Unlocking Regional Opportunities: Empowering SMEs Through EAC-GIZ Partnership (GIZ)
"We are grateful to EAC and GIZ for their support, which has enabled our company to build additional networks and create more linkages in the EAC and beyond. With knowledge sharing and networking at various exhibitions, I plan to diversify our product portfolio beyond cashew nuts and supply markets across EAC and Africa and eventually go global." Fatna Tambwe General Manager, Munawar Foods, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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About German Development Cooperation
The East African Community (EAC) and Germany are united by a long history of cooperation that predates the re-establishment of the East African Community (EAC) in 2000. The German government has supported the East African integration since 1999, based on the common understanding that regional integration will improve the social and economic development of EAC Partner States. Since then, Germany has committed more than 580 million euros for development cooperation with the EAC, making Germany one of the biggest and most reliable bilateral development partners of the community.
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CSOs Renew their Drive to Strengthen Citizen Participation in Regional Integration Agenda (GIZ)
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across the East African Community (EAC) Partner States have reaffirmed their strong commitment in amplifying the voices of citizens including special groups, in a renewed drive to strengthen participation in the regional integration process. This was the clear message from a series of national consultations aimed at deepening collaboration between civil society, governments and regional institutions.
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Beyond Borders: Expanding Financial Inclusion Through e-Commerce (GIZ)
In the evolving landscape of Africa’s digital economy, cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) has emerged as a transformative force, particularly for rural women entrepreneurs. For Mwanama, a small-scale maize trader at the Isebania–Sirari border between Kenya and Tanzania, e-commerce has transformed how she does business. She began trading informally across the border by taking orders via phone from customers and delivering them locally using tuk-tuks (auto-rickshaws). As her customer base grew, she officially registered her business, enabling her to trade under the East Africa Community Customs Union Simplified Trade Regime (STR).
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Enhancing Capacities of Service Enterprises for Effective Participation in Regional and Continental Trade (GIZ)
East African Community (EAC) private sector umbrella body - the East African Business Council (EABC) in partnership with GIZ-LIFTED project, successfully concluded building the capacities of service enterprises to effectively participate in regional and continental trade under the frameworks of the EAC Common Markets and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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Reinforcing CSOs Engagement in the EAC Integration Processes: The Case of Democratic Republic of The Congo (GIZ)
Civil society is ensuring that citizens are heard and play a central role in the shaping of policies – the same is true for regional economic integration in East Africa. In 2024, the East African Civil Society Organizations' Forum (EACSOF), supported by GIZ through the EU-Cofunded LIFTED project, witnessed the establishment of a local chapter of EACSOF in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which aims to bring in the voices of Congolese civil society in economic integration in East Africa.
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Professionals Across EAC take Stock of Measures to Enhance Cross-Border Mobility (GIZ)
Professionals across the East African Community (EAC) region are keen to take advantage of common market opportunities in EAC Partner States and throughout Africa. Both the East African Community (EAC) and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) aspire to creating a single market for services. One of the approaches to facilitate structured mobility of professionals across borders is through the signature of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), which enable service providers to practice in other Partner States without being subjected to duplicative qualification or licensing processes.
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Empowering Civil Society as a Driving Force in Regional Economic Integration – A Transformative Year for EACSOF (GIZ)
Integration of civil society voices is key to driving people-centred East African integration. One of the central actors to shape and communicate these voices is the East African Civil Society Organizations Forum (EACSOF) – a regional NGO founded in 2009 in Arusha, Tanzania. It represents civil society organisations across East Africa. EACSOF aims to enhance civil society engagement in the EAC integration process through information sharing, networking, and capacity building.
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Key Stakeholders Validate EAC Policy Frameworks on Gender, Youth, and Social Development (GIZ)
From 3 to 7 November 2025, regional experts, civil society representatives (CSOs), and policymakers from across the East African Community (EAC) convened in Nairobi, Kenya, to validate and finalise critical policy documents designed to advance social inclusion, equitable development and youth empowerment across the eight EAC Partner States. The week-long session represented the final endorsement for the updated frameworks on gender equality, youth empowerment, child rights, social protection, and community development.
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Unlocking Regional Opportunities: Empowering SMEs Through EAC-GIZ Partnership (GIZ)
"We are grateful to EAC and GIZ for their support, which has enabled our company to build additional networks and create more linkages in the EAC and beyond. With knowledge sharing and networking at various exhibitions, I plan to diversify our product portfolio beyond cashew nuts and supply markets across EAC and Africa and eventually go global." Fatna Tambwe General Manager, Munawar Foods, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Read More....About German Development Cooperation
The East African Community (EAC) and Germany are united by a long history of cooperation that predates the re-establishment of the East African Community (EAC) in 2000. The German government has supported the East African integration since 1999, based on the common understanding that regional integration will improve the social and economic development of EAC Partner States. Since then, Germany has committed more than 580 million euros for development cooperation with the EAC, making Germany one of the biggest and most reliable bilateral development partners of the community.
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Agriculture & Food Security
Agriculture is one of East Africa’s most important sectors with about 80% of the region’s population living in rural areas and depending on agriculture for their livelihood.
Customs Union & Common Market
While the objectives of the East African Community cover almost all spheres of life, the main goal of the Customs Union is the formation of a Single Customs Territory and the implementation of the…
Education & Training
Recognising the importance of education and science & technology in economic development, the EAC focuses on harmonised curricula, certification and accreditation institutions as well as joint…
Environment & Natural Resources
The East African Community is endowed with various natural resources such as forests, water, wildlife, mountains, minerals and energy resources.
Gender, Community Development & Civil Society Mobilization
EAC regional integration is people-centred and participatory. To this end, broad participation of key stakeholders including women, youth, private sector and civil society is needed. Partner States…
Health
The EAC Secretariat is mandated to offer advisory and coordinating support for the Seven Partner States in the prevention of and response to outbreaks of infectious diseases of public health concern.
Industrial Development & SMEs
The EAC Partner States aspire to transform their economies to a modern and industrialised status that can sustainably generate sufficient outputs to satisfy both domestic and export markets and…
Investment & Private Sector Development
With the aim of harnessing the investment potential to promote economic growth and development in the region, the EAC Partner States have agreed to cooperate in the areas of Investment and Industrial…
Organisational Development & Outreach
The fast pace of EAC integration necessitates constant development of EAC at an organisational level to steer the integrational process. Furthermore, clear and tangible communication on the benefits…
Peace & Security
The EAC aims to achieve a peaceful and integrated region by enabling and enforcing collaboration between Partner States in preventing and resolving disputes and conflicts and ridding the region of…
Tourism & Wildlife
East Africa has recorded impressive achievements in the realm of tourism owing to the conscious efforts by EAC Partner States to work together in promoting growth in the sector.
