The EAC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) on 6th July 2010 at the EAC Headquarters. The EAC Deputy Secretary General (Productive and Social Sectors) Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva signed on behalf of the EAC Secretariat while Ms Marren Akatsa-Bukachi (Executive Director) signed on behalf of EASSI.

The MoU seeks to, among others, enhance cooperation in the implementation of the EAC Gender Policy; create greater awareness about gender equality in the EAC through knowledge and information sharing; allow EASSI to act as a clearing house for advocacy messages from its Focal points to the EAC; and act as a one-stop center for relevant information for stakeholders on women's rights and gender equality in the region.

EAC Deputy Secretary General Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva welcomed the MoU, saying the Community is "eager to see the contribution of women in this ourney of integration". The EAC on 1 July embarked upon the second stage of its integration process-a Common Market-having evolved into a fully-fledged Customs Union in January this year. The next phase in the integration process is a Monetary Union and ultimately a Political Federation.

EASSI expressed gratitude to EAC for facilitating the process of signing the MoU and praised the regional bloc for the gains made in the integration process so far.

Said Executive Director Ms Marren Akatsa-Bukachi: "We are very happy about the Customs Union and the Common Market because they present opportunities for [East African] women".

EASSI Board member Ms Abatoni Jane Gatete remarked that the "MOU will enable our two organisations, from a gender perspective, to work together to bring gender more into the agenda of the EAC."

The MoU provides, in its scope of cooperation, for the strengthening and institutionalisation of the working relationship between the EAC and EASSI in order to advance gender equality in the EAC Partner States; and the development of a policy and regulatory framework on gender to consolidate commitments made to gender equality.

It also provides an option to determine whether to develop a Protocol or an Act of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to achieve the objectives of the MoU.

For more information on Gender, Youth and Community Development in the EAC visit: http://www.eac.int/gender

For clarification/enquiries, please contact:
Owora Richard Othieno
Ag. Head of Department
Phone: +255 784 835021
Email: othieno [at] eachq [dot] org
Department of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania

By

Sylvia Namale
EASSI