East African Community (EAC) member States will benefit from a Sh41 billion funding to fast-track three key areas critical to regional integration. The inter-governmental agreement concluded in Arusha between the German government and the regional bloc will support economic integration, regional health and water resource management over the next three years. The funding is as a result of realization that integration is still faced with key hurdles that need to be overcome despite available opportunities.

Key challenges include inadequate and poor regional infrastructure network, water scarcity and difficulty in managing shared water resources, weak institutions and human capacity, insecurity and political instability. Other challenges are diversity across the economies and divergent country attitudes towards regional integration. Part of the funds (10 million euros) will be invested in the establishment of a regional network of reference laboratories for communicable diseases. Another 10 million euros will be used for integrated water resource management of Lake Victoria, aimed at improving water provision and management of water resources.

Source: Media Max

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