The East African Community and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their co-operations in animal resources development.The deal seeks to improve human well-being and economic development in EAC.The MoU was signed yesterday by EAC Secretary General, Amb. Richard Sezibera, and Prof. Ahmed Abdou Ali Elsawalhy, Director and Head of Mission, AU-IBAR, in a ceremony that took place at the EAC Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania. The AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, witnessed the signing.It also sets up a framework for co-ordination and harmonisation of policies, programmes and activities in livestock development; fast-tracking of integration and establishment of the African Common Market; while promoting inter-regional projects in livestock development."The two parties aim to: reduce the impact of trans-boundary animal diseases and zoonoses on livelihoods and public health in EAC; enhance EAC’s capacity to conserve and use its animal resources and their natural resource base in a sustainable way; and improve investment opportunities and competitiveness of the animal resource sector in EAC,” said a statement from the Secretariat. Zoonoses are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.The deal will also promote development of, and compliance with, standards and regulations by Partner States and the relevant institutions within EAC; improve knowledge management in animal resources.This, the statement said, would facilitate informed and timely decision-making; and facilitate development of policies and institutional capacities for improved utilisation of animal resources, among other things.Briefing the EAC Secretary General about AU-IBAR’s activities, AU Commissioner Rhoda Tumusiime, appreciated the role of regional economic communities in building blocks for the continental body.She further observed that agriculture and livestock development were critical to the African economy, deserved increased investment and were central to boosting intra-African trade.Livestock, she said, remains a key component of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) strategic framework. Amb. Sezibera disclosed that the EAC was in the process of developing a regional CAADP, including developing a livestock policy.He also highlighted the need to pay greater attention to fishery resources, especially with regard to their sustainable exploitation, warning that if not handled well they could be depleted quickly.