Article 70. Monitoring
The Parties agree that the EPA Council shall review and monitor the implementation of their obligations under this Agreement. The EPA Council shall provide effective surveillance of compliance with obligations through ensuring transparency and give them an opportunity to assess the contribution of these obligations to their long-term objective of establishing a fair and market- oriented agricultural trading system.
Article 71. Net Food Importing Countries
1. The Parties recognise the importance of addressing the concerns of the net food importing EAC Partner State(s). The objective of this Article therefore is to assist countries that are net food importers to develop programmes to ensure food security.
2. The Parties agree to support efforts to:
(a) address constraints for food production, storage and distribution in the EAC region;
(b) source food aid from within the EAC Partner State(s) and other African Regional Economic Communities as far as possible; and
(c) improve coordination of food aid.
3. Parties agree to support efforts to maintain an adequate level of food aid, taking into account the interests of food aid recipients and to ensure that the measures mentioned in paragraph 2 do not unintentionally impede the delivery of food aid provided to deal with emergency situations.
4. The Parties shall support efforts to ensure that food aid is provided in full conformity with the measures that aim at preventing commercial displacement, which include:
(a) ensuring that all food aid transactions are need driven and in full grant form; and
(b) notifying them directly or indirectly to commercial exports of agricultural products or of other goods and services.
Article 72. Importance of Certain Sectors
1. The Parties recognise that:
(a) provision of adequate access to food, clean and safe drinking water, health facilities, educational opportunities, housing, community participation and social integration is important for livelihood security of rural populations;
(b) agricultural infrastructure development including production, processing, marketing and distribution plays a crucial role in the EAC Partner State(s)' social-economic rural development and regional integration;
(c) technical support services such as agricultural research, extension and advisory services training are important in increasing agricultural productivity;
(d) facilitating agricultural financing is an important measure for transforming the agricultural sector in the EAC Partner State(s). Financing is required for agricultural technology development, agricultural credit and insurance, infrastructure development and markets as well as farmers' training; and
(e) sustainable rural development is important to improve standards of living of the rural population of the EAC Partner State(s).
2. The Parties agree to cooperate in livelihood security, agricultural infrastructure, technical support services, agricultural financing services and rural development as provided for in Title II of Part V.
Article 73. Exchange of Information and Consultation
1. The Parties agree to exchange experiences and information on best practices and consult on all issues in pursuit of the objectives of this Part.
2. The Parties agree to:
(a) exchange information on agricultural production, consumption and trade and on the respective market developments for agricultural products;
(b) exchange information on investment opportunities and incentives available in the agricultural sector, including small-scale activities;
(c) exchange information on agricultural policies, laws and regulations between the two Parties;
(d) discuss policy and institutional changes needed to underpin the transformation of the agricultural sector as well as the formulation and implementation of regional policies on agriculture and rural development in pursuit of regional integration; and
(e) exchange information on new and appropriate technologies as well as policies and measures related to the quality of agricultural products.
Article 74. Geographical Indications
1. The Parties recognise the importance of geographical indications for sustainable agriculture and rural development.
2. The Parties agree to cooperate in the identification, recognition and registration of products that could benefit from protection as geographical indications and any other action aimed at achieving protection for identified products.
Part V. ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
Article 75. General Provisions
1. The Parties reaffirm that development cooperation is a core element of their Partnership and an essential factor for the realisation of the objectives of this Agreement.
2. The Parties agree to consider the developmental needs of the EAC Partner State(s) and how they can increase production and supply capacity, foster structural transformation and competitiveness of their economies, enhance their economic diversification; add value, in order to promote sustainable development and support regional integration.
3. The Parties commit to cooperate in order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement and to support regional integration and development strategies. The Parties agree that cooperation shall be informed by this Economic and Development Cooperation Part, in addition to the regional and national development strategies of the EAC Partner State(s). The cooperation shall include financial and non-financial support to the EAC Partner State(s). Financial support may be provided through a range of forms and means, including assistance provided through multilateral and regional organisations.
4. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, the Parties agree that the cooperation provisions contained in this Part and in Parts III and IV of this Agreement reflect the ambition of the Parties and do not create any obligations on the UK to provide financial or non-financial support in specific areas identified.
