EAC and UN Agencies to Establish Structured Partnership Framework for Regional Development

 

ARUSHA, Tanzania – The East African Community (EAC) and four United Nations agencies have committed to establishing a structured partnership framework to coordinate and drive joint action on regional health and development priorities.

The proposed framework aims to provide a coordinated mechanism to support regional initiatives and translate them into practical actions that improve the lives and livelihoods of East Africans.

The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha between the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Stephen Mbundi, and regional directors from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Key Highlights of the Partnership

• Framework Formalisation: Amb. Mbundi called for the framework to be formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to clearly define areas of cooperation, directing that the process be completed within the next three months.
• Core Focus Areas: The discussions highlighted health and human capital development as critical sectors. This includes sustained investments in Universal Health Coverage (UHC), HIV response, gender equality, adolescents, youth, and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH).
• Public Awareness: The Secretary General emphasized the need to strengthen public awareness regarding the EAC integration process, ensuring citizens see its practical contributions to their daily lives.

Moving Forward

The four UN agencies—led by Ms. Lydia Zigomo (UNFPA), Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi (WHO), Ms. Etleva Kadilli (UNICEF), and Ms. Medhin Tsehaiu (UNAIDS)—reaffirmed their commitment to protecting and accelerating progress in regional health outcomes.

Building on past collaborations, such as the creation of regional minimum standards for integrated RMNCAH and HIV services, this new framework will serve as a streamlined platform for the EAC, UN agencies, and Partner States to align efforts and enhance regional capacities.