, German development cooperation has made substantial contributions to the integration process in East Africa, in accordance with the German Government’s Africa Strategy.
The EAC Secretariat is located in Arusha, Tanzania.
Objective
The EAC Secretariat has improved the planning, coordination and monitoring of the regional integration process.
Approach
Cooperation between GIZ and the EAC Secretariat concentrates on three areas:
1. Organisational development and strengthening of public relations in the EAC, with focus on improving the structures, systems, processes and capacities of the EAC Secretariat.
• Introduction of an organisational diagnostic tool, a quality management system and an East African system for monitoring the integration process
• Strengthening public relations through improved EAC branding and training measures for the East African media on the EAC integration process
2. Deepening of regional economic integration
• Advancing the liberalisation of trade in services in selected sectors, and removing restrictions for the mutual recognition of training and qualifications
• Improving implementation of the customs union, harmonisation of taxes and procedures, and elimination of non-tariff barriers
• Promoting regional industrialisation and investment policies, with focus on private investments in the pharmaceutical and energy sectors, and on the establishment of a regional industrial promotion centre
3. Improving the dialogue between the EAC Secretariat and private sector and civil society organisations. A consultative dialogue framework (CDF) has been set up to facilitate the dialogue involving the private sector, civil society and the EAC. The programme is now concentrating on the following measures for its implementation:
• Establishing topical dialogue platforms integrated in the East African Business Council (EABC) and the East African Civil Society Organisation Forum (EACSOF) to represent the interests of the private sector and civil society
• Capacity building (training) for private sector and civil society organisations
• Awareness raising and information campaigns to ensure broader awareness of the EAC, and of the opportunities it creates among the general population, ultimately leading to greater public participation in the EAC through the CDF
• Improving the communication strategies of private sector and civil society organisations, in order to increase their visibility and membership, and thus ensure a broader-based representation of their respective constituencies
• Promoting the wider representation of private sector and civil society interests in the long term, by working to establish a recognised regional umbrella organisation for civil society organisations.
• Publishing the Non-Tariff-Barrier Index
In addition to these activities, the programme also provides a financial contribution to the EAC Partnership Fund, the objective of which is to enhance regional integration and socio-economic development. It also facilitates the harmonisation of support given to the EAC by the different development partners.
Results achieved so far
• Organisational development
o Efficient monitoring and evaluation is now facilitated through the online regional East African Monitoring System, which links the EAC Secretariat with the ministries responsible for EAC affairs in the five partner states. The quality management system (ISO 9001:2008) is improving processes and is promoting the improved performance of the EAC Secretariat in its efforts to facilitate the East African integration process and to introduce a quality management system for all departments.
• Strengthening of public relations in the EAC
o Capacity development activities for professional journalists have improved their coverage of EAC topics in the regional media. Photographers from the region have also participated in training events, which have helped improve the visual representation of the EAC integration process in EAC publications.
• Deepening regional economic integration
o Liberalisation of service sectors continues, in accordance with the commitments made in the Common Market Protocol.
o The Mutual Recognition Agreement for engineers has been passed, enabling engineers from across the EAC to have their academic and professional qualifications respected anywhere in the region.
o The EAC industrialisation policy and strategy formulates clear goals and priorities for industrial development in the East African region.
o A draft harmonised excise tax law and an agreement for avoiding double taxation and harmful tax competition are currently being ratified by the partner states. These two regulations will facilitate business activities across borders and ensure that tax payers throughout the region operate on a level playing field. The exchange of information among tax administrations is a crucial factor in this. The provision of training has improved the capacities of the regional tax authorities, while an organisational framework for the process of tax harmonisation now connects the EAC Secretariat with the national tax authorities as well as the private sector.
o A regional strategy and a protocol for harmonising intellectual property rights in the health sector have been developed. A regional apex body for the pharmaceuticals industry is now campaigning for the local production of affordable medicines in the region.
• Improved dialogue between the EAC Secretariat and private sector/civil society organisations
o Thanks to the consultative dialogue framework linking the private sector, civil society organisations and other interest groups with the EAC, the EABC and the EACSOF have been able to fulfil their mandates as important advocates for private sector and civil society.
o The EACSOF has developed into a recognised dialogue partner for the EAC Secretariat.
o In all the partner states, sensitisation champions have received training for the roll out EAC sensitisation campaigns. Five youth ambassadors were appointed to advance the interests of young people and encourage their participation in the EAC integration process.
o An annual forum involving the EAC Secretary General and representatives of the private sector and civil society has become established as an integral part of the CDF, which ensures the participation of private sector and civil society orgnisations in the formulation of policy of the EAC.
Further information
§ East African Community
http://www.eac.int
§ German support for the EAC integration process
www.eacgermany.org