‘People do not eat GDP’: Even as the economies of EAC member states have been recording considerable growth rates, this growth has been accompanied by a growth in inequality in virtually all countries. This is the one of the key observations of the State of East Africa Report 2016 published by the Society for International Development. GDP figures (with a regional annual average increase of 6% since 2011) tell the story of an economic expansion that has taken place in East Africa in the last few years alongside significant structural changes and greater sophistication in the countries’ economies. This GDP growth has
generated optimism and greater confidence that the region is going places.
Are all citizens of East Africa perceiving or feeling the benefits of these stellar GDP growth figures registered in the region? In spite of the growth, the economic boom has not generated the jobs or prosperity for all that it was expected to.The levels of poverty, hunger and malnutrition in these countries still remain staggeringly high.
Building on previous reports, this State of East Africa Report examines the political economy of inequalities and highlights the relationship between politics and inequality. The report offers some hypotheses as to why inequalities persist and why efforts to address them are unlikely to be successful in the absence of a committed attempt to dismantle and recreate the institutions that distribute power and the networks that have emerged to extract benefits from them.
The report analyzes nine sectors divided across economic, social and political pillars, and for each of these sectors it asks questions about the EAC Member States’ performance in the fiscal, normative and ethical
domains. The report explores some of the challenges that the region will need to face up to transform its
economies successfully to ensure that the majority of citizens have an active stake in change processes of the
day so as to benefit further from the ongoing integration processes. It also highlights some areas of possible
intervention, as points of departure for policy conversation, keeping in mind that the complexity of these
interventions will require a deeper analysis and broader conversation.
Key messages and recommendations of the State of East Africa Report 2016 will be presented at the report’s
launch in Nairobi (Kenya) on 26 July 2016 at the Southern Sun Hotel (0845-1200).
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT: Arthur Muliro amuliro@sidint.org or Ali Hersi ahersi@sidint.org
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.