5. The UK financing pertaining to development cooperation between the EAC Partner State(s) and the UK supporting the implementation of this Agreement shall be carried out within the framework for development cooperation as agreed in Annex Ill. This will be primarily guided by the principles of the internationally agreed aid effectiveness agenda and the UK Partnership Principles, and aims to reduce poverty and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, taking into account the new challenges deriving from enhanced regional integration and competition on the global markets, the Parties agree that one of the priorities shall be to support the implementation of this Agreement.
6. For the purposes of the implementation of this Agreement, the Parties commit to jointly and individually mobilising resources with the guidance provided by the specific provisions of Title X on resource mobilisation. 7. Consistent with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness adopted in 2005, the Parties agree to use and support as appropriate nationally and/or regionally owned delivery mechanisms, funds or facilities for channelling and coordinating resources for the implementation of this Agreement.
Article 76. Objectives
1. The economic and development cooperation shall aim at:
(a) enhancing the competitiveness of the EAC Partner State(s)' economies;
(b) building up supply capacity and enabling the smooth implementation of this Agreement;
(c) transforming the structure of the EAC Partner State(s)â economies by establishing a strong, competitive and diversified economic base through enhancing production, distribution, transport, marketing;
(d) developing trade capacity as well as capacity to attract investment; (e) strengthening trade, investment policies and regulations; and
(f) deepening regional integration.
Article 77. Areas of Cooperation
Economic and development cooperation shall include the following areas:
(a) infrastructure;
(b) agriculture and livestock;
(c) private sector development;
(d) fisheries;
(e) water and environment;
(f) market access issues:
(i) SPS;
(ii) TBT;
(iii) customs and trade facilitation in the EAC Partner State(s); (g) EPA adjustment measures; and
(h) mobilisation of resources.
Title I. INFRASTRUCTURE
Article 78. Scope and Objectives
1. Cooperation in the development of physical infrastructure shall include particular transport, energy, information communication and technology.
2. The objectives in this area are to:
(a) increase the competitiveness of the EAC Partner State(s);
(b) address supply side constraints at institutional, national, and regional levels; and
(c) enhance the development of Public Private Partnerships.
Article 79. Transport
1. Cooperation in transport shall include road, rail, air and water transport.
2. The objectives in this area are to:
(a) improve national and regional connectivity to deepen regional economic integration;
(b) develop, restructure, rehabilitate, upgrade and modernise the EAC Partner State(s)' durable and efficient transport systems;
(c) improve the movement of people and flow of goods; and
(d) provide better access to markets through improved road, air, maritime, inland water and rail transports.
3. The Parties agree to cooperate in the following areas:
(a) management of transport systems;
(b) improvement, development and modernisation of infrastructure at all levels, including the development of inter-modal infrastructure networks;
(c) strengthening of the institutional, technical and administrative capacities of the EAC Partner State(s) in standards, quality assurance, metrology and conformity assessment services;
(d) technology development and transfer, innovation, information exchange and networks, and marketing;
(e) encouragement of partnerships, linkages and joint ventures between economic operators;
(f) improvement of safety and reliability of the transport sector, including meteorological forecasting, management of hazardous goods and emergency responses; and
(g) development of regional transport policies and regulatory frameworks.
Article 80. Energy
1. Cooperation in the energy sector shall include public and private sector participation in energy generation, transmission, distribution and cross-border energy trade.
2. The objectives in this area are to:
(a) develop, increase and expand the region's energy generation capacity;
(b) increase the number of alternative sources of energy;
(c) develop, increase and expand networks;
(d) develop, increase and expand distribution and transmission;
(e) improve the access of the EAC Partner State(s) to modern, efficient, reliable, diversified, sustainable and renewable sources of clean energy at competitive prices;
(f) enhance the production, distribution and management capacity of energy at national and regional levels;
(g) promote power interconnectivity both within and outside the EAC Partner State(s) for maximum energy utilisation; and
(h) support the creation of a conducive environment for attracting investment in this sector.
3. The Parties agree to cooperate in the following areas:
(a) production, transmission and distribution capacity of existing energy sources, in particular hydropower, petroleum and biomass;
(b) diversification of the energy mix to include other potential sources of energy that are socially and environmentally acceptable and that reduce dependency on oil;
(c) development of energy infrastructure, including for rural areas;
(d) development of appropriate energy regulatory and policy reforms, including commercialisation and privatisation;
(e) regional and inter-regional interconnectivity and cooperation in the production and distribution of energy;
(f) capacity building in human resources, improvement in management, service standards, and institutional structures;
(g) technology development and transfer, Research and Development, innovation, information exchange, development of databases and networks; and
(h) partnerships, linkages and joint ventures.
