The East African Community (EAC) has signed four agreements worth EUR 46 million with Germany's KfW Development Bank to enhance regional infrastructure, healthcare, education, and climate change mitigation efforts. The agreements aim to strengthen regional connectivity, improve water management in the Lake Victoria Basin, and expand access to quality education and healthcare.
Enhancing Infrastructure and Water Management
As part of this collaboration, KfW, in partnership with the European Union, is supporting the EAC’s Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) in managing the Lake’s resources sustainably. Two contracts worth EUR 30 million have been signed under the ‘Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Programme.’
These funds will be used to expand sewerage systems in Kampala (Uganda) and Mwanza (Tanzania), as well as construct sanitary facilities and a sewerage system in Kisumu (Kenya), with a focus on informal settlements.
Speaking about this initiative, an EAC official stated, “Sustainable water management is critical for the economic and social well-being of the region. These investments will ensure improved water quality and availability for millions of East Africans.”
Strengthening Healthcare Systems
In the health sector, KfW is supporting the EAC in combating infectious diseases. Through a partnership with the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg, the regional laboratory network is being expanded across seven EAC countries, with laboratory personnel receiving additional training. The EUR 12 million funding for this initiative will improve rapid diagnostics for outbreaks such as Ebola, dengue, COVID-19, Marburg virus, and Mpox.
Dr. John Nkengasong, a health expert involved in the project, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The ability to rapidly diagnose and respond to outbreaks is crucial in protecting public health. The expansion of this network will strengthen our preparedness and response mechanisms.”
The ‘EAC Regional Laboratory Network’ project, now in its third phase, will also enhance genomic surveillance. Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) is being designated as a regional centre of excellence, promoting collaboration between human and veterinary health sectors under the One Health Approach.
Expanding Educational Opportunities
The EAC scholarship programme, inspired by the European Erasmus programme, aims to support talented Master's students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing studies in STEM subjects or economics. In its first phase, 180 students from eleven universities in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda benefited from the programme.
With an additional EUR 4 million in funding, the second phase will extend opportunities to students from Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This initiative fosters regional mobility and academic collaboration, ensuring that talented students, regardless of their economic background, can access higher education,” said an EAC education official.
These agreements between the EAC and KfW Development Bank underscore the commitment to sustainable development, regional cooperation, and economic growth, ensuring that East Africa remains resilient in the face of modern challenges.
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