The Sixth Annual EAC Secretary General’s Forum themed Strategizing for impact: People-Centred and Market-Driven Integration is scheduled to take place from July 23-24, 2018 in in Nairobi, Kenya, the EAC Secretariat says in a press release for Wednesday.
According to a press release, about 100 delegates have so far confirmed participation in the forum expected draw the partner states’ private sector organisations (PSOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), professional bodies, academia, universities, media, EAC Organs and institutions, development partners and other interest groups.
The forum aims to provide a platform for regular dialogue between the EAC Secretary General and the private sector, civil society and other interest groups on how to improve the EAC integration process, says the press release.
The annual event is convened by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Regional Dialogue Committee (RDC) which is comprised of membership drawn the private sector, civil society, representatives of government, trade union, employer and professional associations/bodies.
“The upcoming event will review the work plan and progress reports on the Consultative Dialogue Framework (CDF) for Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups, which was adopted by the 26th Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers; consider translating SG’s Forum Resolutions to Policy; define success stories of the Dialogue Process; and consider Sustainability of the Consultative Dialogue Framework by redefining the Roles of the Dialogue Parties,” says the press release.
The first forum took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in December, 2012, with the theme: “Review of Implementation of The EAC Common Market”; The second was in Nairobi, Kenya in October, 2013 and themed “The EAC We Want”; The third was held in Entebbe September, 2014 under the theme “EAC: My Home, My Business”.
The fourth forum was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in March 2016, under the theme “Good Governance and Constitutionalism in the East African Community”; and the fifth forum was held in June 2017 in Bujumbura, Burundi, under the theme: “15 Years of The EAC: Towards a Borderless Community”.
The Dialogue’s framework was endorsed by the EAC Council of Ministers at its 26th meeting in November 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Article 127 (4) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community provides that: “ The Secretary General shall provide the forum for consultations between the private sector, civil society organizations, other interest groups and appropriate institutions of the Community.
Article 129 (2) mandates the Council; to establish modalities that would enable the business organizations or associations, professional bodies and the civil society in the Partner States to contribute effectively to the development of the Community.
The forum is guided by the principles of cooperation for mutual benefit, trust, goodwill, active and constructive participation, inclusivity and respect for diverse views, among others.