Article 81. Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)
1. Cooperation in the ICT sector shall include: the development of ICT, competitiveness, innovation, as well as the smooth transition towards the information society.
2. The objectives in this area are to:
(a) develop the ICT sector; and
(b) enhance the contribution of ICT in facilitation of trade through e- services, e-commerce, e- government, e-health, secure transactions and other socio-economic sectors.
3. The Parties agree to cooperate in the following areas:
(a) ICT connectivity and cost effectiveness at the national, regional and global levels;
(b) dissemination of new ICT;
(c) development of the legal and regulatory frameworks on ICT;
(d) technology development, transfer and applications, R&D, innovation, information exchange and networks, and marketing;
(e) capacity building in human resources, improvement in service standards, and institutional structures;
(f) partnerships, linkages and joint ventures between economic operators; and
(g) promotion and support for the development of niche markets for ICT- enabled services.
Title II. AGRICULTURE
Article 82. Scope and Objectives
1. Cooperation in this Title shall apply to crops and livestock including productive insects.
2. The Parties agree that the main objective of this Title is the sustainable agricultural development, which includes but is not limited to food and livelihoods security, rural development and poverty reduction in the EAC Partner State(s).
3. The other objectives of this Title are stipulated in Article 58 of Part IV.
Article 83. Areas of Cooperation
1. The Parties acknowledge the importance of the agricultural sector to the economies of the EAC Partner State(s) and agree to cooperate in promoting its transformation to increase its competitiveness, ensure food and nutrition security, rural development and facilitate the adjustment of agriculture and rural economy to accommodate the effects of implementation of this Agreement with special attention to small scale farmers.
2. The Parties agree to cooperate in the following areas:
(a) Regional Integration Improvement of access to regional and international markets for agricultural products including the development of market systems and market development strategies;
(b) Enabling Policies
i. development of national and regional agricultural policies, legal and regulatory frameworks, building of the necessary capacity and support to institutional development; and
ii. building capacities in the EAC Partner State(s) to take full advantage of increased trading opportunities and to maximise the benefits of trade reforms.
(c) Sustainable Agricultural Development
i. undertaking joint activities on a regional basis including fertiliser production, seed production, livestock development and plant and animal disease control;
ii. promotion and strengthening Processing, Marketing, Distribution and Transportation (PMDT) and handling of agricultural products; and
iii. capacity building to comply with international standards relating to agricultural production, packaging and SPS measures.
(d) Agricultural Infrastructure
i. development of agricultural support infrastructure including sustainable irrigation systems, water harvesting, storage and management, marketing, and grading;
ii. development of research and training infrastructure, storage facilities, feeder and community access roads;
iii. development of agro-processing infrastructure;
iv. establishment of agro-meteorology centre in the EAC Partner State(s); and
v. development of modern market infrastructure for expansion of domestic and regional markets.
(e) Food and Nutrition Security
i. capacity building of rural and urban communities for the promotion of improved livelihoods, eradication of poverty, and sustainable development;
ii. diversification of agricultural production and development of products that address food and nutrition security needs of the EAC Partner State(s);
iii. designing and implementation of programmes that lead to increased production and productivity in the agricultural sector with special focus on small scale farmers;
iv. capacity development for national and regional food safety compliance; and
v. designing and implementation of social adjustment programmes in regions adversely affected by natural disasters.
(f) Value Chain Management
i. promotion of the use of sustainable agricultural technologies and supply of necessary farm inputs;
ii. enhancing production, productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector through promoting agro-based industries;
iii. enhancing value addition throughout the supply chain of agricultural products to meet the requirements of national, regional and international markets; and
iv. promoting the development of activities in the areas of processing, marketing, distribution and transport of agricultural products.
(g) Early Warning Systems
i. capacity building in terms of assessing and disseminating information on the likely impacts of impending disasters well in advance in order to take contingent measures and early responsiveness;
ii. development and management of national and regional information systems;
iii. development, strengthening and linking of early warning systems and contingency plans and strategies for disaster response management at national and regional levels; and