1. Overview of the main characteristics of the MULPOC of East African and the Indian Ocean Islands.

This publication gives the general characteristics of the 13 countries and the main intergovernmental organizations covered by the Eastern Africa Subregional Development Centre (EASRDC). The main economic indicators such as geographical location, population, economic potentialities and GDP are briefly indicated for each country covered by EASRDC.

2. Assessment of socio-economic conditions in the Eastern Africa subregion.

The document indicates that the Eastern African Subregion, as a whole, had witnessed some GDP growth of 2.8 per cent in 1995 as well as some slight progress at the level of social indicators. These achievements, in some of the countries, were linked to post-war performances and in other cases, they were as a result of economic reform programmes and good agricultural performance. That generally good performance notwithstanding, some countries, especially, those experiencing political problems and instability, still registered some lackluster performances. The same situation was obtained at the social development front. Indicators improved in the stable countries but either stagnated or depreciated in the countries rocked by social disturbances. About 3.9 million people wear rendered refugees as a result of the conflict among member countries and the index on education, health and nutrition reflected that very state of existence. Overall economic reforms were one common matter in the subregion. Even though the reforming countries still had some distance to go in removing structural impediments, the economic environment was seen as becoming friendlier than the previous years. Thus, the subreigon's GDP growth rate was estimated at 4.2 per cent in 1996 and 3.0 per cent in 1997.

3. Survey on the rationalization and harmonization of the economic cooperation and integration programme in the East African Subregion.

The survey highlights the complex nature of the cooperation network, characterized, particularly, by the high number of IGOs, the overlapping of their geographical spaces and the similarity of their participation areas. The situation justified the need for rationalization, considering the financial constraints of the states and the objectives set by the Abuja Treaty. On the basis of that analysis, the document recommend three possible approaches to rationalization: (a)the merger of institutional frameworks existing within one single Regional Community; (b) task distribution among the Regional Community, subregional communities and other intergovernmental organizations, and (c) the harmonization of the existing protocols of the treaties establishing East African IGOs. The survey indicates that rationalization through "mergers and absorptions" would only be possible through the initiatives of individual member States. Furthermore, the survey recommend that all phases of the rationalization process should be coordinated at the level of joint OAU/ECA/ADB Secretariat and the Economic Community/OAU.

4. Study on post-harvest food losses in the Eastern Africa Subregion

Post-harvest food losses recorded, represented 2 to 26 per cent and even 50 per cent of total food production, depending on the type of products and the storage conditions. Therefore, the losses contributed, considerably, to the reduction of available foodstuffs. Food losses were mostly caused by insects, micro-organisms, birds and rodents, and facilitated by the deficient food storage and conservation systems, particularly, for such products as bananas or tubers. Huge food losses also occurred during the handling and processing of certain products. The study made a diagnosis of the methods used in the storage and conservation of foodstuffs at the level of the producer and purchasing, distribution and processing centres. With regard to the producer, the most commonly used methods were storehouses with all their variations, earth jugs; baskets; bags; casks and calabashes; small huts; sieves; holes in the ground; or roofs. Hangars and stores, silos, containers and even open-air storage systems were in use at the purchasing, distribution and processing centres. The study recommends the following measures:

a) A National level: to popularize food storage and conservation systems as well as processing technologies that so far stood the test.b) At the regional level: (i) the organization of a subregional seminar on the prevention and reduction of pre-and post-harvest food losses/collection; (ii) the implementation of a subregional programme for the prevention and reduction of food losses; and (iii) the execution of a subregional project for the processing of tubers and root crops.

5. Small scale food processing technologies and their use in the rural areas of the Eastern Africa Subregion

The publication confirms that the countries of the East african subregion recognized the importance of the food processing sector and were focusing their efforts on the promotion of processing technologies. The conservation of agricultural products had become complex as a result of attacks by insects and decay. Increasing efforts were being made to utilize food processing technologies to increase the production of any other foodstuffs liable to help the people of the East African subregion substitute their usual eating habits with a lighter, healthy and balanced diet, based on various types of locally produced edible oils, fish, bread and honey. Any assistance in favour of the small-scale food processing activities in the rural areas should take into consideration the socio-economic framework concerned, so as to include the following social groups: crop harvesting farmers, fishermen, the small-scale food producers in the rural areas (e.g. harvesting staff and their family), crop and fish traders, the suppliers of various inputs, and production equipment and local consumers. The acceptance of such assistance by the above groups, its impact on productivity and income, and its effectiveness in bringing about the desired changes, were important factors to be considered. The consumers cooperatives expected to organize the wholesale and retail of food products and training in the rural areas, were operating through small-scale food producers. Its training operations could target all food products, such as edible oil, fish, vegetable and juice. The cooperatives would identify the training needs and coordinate the training of various cooperative members in such areas as food processing, storage, marketing and trading.

