Latest news with #VeronicaNduva
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
East African Community (EAC) Champions Harmonised Africa Resource Mobilisation Strategy as it assumes EAC-Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)-Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Leadership
As the African continent continues to grapple with limited resources to finance its development agenda and ambitions, the East African Community (EAC) Secretary General, Hon. Veronica M. Nduva, has called for a unified, continent-wide resource mobilization strategy to replace fragmented and duplicative efforts and to strengthen Africa's resource coalition. The Secretary General observed that while the region has held various forums deliberating on strategies to pool resources for the continent, there is need for a harmonized and streamlined approach to deliver a common strategy. She emphasized the importance of coordinated action to unlock large-scale financing capable of advancing the goals of the African Union's Agenda 2063. Hon. Nduva was speaking at a high-level roundtable convened by the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on the sidelines of the 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms. The meeting brought together the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, heads of African Union institutions, Regional Economic Communities, African Union Member States' representatives, development partners, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on how to fast-track the realization of Agenda 2063 through more effective and African-led resource mobilization. The Secretary General advocated for blended financing that leverages public, private, and philanthropic capital. She urged greater involvement of African philanthropists and the private sector in defining and deepening their contributions. 'It is also critical that we consider the adoption of austerity measures to ensure that resources allocated for projects deliver the intended outcomes,' she stated. Hon. Nduva further underscored the importance of integrating technology into all efforts to strengthen planning, coordination, and implementation. Echoing this call for transformation, the AU Commission Chairperson,H.E. Youssouf stressed the urgency of moving away from donor dependency towards a model anchored in African ownership and alignment with the continent's priorities. 'As we prepare for the official launch of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Agreement during the 4th Tripartite Summit, it is essential that the key instruments critical to the operationalization of the TFTA are adopted by the next Meeting of the Tripartite Council of Ministers,' he emphasized. At the same Summit, the EAC took over the Chairmanship of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Task Force (TTF) from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) , for the next one Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Agreement officially entered into force on 25 July 2024, having reached the required 14 ratifications by Member and Partner States. Preparations are now underway for its formal launch during the forthcoming 4th Tripartite Summit. As a key building block of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the TFTA seeks to integrate the economies of the three regional blocs, eliminate trade barriers, ease the movement of goods, services and people and stimulate industrial growth across the region. Hon. Nduva noted that the EAC will focus on advancing the finalization and exchange of tariff offers, completion and adoption of the rules of origin, ratification of the TFTA Agreement by the remaining Member/Partner States and ratification of the Tripartite Agreement on the movement of business and persons. 'We are committed to prioritizing the operationalization of the agreements made and the revival of the Industrial Development Pillar,' she stated. Hon. Nduva also underscored the importance of strengthening the institutional framework around the TFTA, including the need for a dedicated Tripartite Secretariat to drive coordination and implementation. 'We see the Tripartite FTA as a strategic lever to deepen integration, enhance competitiveness, unlock intra-African trade and advance inclusive industrialization,' she added. The meeting also explored options for mobilizing resources to support the TFTA's operations and activities. The COMESA-EAC-SADC TFTA was first launched in June 2015 in Egypt by Heads of State and Government from the three blocs. It is anchored on three core pillars: market integration, infrastructure development and industrial development. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community (EAC).
Zawya
04-07-2025
- General
- Zawya
All set for the 4th East African Community (EAC) World Kiswahili Language Day in Kigali, Rwanda
Preparations are in high gear for the 4th EAC World Kiswahili Language Day scheduled for 6th and 7th July, 2025 in Kigali, Republic of Rwanda.` The two-day event convened under the theme; Kiswahili, Inclusive Education and Sustainable Development aims to celebrate and promote the Kiswahili language as a vital tool for regional unity, cultural exchange, and development within the East African Community. The objective of the 4th EAC World Kiswahili Language Day is to provide a platform for Partner States, development partners and other Kiswahili stakeholders to interrogate the relationship between Kiswahili, inclusive education, and sustainable development. The celebrations, organised by the East African Community (EAC) together with the Republic of Rwanda as a host, will bring together Government representatives from the EAC Partner States; Academia; Media personnel; Authors, publishers and distributors of Kiswahili materials; civil society, private sector; youth groups and representatives of EAC Organs and Instltutions. Speaking ahead of the celebrations of the EAC World Kiswahili Language Day celebrations, the EAC Secretary General H.E Veronica Nduva expressed enthusiasm about the significance of Kiswahili in strengthening regional ties. 'Kiswahili is not just a language but a bridge that unites our diverse communities across the East African region. Its promotion aligns with our broader goals of fostering unity, economic integration, and shared cultural identity among Partner States,' said the Secretary General. 'We are delighted to host the 4th EAC World Kiswahili Language Day in Kigali and look forward to vibrant celebrations that highlight the beauty and importance of Kiswahili,' she added. The Secretary General further emphasised the EAC's commitment to promoting Kiswahili as an official language of the region, urging Partner States to continue investing in its dissemination and teaching at all levels of education. The celebrations of 4th EAC Kiswahili Language Day will feature Panel discussions; Youth mentorship and engagements with other stakeholders; Media engagement; Cultural performances; Exhibitions and Awareness creation activities all aimed at exhibiting Kiswahili as a for inclusive education and sustainable development for the region. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community (EAC).
