The East African Community (EAC) is the most integrated regional economic organisation in Africa, according to the Africa Regional Integration Index. Indeed, trade-related integration is more advanced than in other regional economic communities in Africa, for example, having a customs union and thus applying a Common External Tariff regime. Nevertheless, non-tariff barriers are still an obstacle for implementing the Customs Union and the Common Market.
The action “Leveraging Integration Frameworks for Trade in Services and CSOs in the EAC” (LIFTED) is jointly co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The Action is part of and contributes to the “Team Europe Initiative” supporting the African economic integration towards the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Support to Regional Networks of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
It furthers the implementation of the regional economic integration agenda (EAC Customs Union and Common Market) with particular attention to free movement of services and enhanced participation of civil society, women, and youth organisations for people-centred economic integration. With this focus, LIFTED aims at increasing business competitiveness, boosting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, attracting further investments, creating decent jobs, and increasing citizen’s participation in East African integration.
LIFTED supports EAC integration on four main levels. Firstly, it aims to increase liberalisation of services (TiS). This is achieved through identifying and removing barriers that restrict cross-border TiS and defining commitments in additional sectors in line with Art. 23 of the Common Market Protocol (CMP), AfCFTA, and relevant Economic Partnership Agreement provisions. In partnership with the East African Business Council, the programme supports the private sector to take advantage of opportunities arising from the EAC services liberalisation by enhancing the capacity of service suppliers, particularly MSMEs and women and youth-owned businesses, to maximise export potential.
Secondly, LIFTED focuses on streamlining tourism operating requirements across all EAC Partner States through simplifying and standardising the process for obtaining and maintaining tourism-related operating licenses in the region; and promotion of the EAC region as a single destination under the “Visit East Africa – Feel the Vibe” brand, thereby boosting the growth of the regional tourism sector.
Thirdly, on recognition of academic and professional qualifications across the region, LIFTED supports efforts towards the implementation of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), particularly for the engineering sector and other professional services to facilitate cross-border mobility. The programme supports the EAC and competent authorities in the Partner States to operationalise Annex VII (of the CMP) on the Regulations for Mutual Recognition of Academic and Professional Qualifications.
Finally, LIFTED facilitates the realisation of the EAC Treaty provisions on enhancing engagement of civil society in the economic integration process through revitalising dialogue mechanisms between non-state actors, EAC, and Partner States, as well as capacity development for CSOs on regional economic integration. Additionally, it aims to promote women and youth innovations in regional economic integration and empowerment of CSOs regarding inclusion of women' and youths’ rights in the integration process.
For additional information, take a look into the LIFTED factsheet here.