Free Access | November 2000

East African Development Strategy

Authors/Editors: Economic Policy Research Centre

Abstract:

The East African Development Strategy 2001 - 2005 is the second development strategy following the elapsing period of the first strategy 1997 --2000. The former strategy was instituted with the objective of transforming East African Co-operation into a Community. Several policy actions, which were earmarked for implementation during the period, are not yet concluded. Such activities will therefore form part of the second EAC development strategy. The current strategy concentrates on policy issues stipulated in the EAC Treaty. It emphasizes areas of co-operation that have been elaborated through various studies and of which strategies have either been formulated or formulation is at an advanced stage. In this context, the proposed development strategy covers areas which are contained in the Treaty. This is done on the consideration that the Development Strategy (2001- 2005) needs to be aligned with the EAC Treaty and should be taken as an instrument for implementing the Treaty and means of enhancing effective participation of each Partner State into the regional integration, as well as, improvement in international competitiveness. The strategy has also taken cognisance of agreements with other regional groupings such as SADC and COMESA and international organizations particularly WTO andACP-EU. This Development Strategy document is' organized as follows: Chapter 2 makes a brief review of the Develop_ment Strategy (1997-200) that is coming to an end. Chapter 3 presents the fundamental and operational principles of the EAC Treaty, its goals and the identified areas of socio-economic co-operation. The Treaty is a background and guide to the focus of the proposed strategy (2001-2005) which is the subject of Chapter 4. In this chapter strategies for development in key areas of co-operation are proposed. Some of the proposals entail continuation of implementation that is in progress and others involve new initiatives which are consistent with the Treaty.