kampala international university 8 th may, 2010

Ministry of East African Community Affairs

Overview of the Ministry of East Africa Community Affairs (MEACA)

By Edith N. Mwanje

Permanent Secretary at

Kampala International University8th May, 2010

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Overview

About MEACAStakeholder Expectations of MEACAKey Achievements & ChallengesWe listenWe need your support

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MEACA Vision and Mission

Our Vision:A prosperous, stable and politically united

East Africa

Our Mission:To promote Uganda’s interest in pursuit of East

African Regional Integration

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Strategic Objectives2009-2014

1. Provide strategic leadership, guidance and support for EAC integration; ensure mainstreaming of EAC issues in NDP, sectoral plans and budgets

2. Ensure key EAC institutions & organs meet needs of Uganda & other Partner States

3. Enhance awareness & increase active participation of Public, Private sector, CSOs & other stakeholders in EAC integration

4. Ensure timely, effective implementation of EAC decisions, policies, and programmes

5. Build MEACA’s capacity to effectively coordinate the EAC agenda in Uganda

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MEACA Core Functions

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Stakeholder Expectations

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Strategic Leadership

and guidance on EAC

integration

Strategic Leadership

and guidance on EAC

integration

Coordinate harmonisation

of EAC Policies and

Programmes

Coordinate harmonisation

of EAC Policies and

Programmes

Communicate & Liaise with stakeholders about EAC

Communicate & Liaise with stakeholders about EAC

Build CapacityRaise

awareness on EAC integration

Build CapacityRaise

awareness on EAC integration

Monitor & Evaluate

implementation of EAC decisions

Monitor & Evaluate

implementation of EAC decisions

MEACAMEACA

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Key Achievements

• Staffing and equipping MEACA from 2006 to now.

• Hosting 5th EAC 2007 Extraordinary Summit Rwanda and Burundi accented to EAC Treaty.

• EAC/SADC/COMESA 2008 Tripartite Summit – Free Trade Area (FTA)– Infrastructure

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Key Achievements Cont.

• Regional Conference on Peace and Security, Oct 2009;

• Coordinating HLTF preparatory meetings; engaging the Public, Private Sector,MDAs, Ambassadors;

• Developing a strategic Plan, • Communication Strategy. It covers, target

groups, messages, budgets etc.

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Key Achievements Cont.

• Coordinating Uganda’s participation in signing Common Market Protocol, 20th Nov. 2009.

• Attracting New EAC Institutions, eg. CASSOA• Ratification of the CM Protocol in April 2010.

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Key Challenges

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MEACA ListensConcerns Raised Our Response & Action

Awareness of EAC issues & progress is still low

Communication strategy has been developed. Implementation has started and EAC Information will cascade to all stakeholders.

Provide regular updates to the media, students, CSOs etc, to facilitate understanding of EAC issues

Today’s workshop is one of such endeavours to understand EAC issues.

Create Contact Points for MDAs and Private Sector for enquiries and clarifications

Public Relations Officer now in place, working closely with Ag. Director

Provide messages that target the ordinary person on the ground

Focus is on issues that affect ordinary people directly – employment, education, security etc.

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Working together• Engage actively and participate in the EAC Regional

Integration process• Give us feedback and observations freely & regularly• Take advantage of the opportunities available

• Prioritise EA regional issues• Include EAC topics in your curriculum.• Hold public lecturers and invite resource persons on EAC

Integration• Spread the message on EAC.

• Research more on EAC issues• Get a strong understanding of regional integration• Use MEACA resources freely and openly – Resource

Centre being established

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Thank Youwww.meaca.go.ug

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