Beschreibung der Beschaffung
The EAC is considered the most integrated region among the eight regional economic communities recognised by the African Union (AU), particularly because of its progress in implementing the Customs Union. Despite this relatively good performance in the area of regional integration, the economies of the EAC partner states are still characterised by low productivity and competitiveness.
The challenges to regional integration in East Africa are manifold. The pandemic also leads to increased uncertainty regarding the future development of the economic framework conditions. Regional trade remains below expectations with a share of about 10% of total trade (data from 2020). Moreover, in 2015, only two percent of the total exports of the EAC partner countries were trade in goods produced in regional value chains.
The German development cooperation supports the EAC to deepen the economic and social integration of its EAC partner countries. The programme contributes to this by promoting the implementation of key EAC regional and continental trade regulatory frameworks, which in turn further promotes the region"s economic and social integration.
The main purpose of EAC's integration efforts is to implement various legal and fiscal policy reforms that have been initiated at EAC level over the last years to promote trade in locally produced pharmaceutical and agricultural products (e.g. fruit and vegetables, leather). In addition, important cross-sectoral strategies such as the regional AfCFTA implementation strategy are about to be implemented. The improvement of institutional and regulatory framework conditions for regional and continental trade EAC will allow increases in trade volumes to enhance regional economic integration.
Expected outcomes of the consultancy are:
- 90 companies from the selected sectors (pharmaceuticals, fruit and vegetables, leather) have confirmed that the framework conditions for access to markets in 3 EAC partner states have improved
- 5 inputs from non-state actors on environmental, climate or social issues are fed into policy-making processes of the EAC Secretariat and/or EAC Partner States
Output: 8 EAC policy measures for increasing regional and continental trade in the goods sectors of pharmaceuticals, fruits and vegetables, and leather have been implemented with the participation of non-state actors from 3 EAC Partner States each, of which at least 3 in the pharmaceuticals sector and 4 in the fruit and vegetables and/or leather sectors.
Key activities include advising the Steering Committee of the Regional Action Plan on Medicines Production and the Medicines Procurement Working Group; advising on the implementation of the EAC Fruit and Vegetable Strategy and/or the EAC Leather Strategy; studies on environmental, climate or social issues and strengthening of the corresponding lobbying of non-governmental organisations; support for multipliers in AfCFTA training courses, some of which are specifically aimed at women entrepreneurs.
For increasing the sustainability of the initiative, the consultant is required to work closely together with the EAC Secretariat and responsible government agencies at national level and coordinate with the private sector and civil society.