20TH PARTNERSHIP FUND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN ARUSHA, TANZANIA

The in-coming Chair Ms. Elisabeth Shwabe-Hansen from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the co-Chair Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration, and Dr. James Njagu Head of Resource Mobilization scrutize the presented budget proposal for the FY 2014/2015.

The Steering Committee for the Partnership Fund held it's 20th meeting Thursday 13th February 2014 at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

The main agenda of the meeting was to consider the proposed budget for FY2014/15 and confirm the contributions. The meeting was attended by Development Partners contributing to the Partnership Fund and chaired by the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration and co chaired by Norway who took over the chair from United Kingdom.

The Head of Resource Mobilization Unit at the EAC Secretariat, Dr James Njagu presented the half year progress report for FY 2013/14, and also the budget proposal for FY 2014/15. A budget of USD 11,490,758 was presented and approved by the committee to support varoius activities of the regional integration agenda.

The budget will cover four main priorities namely:- implementation of the common market; support to implementation of the East African Monetary Union Protocol; support to EAC sensitization programmes; and EAC institutional strengthening.

During the meeting, the Steering Committee launched a joint work plan where European Union will now also contribute to the Partnership Fund work plan.