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.
