EAC SECTORAL COUNCIL MEETING ON WOMEN,CHILDREN,PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

1^st MEETING OF THE EAC SECTORAL COUNCIL ON GENDER YOUTH, CHILDREN, SOCIAL PROTECTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

BY REGINALD A.MTUI

EAC Meeting of the Sectoral Protection and Community Development starts on 27^th February 2012, at Tausi-AICC Conference Hall in Arusha Tanzania. The 5-Day sect oral council meeting is set to recommend, suggest, draft and put down the strategic plans on community development and the immediate solutions against problems on Gender, Youths, Children and Society at Large.

During the opening session of the meeting the EAC Director of Social Sectors, M/S Mary Makofu said that, there is a need of partner states experts to join together as the region to discuss solutions to the problems regarding women, children, Elders, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and also Youths.

Among the issues which are to be cracked include; Violence against women, Sexual Violence against Women and Children, issues to do with persons with disabilities (PWDs),Urbanization, Drag and substance abuse, Crime, Corruption, Civil Strife, Conflict solutions to the society amongst others.

Following the EAC Article 5 of the treaty that the community shall ensure the attainment of sustainable growth and development of the partner states by providing a more balanced and harmonious development of the partner states, the sect oral council was established by the 21th Meeting of Council after the recommendation made by the first meeting of the Forum of Ministers responsible for Social Development held in Kigali from 15^th to 19^th September 2008.

The drafts, reports and decisions of the previous meetings which are discussed include; Final draft EAC Strategic Plan For Gender, Youth, Children, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Social Protection and Community Development 2012-2016,EAC Conference on the role of women in Socio-Economic Development and Women in Business held at Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda on 5^th to 6^th 2011, Final Draft EAC policy on Persons with Disabilities, Final Draft EAC Youth Policy, First Meeting of Experts on Empowering Border Communities Through Modernization of shared Markets held in Umubano Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda 21^st to 22^nd june,2011, third meeting of the Forum for the ministers responsible for social Development, held on 6^th July 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya, Meeting on Gender and community Development Experts held in Arusha, Tanzania at Kibo Palace Hotel from 30^th January to 3^rd 2012,

Apparently, status of Implementation of Previous council decisions in the Sector and reports of the previous Meetings shall be forwarded to the council Ministers as proposals and later be recommended, finally, endorsed as documents after 2^nd March which will be the climax of the meeting.

INTERNAL MEMO TO DVC FINANCE

                                                                       INTERNAL MEMO

TO; DVC FINANCE

FROM; PRO

DATE; 14/02/2012

RE; UCU PARTCIPATION IN REGIONAL EDUCATION EXHIBITION FOR UNIVERSITIES.

 Since UCU is a well known University in Uganda. It is a great pleasure for us to participate in Regional Education Exhibition for universities which is to take place at Collin Hotel in Mukono-Kampala from 25^th to 30^th of March 2012.

We need to play an active role in making clear our vision is perceived by the participants from both inside and outside the country in order to attract new intakes. This event is very important to us in that, it will not only help us to prove that we are the center of excellence in the heart of Africa but also to sensitize the participants  on the UCU mission, vision, objectives, departments, courses and also academic performance respectively.

UCU will be represented by 50 students, DVC Academics and the Director of events. There is also a need for drivers to take staff members, students and other officials who will be displaying fliers and magazines to Collin Hotel.

A team of about 50 UCU staff and students shall participate in the event to represent UCU. The students shall participate in debate competitions with other universities. Then another group will participate in entertainment activities such as MDD. The DVC Academics shall present the document on the UCU background, mission, vision, objectives, achievements and other issues on Academic, Departments, Students, etc.

We are therefore requesting 6330000 Ushs to support the following; two mini Buses for transport, from campus to Collin Hotel which will cost 100 liters of diesel. We are also needed to pay membership fees of 1000000 Ushs which will directly go to the students association. We also need the writing materials such as note books and pens. Also printed materials such as fliers and brochures.

Budget estimate;

NO of Items.	Particulars.	Quantity.	Total Amount.
1.	Fuel-Diesel	100 liters@3000	300000
2.	UCU T-shirts	100 shirts @ 20000	2000000
3.	Membership fee	50 students 1000000	1000000
4.	UCU-Fliers	200@5000	1000000
5.	MDD Uniform	30shirts &trousers	1800000
6.	Ball pens	2 boxes with100 pens@300	30000
7.	Note books	100pices@2000	200000
		TOTAL PRICE	6330000

EAC MEETING ON PASTORALISM AND DRYLANDS

EAC MEETING ON PASTORALIM.

East African community together with African Union-Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) began three days meeting which takes place at Naura Springs Hotel in Arusha.

The meeting on pastoralism and dry lands started on 13^th February 2012 clasps member states, regional economic communities, pastoral associations, the UN Agencies and Development Partners.

Throughout the opening route the EAC speaker on behalf of the Secretary General Mr. Moses Marwa said that; the EAC region is frequently affected by severe food shortages and incidences of famine and hunger especially in the dry lands due to many factors including inadequate food supply chains leading to poor distribution of food surpluses to those experiencing scarcity as a result of climate change and other factors such as poor transport infrastrastructure and trade barriers.

