The Tanzania Association for Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO), with support from TradeMark Africa Tanzania, has established an online forum for the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Private Sector, the Public sector and all other relevant stakeholders in Tanzania to dialogue, share experience and offer recommendations on the regional integration issues within the East African Community (EAC). Forum discussions are in areas of Trade, Governance and Accountability, Customs, Communication, and Involvement of Marginalized Groups in the regional integration processes. Hon. Samuel Sitta, Minister for East African Cooperation (MEAC) in Tanzania, launched the TANGO EAC Online Forum (www.tangoforum.or.tz) in Dar es Salaam on 5th March, 2013.
Commenting on the Online Forum, Hon. Sitta said; “Article 127, 128, and 129 of the East African Community Treaty provides for the participation of the Private Sector Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, and Other Interest Groups to make the integration a people-centered process; at the same time addressing the shortfalls that led to the collapse of the previous East African Community in 1977. I am happy to note that TANGO has seized the opportunity and chose this environment to engage. But this online forum should not only be considered as a platform for CSOs but stakeholders from the private sector and the public sector should as well take advantage of this opportunity and have their voices heard concerning the EAC regional integration processes.”
The Executive Director of TANGO, Mr. Ngunga Tepani, said; “Discussions from the portal will be synthesized into Brief Reports and Action Alert Notes, which will be drafted as a result of the recommendations by the participants. These two will then be submitted to the Government, relevant organs at the EAC Secretariat, and all
stakeholders within Tanzania including members of CSOs and the private sector. I therefore encourage all Tanzanians to make their voices on East African integration heard through this new platform.”
The Country Director of TradeMark Africa, Tanzania, Paulina Elago, said; “CSOs plays a great role in representing the views of many citizens, in Tanzania and in all other countries. As a result, TradeMark Africa (TMA) Tanzania is delighted to have supported TANGO through this initiative which has so far proven to be of a great success. I would encourage representatives from CSOs, the public sector as well as the private sector to full participate in this online forum.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
The TANGO EAC Forum has been established for Civil Society Organizations, the Private Sector, the Public Sector, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss EAC regional integration issues and processes. The portal has relevant documents on EAC integration, and allows members to upload and download best practices in form of attachments of text, audio, and/or video. Discussions open for a specified period, and after closure, synthesized into a Policy Brief, and Action Alert Note, to be submitted to relevant actors in the Government and relevant organs at the EAC Secretariat.
The Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO) is an apex institution for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the country. TANGO’s mission is to empower its members and other CSOs to effectively engage and influence policies through capacity development, information sharing and coordination.
TradeMark Africa ( TMA ) is a not-for-profit organization that supports the EAC Secretariat, national governments, private sector and civil society so they can enhance trade and markets in the region for the benefit of all East Africans. TradeMark Africa supports the CSOs through grants, generation of evidence-based information, capacity building, and establishment of regional dialogue platforms on key issues affecting trade, equitable participation and economic growth.
The EAC integration processes include a Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union and Political Federation in order of establishment. The region is now at the stage of implementing a Common Market.
Source: TradeMark Africa (TMA)
TradeMark Africa (TMA) is an aid-for-trade organisation that was established with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through increased trade. TradeMark Africa (TMA) operates on a not-for-profit basis and is funded by the development agencies of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, UK, and USA. TradeMark Africa (TMA) works closely with East African Community (EAC) institutions, national governments, the private sector and civil society organisations.