6. Report on the Tripartite Consultative Meeting-Economic Operators/Investors/NGOs-in Kinshasa (Congo DRC), 23-26 September 1996

The report indicates that the objective of the meeting was to further involve economic operators, investors and NGOs in the regional integration process by offering them opportunities and a framework for consultations on projects initiated by the subregion's IGOs and private operators. The meeting recognized the participation of several regional and non-regional economic operators, NGOs and development partners including the delegation from the European Union, and the Francophone business Forum. At the end of their deliberations, participants in the Kinshasa meeting adopted two recommendations. The first focused on the need to institutionalize an annual meeting among the region's economic operators and the second, on the organization of a Round Table Meeting of the African and European NGOs in order to pave the way for partnership and cooperation amongst them.

7. Women and Development in Eastern African Subregion

The magazine on women and development informs the readers on the following women's concerns: (i) women in the face of the subregion's socio-economic development; (ii) national mechanisms for the advancement of women in view of their integration in national socio-economic development activities; (iii) health and education; (iv) follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, in September 1995; and (v) the current situation of the project to establish an African Women Development Bank (AWDB). The magazine indicates that the countries of the East African subregion were convinced that without the tangible integration of women in national socio-economic activities, it would be difficult to attain balanced and sustainable development. Therefore, the countries of the subregion established mechanisms for the promotion of women integration. Though women's participation in national socio-economic development activities had indeed been increasing, the project to set up the African Women Development Bank was encountering difficulties linked to the lack of funds to carry out feasibility studies on its establishment.

8. Joint-ventures and other forms of collaboration in the development of the transport market on Lakes Kivu and Tanganyika

The document on joint-ventures and the various forms of cooperation envisage for the smooth operation of the transport market gives the relevant directions to economic operators involved in the project. The document also includes a detailed analysis of the political, economic and technical environment in which such joint-ventures would operate. The problems identified, required that a cautious policy should be adopted in the project commercialization. Firstly, the objectives would consist of identifying the interested operators, providing them with an appropriate consultative framework within existing cooperation mechanisms and promoting the project within that same framework. The next step would derive from the results of those direct consultations, and would focus on such concrete actions as the execution of the feasibility study, preparation of the financial document and the search for the required funding.

9. Eastern African Development Bulletin - Issue No. 1 June 1997-

The Eastern Africa SRDC will, through the Eastern African Development Bulletin, endeavor to strength its regional cooperation network, promote a debate on strategic development issues and the wider dissemination of information and economic data with a view to serving Africa better. The issue No. 1 of this Bulletin is devoted to (a) the fate of the Refugees (b) small scale food processing technologies and their use in the rural areas of the Eastern African Subregion, (c) African information society initiative: Fostering Subregional and Regional Cooperation and Integration through information and communications technologies; (d) The water-hyacinth in the East african Subregion: A challenge to sustainable Development and Subregional Cooperation and (e) To wards the rationalization and harmonization of Intergovernmental Organizations responsible for the promotion of subregional cooperation and integration in the Eastern Africa Subregion.

10. Report on consultative symposium on strengthening capacity for gender initiatives and subregional cooperation

The report informs that the objective of the symposium was to provide a beginning of a process for subregional gender facilitators and implementors to forge operational partnerships in planning, implementation and monitoring of gender programmes in the Eastern Africa Subregion. The symposium was devoted to the discussions on the following issues: (a) Modalities for strengthening capacities of gender initiatives and Subregional Cooperation in Eastern Africa; (b) Enhancing mechanisms for joint planning, implementation,coordination and monitoring gender activities in the subregion; (c) Devising modalities for information development and dissemination and (d) Enhancing subregional cooperation and integration. The report includes the recommendation of the symposium regarding the establishment of a gender Advisory Committee.

11. Study on Fleet-Planning and Financial Study on the Joint CEPGL Airlines

The document indicates that the objective of this project is to disenclave the landlocked part of the subregion and to link the Eastern Africa subregion with the rest of the world. The impact expected is also analysed in the document, such as: (a) to maximize profit and properly utilize the aircraft capacity; (b) to increase the African and European destinations. (b) the global inter-africa passenger traffic which was 154,111 in 1997 will grow to 205,572 in the year 2002. The study concludes that the main clients of the project are the Eastern/Great Lakes-Southern-Western Africa and some European countries.

12. Macro-economic coordination and harmonization among the countries of the Eastern African Subregion.

The document indicates that macroeconomic and harmonization and coordination is one of the priority areas for regional cooperation and integration. The content of this document is devoted to the survey of macro economic policy trends and their impact on regional cooperation. The issues discussed in this document are related to macroeconomic policy development, effective measures to the private business sector and civil society in dialogue on the formulation and implementaiton of dynamic macroeconomic policies and programmes. The document recommends to sensitize the member States of RECs on the role and signifiance of macro economic issues and the essence of macro economic coordination and harmonization as one of the instruments of regional coordination and harmonization, as one of the instruments of regional cooperation and integration.

Communication Team, Economic Commission for Africa, P.O. Box 3001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251-1-51 58 26 Fax: +251-1-51 03 65 (direct) or +251-1-51 22 33
Email: ecainfo@uneca.org Webmaster: ecaweb@uneca.org
© Copyright ECA 2000