Moreover the adverse impacts of climate change. They are observed inform of increasing frequency and intensity of droughts and flooding that is a huge threat to the socio-economic well being of the community more so for pastoralists in dry lands. These impacts cut across almost all sectors of the economy including agriculture and food security which is one of the most adversely affected sectors hence the need for mult-sectoral approaches in responding to the diverse impacts of climate change in the critical sector that is a mainstay of the regional economy.

However, the EAC region has potential and capacity to produce enough food to meet the region’s demand and procedure surplus for export to the world market.

Approximately fifty percent 50% of the total EAC area is noted as dry lands. Pastoralists make a significant contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) whereby in many East African countries around 10% it provides moist of the meat consumed in the EAC partner states and provides livelihoods for tens of millions of people. Pastoralists are custodians of the dry lands environments providing services through good rangeland management including biodiversity conservation and wildlife tourism.

In delivering presentations which include back ground paper, policy framework, empowerment and the best practices Dr. Simplice Novala (AU representative) said that; members discuss policies, legal and institutional frameworks which are core pillars of any conservation, food production, natural resource management as well as development work at all societal levels. They define the relationships between people and resources and guide the interactions that ensure relationships for sustainability, growth and harmonious coexistence. Policies which determine the direction and the priority areas in the country’s economic investment plan as well as governance processes. They also provide a framework upon which key decisions are made, strategies are developed and resources are allocated.

African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Director Professor Ahmed Elsawalhy said that; the workshop on pastoral investment opportunities, rangelands, fodder crop development and natural resources management in the dry lands of Africa is important in a sense that through the matters discussed contribute much to the regional pastoralism and agriculture which are the backbone of its economy. 

AU-IBAR is a specialized technical office of the African Union Commission(AUC), created a little over 60 years ago with a mandate to radiate rinderpest, over the years that mandate has expanded to supporting and coordinating the utilization of animal(livestock, fisheries and wildlife)for wellbeing of the people and for the economic development of the countries.

Dry lands in Africa have been undergoing change, although different communities in this area (pastoralists in particular) have always lived with change, the current pace and scale of change is unprecedented. Changes in land use and productivity, population, water resources and climate among others have occurred and will continue to do so. There are direct drivers to this change, which include biophysical and socio-economic development, they caught up in a spiral of deforestation, fragmentation and desertification.

AU-IBAR has stepped an extra miles away as it managed to commission various studies to look in to the factors affecting the development of dry lands in Africa with particular reference to animal resources in these areas. One of the studies which looked at options for improving livelihoods in pastoral systems and the critical factors which could contribute to development and empowerment of communities while two others have documented the best practices and lessons learnt from past interventions in the dry lands with specific focus of range management and fodder crop development, as well as the wildlife interface management. The studies which are on the AU IBAR strategic plan of 2010-2014 conducted as part of the implementation of the pastoral policy framework of the African Union which endorsed by the heads of states and Governments in 2011.

The all through meeting will reach its climax on Wednesday 15th 2012.

By Reginald A. Mtui.

EAC-EPA AND WTO MEETING ON PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

By Reginald A.Mtui.

East African Community regional workshop on the interaction between the world trade organization and economic partnership agreements (EPA) negotiations has come to an end on 16^th February 2012 at Ngurdoto Lodge in Arusha-Tanzania.

The workshop was the initiative of the EAC Brussels based Ambassadors who came with ideas of making the region economic agreement to be clear and understandable in order to improve the analytical understanding of the technical staff to promote and defend the EAC Position.

Economic partnership agreements treaty was signed in 2010 for the target of boasting business and trade among the region. The treaty was under the third development strategy where by policies on customs unions were initiated.

During the closing sessions of the meeting the EAC Director General of Trade and custom, Dr. Peter Kiguta said that; affairs which were discussed shall not become true unless they are implemented. Initially members had given opportunity to recommend and suggest the wayfoward for the draft of plans toward economic negotiations.

Working closer economically with the most developed European countries will give a room for the region to improve national and regional connectivity in order to deepen regional economic integration. Because any trade depends on transportation the transport systems resolutions to restructure were discussed. The region will also get a better market accession. Members discussed ways on how Expansion of the regions energy generation capacity shall be done. The region will be provided with a conducive environment for attracting investment in the sector. Performance of the small scale farmers will expand in that they will be helped financially and morally to establish farmer’s organizations. On top of all EAC region will gain financial and non financial support from WTO and EU. 

INTERNAL MEMO TO PIPRO

INTERNAL MEMO.

TO; SG

FROM; PIPRO

DATE; 15/02/2012

SUBJECT; AMBASSADORS VISITATION TO EAC HEADQUARTERS.

  Due to European and Ireland ambassadors visitation  on 16^th February 2012 where they shall present their accreditation letters and finally visit the under construction EAC headquarters, the following are suggestions for the event schedule, refreshments, media coverage, security arrangements and the venue where it will take place.

I suggest that the event should take place at Simba Hall at 9.00a.m where by there will be a brief welcome remarks at 9.00am by the secretary General. Photos shall be taken by EAC photographer.

At 10.00am ambassador of European Union, H.E. Filberto Ceriani will deliver his presentation. Photos shall be taken.

Around 11.00 a.m ambassador of Ireland H.E Lorcan Fullam shall have a pleasure to present his accreditation letters.

Finally there will be a site tour where by all guests and members shall visit the new EAC Headquarters at 12.00 noon.

During the event visitors and other members shall be given refreshments such as water, tea, bites and sweets. Security will be handled by EAC security officers. EAC Photographers and news writers will cover the function.

Thank you.