Business Insider
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Financial crisis looms in East African Community as member states owe $58 million
As of March 2025, the East African Community Secretariat revealed that member states collectively owe a staggering $58 million in contributions, setting off a string of challenges for the bloc. This followed a meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers in Arusha, Tanzania this week to address the financial crisis caused by a shortage of funds for programs and staff salaries, which is threatening operations at the Secretariat. The meeting highlighted the cash shortfall as a top agenda item, alongside security concerns. This significant shortfall in funding has put essential programs and staff salaries at risk, threatening to halt operations across the bloc. Zawya reports that the growing debt and the lack of consistent budget remittances from partner states have put the future stability of the EAC in jeopardy. The EAC The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising six member states: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. Founded in 1967, the EAC aims to promote economic integration, peace, and stability within East Africa. It seeks to foster cooperation in various sectors, including trade, infrastructure development, and security. The EAC operates through various institutions and organs, including the Council of Ministers, the East African Court of Justice, and the EAC Secretariat, which is based in Arusha, Tanzania. The organization has made significant strides toward creating a common market and political federation but faces challenges related to financial constraints and member states' commitment. East African states see cash crunch As of March 2025, EAC member states owed $58,048,678 to the bloc, with only Kenya and Tanzania fully paying their contributions. Uganda has paid 99% of its due amount. The ongoing defaults have forced the EAC Secretariat, led by Veronica Nduva, to scale back operations. The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has skipped sittings, and the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) faces a backlog of over 260 cases, worsened by a lack of permanent judges. The Secretariat is also dealing with a staffing crisis, with 150 vacancies and 30 senior staff set to leave by the end of the financial year.
Zawya
17-03-2025
- General
- Zawya
East Africa: EAC4Nature Project launched to foster sustainable natural resources management in the region
The East African Community (EAC), in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU), today launched the EAC4Nature Project, a transformative three-year initiative designed to enhance sustainable natural resource management across the region. The EAC4Nature Project, titled 'Support to Management of Nature-Based Solutions with the East African Community' will run from January 2025 to June 2028 with a total funding of 8 million euros (5.5 million Euros from BMZ and 2. 5 million Euros from the EU). The groundbreaking project focuses on integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) into regional policies, enhancing transboundary cooperation and strengthening the capacities of regional basin organisations — Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA), and Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin Authority (ABAKIR). The overarching objective of the project is to bolster the capacity of key actors within the EAC to implement climate-resilient and gender-responsive nature-based solutions, ensuring regional environmental policies address both climate adaptation and community resilience. The project is commissioned by BMZ and co-financed by the EU with GIZ providing technical implementation support. The EAC4Nature Project will focus on three (3) key areas, namely: (i) Integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into EAC policies and regulations while ensuring gender-sensitive approaches. (ii) Strengthening the institutional capacities of Lake Victoria Basin Commission and Lake Tanganyika Authority for effective NbS planning and coordination; and (iii) Enhancing information management to support climate-resilient water and environmental solutions. Speaking during the official launch of the EAC4Nature Project in Entebbe, Uganda on behalf of the EAC Secretary General, H.E Veronica Nduva, the Executive Director of the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), Eng. Richard Gatete, reaffirmed the EAC's commitment to integrating nature-based solutions into regional climate policies and frameworks. 'As we launch the EAC4Nature Project today, let us remember that this is not just a project; it is a call to action. It is a call to work together, across borders and sectors, to protect our natural wealth, build climate resilience and secure a sustainable future for the people of East Africa,' said Eng. Gatete. Eng. Gatete hailed the invaluable support provided by the BMZ) and the EU, adding that such partnerships had been instrumental in driving transformative change across the region. Eng. Gatete said the project will promote the use of Nature-Based Solutions to provide a transformative pathway to address climate change while enhancing biodiversity and improving livelihoods. 'Through the EAC4Nature Project, the region seeks to foster stronger partnerships between regional institutions, development partners, and communities to jointly safeguard ecosystems'', added Eng. Gatete. Julia Kronberg, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Tanzania, emphasised Germany's strong partnership with the EAC in advancing climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, public health, trade and regional integration. 'Germany has an interest to build strong international partnerships to promote nature-based solutions and even more so nature-based resilience. We are proud to collaborate with the EAC and EU in addressing a triangle of climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss focusing on fresh-water nature-based solutions in and for East Africa', said Ms. Kronberg. On behalf of the EU, Mr. Pierre-Yves Renaud, Manager for Energy, Water, Sanitation, and Environment at the EU Delegation to Burundi, reaffirmed the EU's long-standing commitment to sustainable water management and regional cooperation in the Great Lakes Region. 'Tanganyika Kivu Water Management (TAKIWAMA) reflects the EU's dedication to environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and transboundary water governance. We are proud to support regional institutions and partners in their efforts to protect water resources, enhance livelihoods, and advance regional integration,' said Mr. Renaud. In her remarks, Eng. Coletha Ruhamya, the Deputy Executive Director of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) and Mr. Kwibisa Linywalii, the Director for Monitoring and Evaluation of Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) both underscored the importance of the project, highlighting its potential to enhance data-driven decision-making, strengthen institutional cooperation and foster innovative approaches to managing the shared water resources and ecosystems within the region. On his part, Mr. Jean Paul Nyembo Mwamba, the Coordinating Director from Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin Authority (ABAKIR) said that the project was not just about conservation but also integrating nature-based solutions in the regional policies, frameworks, and practices to ensure sustainable natural resource management and climate resilience. The EAC4Nature Project builds on the 6th EAC Development Strategy, which prioritises transboundary environmental management and climate resilience. It also aligns with the EAC Gender Mainstreaming Policy and IUCN standards for Nature-Based Solutions, ensuring that women, youth, and vulnerable communities actively participate in project implementation and decision-making. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community (EAC).
