The East African Community (EAC) on Monday began a two-day retreat in Arusha, Tanzania for EAC organs and institutions to consider the regional bloc’s Institutional Review Draft Report.

Following a directive from the 20th Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers held in April 2009, the EAC Secretariat was tasked with undertaking a comprehensive study on institutional reforms of the Community.

"The outcome of this session is vital towards the preparation of a final Institutional Review Report to be moved to the Council,” said Alloys Mutabingwa, EAC Deputy Secretary General (Planning and Infrastructure)

"It should therefore take into consideration the structure, functioning, processes and systems of what are required to make the EAC a more effective and efficient institution, well equipped to realize the goals and objectives of regional integration”.

The review is aimed at transforming the Community into an organization that will effectively and efficiently discharge the expanded mandate of the integration process of the Community.

Other objectives of the exercise include developing appropriate functional relationships within and between the organs and institutions of the community to facilitate effective synergies in the implementation of EAC strategic agenda; as well as determine the cost implications of the proposed structure.

This is not the first time that EAC is holding a retreat bringing together its organs and institutions.

Then the EAC Chairperson, President Paul Kagame early last year called for an EAC Strategy Retreat for key organs and institutions to provide a way forward in terms of inter-organ relationship.

Among the proposals agreed upon was the continuation of the EAC Strategy Retreat as an annual activity, as well as other mechanisms for enhancing coordination and communication within and among the key organs of the EAC in order to improve accountability and delivery.

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