Germany and the East African Community (EAC) have signed a 7 million Euro agreement to strengthen pandemic preparedness in the region, and also for investment in digital innovation.
According to a release by the EAC, 3 million Euros will support the operationalization of the EAC Regional Contingency Plan and a regional risk and crisis communication strategy, while 4 million Euros will be invested in an Academic Center for Digital Innovation.
‘The project will support the set-up of a State of the Art Master programme focusing on embedded and mobile systems at an East African University, supporting the development of a skilled labor force in East Africa, the release says of the Art Master programme.
The EAC Secretary-General Ambassador Liberat Mfumukeko signed on behalf of the Community while Egon Kochanke, the German Ambassador to Tanzania who is also accredited to the EAC signed on behalf his government.
The projects will be implemented by the German International Cooperation Agency, GIZ.
‘’We have truly benefited from the German support which has catalysed other development partners to support our projects and programmes,” Amb. Mfumukeko said during the signing ceremony.
On his part Ambassador Kochanke said: “Our support underlines that Germany wishes to further strengthen the long-standing and deep relationship it maintains with the East African Community in order to contribute to the well-being and prosperity of its citizens.”
Accompanying Ambassador Kochanke was the GIZ Country Director, Dr. Regine Qualmannand, the Deputy Head of the GIZ Program at the EAC Dr. Kirsten Focken as well as Counsellor of the Embassy, Mrs Lena Thiede. Others at the function were EAC Deputy Secretary General Finance and Administration, Jesca Eriyo and Deputy Secretary Productive and Social Sector Christophe Bazivamo.
Since cooperation began in 1998 the total volume of German support to the EAC amounts to over 240 million euro.
