Development Partners express confidence on EAC 

East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 19 October 2012: The Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community in charge of Finance and Administration Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva embarked this week on a series of meetings in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to drum up support for the EAC Partnership Fund.

EAC Deputy Secretary General

The Deputy Secretary General met with the Ambassadors of Italy, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Ireland; and the Deputy Ambassador of Finland.

During the talks with the envoys, Mr. Nsengiyumva emphasized the need for more support to the EAC Partnership Fund which is the only instrument for general budget support to the regional bloc. The EAC official urged Italy, Turkey, Switzerland and Ireland to join as new contributors to the Fund.

The Republic of Finland committed additional support of two million euros and Belgium indicated a possible addition of 900,000 euros to the Partnership Fund.  Norway reaffirmed its continued support to the Fund and DFID reiterated its assurance of support by pledging an additional 1.5 million pounds for the FY 2012/13.

The Deputy Secretary General also met with the EU delegation in the United Republic of Tanzania and explored the continued support to Regional Integration Support Programme (RISP). The current program expires in December 2013. A continuation program has already been worked on for 5.6 million euros to start in January 2014.

The Development Partners expressed confidence on how the Funds were being utilized and applauded the Partnership Fund priorities such as Common Market implementation and awareness programs.  They emphasized the need to demonstrate results.

The Deputy Secretary General was accompanied by Dr. James Njagu, head of the Resource Mobilization unit at the EAC Secretariat.

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