East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania: 29 September, 2020: EALA yesterday unveiled its 3rd Strategic Plan with a commitment to keep sight of its overall mandate, as it continues with the quest to embrace a people-centred approach in its work. Speaker, Rt Hon Ngoga Martin unveiled the 3rd Strategic Plan at a brief ceremony held via video conferencing on the sidelines of the EALA Budget Session currently underway.
“I am pleased that we have anchored the Strategic Plan on people-centeredness. I wish to reiterate that serving citizenry should be at the very core and center stage of the Assembly’s work. The real test comes in the implementation of the set objectives and strategies. The launch of the Strategic Plan, which is the third since the inception of EALA in 2001, is definitely an indication of the total commitment accrued to the integration dispensation by the Assembly and by yourselves”, Rt Hon Ngoga said.
Rt Hon Ngoga said EALA had committed to ensure the achievement of 11 main strategic issues/areas which he said, the Assembly shall pursue in five years. “These interventions, call for among other things; - enactment of relevant laws to consolidate and facilitate full operationalization of the integration pillars, strengthening our oversight functions to ensure region complies with laws, protocols, Summit directives and Council decisions.”, he said. In addition, the Speaker maintained the Strategic Plan would be a guiding instrument not only to further the integration agenda, but to contribute further contribute to the realization of the African Union (AU) 2063 agenda and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals 2030 agenda.
Rt Hon Ngoga rallied for unity if the full realization of the integration agenda is to be achieved. “That said, as usual, there will be challenges ahead – but that are not insurmountable, if we remain united. Resources (Financial and Human) are critical in the implementation of this Plan. It is important that we mobilize adequate resources to enable the successful realization of the stated objectives”, he said.
The Strategic Plan is costed at approximately USD 104,842,466 (based on the EAC Mid-Term Expenditure Framework). According to the Speaker, though the required resources for the entire period of implementation factors in an annual increment of 5%, such resources, may practically, be insufficient to implement the grand Strategic Plan. “This calls for the Assembly to find other ways and means of meeting the funding gap including engaging Development Partners and exploring opportunities for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)”, he remarked.
The Strategic Plan has eleven Strategic objectives: -
Strategic Objective 1: To facilitate the implementation of the four pillars of the EAC integration agenda.
Strategic Objective 2: To operationalize and consolidate the financial and administrative autonomy of the East African Legislative Assembly.
Strategic Objective 3: To strengthen harmonious working relations with other EAC Organs and Institutions in the furtherance of the Integration Agenda.
Strategic Objective 4: To strengthen partnership and collaboration with National and other Regional Parliaments.
Strategic Objective 5: To enhance EALA’s collaborative engagement with the Private Sector, Civil Society, Women Organizations, Youth and other Stakeholders.
Strategic Objective 6: To enhance the capacity of Members and Staff to strengthen the performance of the Assembly.
Strategic Objective 7: To promote, protect and defend human rights, democracy, peace and security in the Community.
Strategic Objective 8: To establish a strong performance monitoring and evaluation framework for the EALA.
4.5.9 Strategic Objective 9: To enhance the corporate image of EALA.
4.5.10 Strategic Objective 10: To facilitate the implementation of the AU Agenda 2063 and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
4.5.11 Strategic Objective 11: To support and strengthen the East African Parliamentary Institute (EAPI).
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For more information, contact
Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer, East African Legislative Assembly. Tel: +255-27-2508240 Fax: +255-27-2503103, Cell: +255-787-870945 +254-733-718036 Email: BOdiko@eachq.org, Web: https://www.eala.org
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