iv. supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation options in the EAC Partner State(s).
(h) Production and Marketing of Agricultural Commodities
i. developing capacities to access niche markets and facilitating compliance with commodity standards to meet such markets requirements;
ii. diversification of agricultural production and export products in the EAC Partner State(s);
iii. development of modern market infrastructure for expansion of domestic and regional markets; and
iv. developing product packaging and labelling programmes which enable the EAC Partner State(s)' producers to secure premium prices for commodity exports.
(i) Rural Development
i. capacity building of farmer groups along the entire agricultural value chain;
ii. improving transport, communication and market facilities for agricultural inputs and outputs marketing;
iii. addressing socio-cultural barriers such as language differences, literacy levels, gender biases, community health that influence the nature of farming systems;
iv. improving farmers' access to credit services and natural and cultural resource management; and
v. developing relevant policy measures to support availability of adequate agricultural inputs to small scale farmers on a timely basis.
(j) Net Food Importing Countries
Addressing constraints in food production, storage and distribution in the EAC Partner State(s).
(k) Livelihood Security
i. capacity building for developing social services for populations in rural and peri-urban areas;
ii. improving total household income from agricultural production through diversification, add value, off farm employment and adoption of new sustainable agricultural technologies among others in the EAC Partner State(s);
iii. increasing productivity of the agricultural sector within the EAC Partner State(s); and
iv. increasing the use of sustainable agricultural technologies.
(l) Technical Support Services
i. strengthening of innovation and transfer of technology, knowledge, R&D;
ii. developing and increasing use of mechanisation of the EAC Partner State(s)' agricultural sector;
iii. establishing agricultural input plants and distribution system within the EAC Partner State(s);
iv. promoting and strengthening investment in agricultural research, extension services, training and research-extension-farmers linkage;
v. establishing and strengthening regional centres of excellence including an agro-meteorology centre, biotechnology, analytical and diagnostic laboratories for crop, livestock and soils; and
vi. improving access to services in plant and animal production including livestock breeding services, veterinary services and plant protection services.
(m) Agricultural Financing Services
i. strengthening rural financial services for small-scale producers, processors and traders;
ii. developing regionally owned mechanisms or a fund for agricultural and rural development;
iii. developing agricultural micro-financing institutions and insurance schemes;
iv. facilitating access to credit from banks and other financial institutions for agro-processors, traders and farmers; and
v. supporting the EAC Partner State(s)' financial institutions serving the agriculture sector and facilitating access by the private sector to capital markets to raise both short and long-term capital.
(n) Geographical Indications
i. developing policies and legal frameworks on geographical indications;
ii. establishing regulations on geographical indications;
iii. developing a code of practice to define products in relation to their origin;
iv. facilitating local organisations and institutions to coordinate local stakeholders on geographical indications and product conformity;
v. building capacity on identification, registration, marketing, traceability and conformity on geographical indications products; and
vi. developing any other area of cooperation under this heading that may arise in the future.
Title III. PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
Article 84. Scope and Objectives
1. Cooperation on private sector development shall include investment promotion and enterprise development.
2. The objectives of this Title are to:
(a) create a conducive environment for promotion of investment and private enterprises including development of new industries, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and technology transfer;
(b) enhance supply capacities, competitiveness and value addition;
(c) improve access to investment finance such as from relevant UK financing institutions;
(d) build capacity and provide institutional support for private sector development institutions such as investment promotion agencies, apex bodies, chambers of commerce, associations, contact points and trade facilitation institutions;
(e) develop and/or strengthen a policy, legal and regulatory framework that promotes and protects investment;
(f) improve support and delivery mechanisms to the Private Sector such as from the relevant UK institutions for promotion of investment in the EAC Partner State(s); and
(g) create and strengthen partnerships, joint ventures, subcontracting, outsourcing and linkages.
Article 85. Investment Promotion
The Parties agree to cooperate to promote investments within the EAC Partner State(s) in the following areas:
(a) supporting reforms in the policies, legal and regulatory frameworks;
(b) supporting enhancement of institutional capacities, in particular, capacity building for investment promotion agencies of the EAC Partner State(s) and institutions involved in promoting and facilitating foreign and local investment;
(c) supporting the establishment of appropriate administrative structures, including one-stop shops, for the entry and setting up of investments;
(d) supporting the creation and continuity of a predictable and secure investment climate;
(e) supporting efforts of the EAC Partner State(s) to design revenue generating instruments to mobilise investment resources;
(f) establishing and supporting risk insurance schemes as a risk-mitigating mechanism in order to boost investor confidence in the EAC Partner State(s);
(g) supporting the establishment of mechanisms for exchange of information between the EAC Partner State(s) investment agencies and their UK counterparts;
(h) encouraging UK private sector investments in the EAC Partner State(s);
(i) supporting the establishment of financial frameworks and instruments adapted to investment needs of SMEs; and
(j) facilitating partnerships through joint ventures and capital financing.
Article 86. Enterprise Development
The Parties agree to cooperate on enterprise development within the EAC Partner State(s) through supporting:
(a) promotion of EAC-UK private sector business dialogue, cooperation and partnerships;
(b) efforts for Micro, Small and Medium size Enterprises (MSME) promotion and integration into the mainstream business activities;
(c) promotion of efficient production and marketing of the EAC Partner State(s)' firms;
(d) implementation of the EAC Partner State(s)' Private Sector Development Strategies (PSDS);
(e) promotion of a favourable environment for the development and growth of MSMEs;
(f) private sector organisations' capacities to comply with international standards;
(g) protection of innovations from piracy; and (h) capacities of the EAC Partner State(s) for exploration, exploitation and marketing of natural resources.
Title IV. FISHERIES
Article 87. Scope of Cooperation
Cooperation In Fisheries Shall Cover Marine and Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Article 88. Areas of Cooperation In Marine Fisheries
1. Cooperation In Marine Fisheries Shall Include:
(a) Fisheries Management and Conservation Issues;
(b) Vessel Management and Post-harvest Arrangements;
(c) Financial and Trade Measures; and
(d) Development of Fisheries and Fisheries Products and Marine Aquaculture.
2. The UK may contribute to the mobilisation of the resources for the implementation of the identified areas of cooperation at national and regional levels, which will also include support for regional capacity building.
3. Subject to the provisions of Part III of this Agreement, the Parties agree to cooperate, in the following areas:
(a) development and improvement of infrastructure for storage, marketing and distribution of fish and fish products;
(b) capacity building at the national and regional levels to meet SPS/TBT/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points technical requirements, development of monitoring control and surveillance systems of the EAC Partner State(s)' EEZ, and introduction and management of certification schemes for specific marine fisheries;
(c) investment and technology transfer in fishing operations, fish processing, port services, development and improvement of port facilities, diversification of the fishery to include non-tuna species which are under-exploited or not exploited;
(d) joint ventures and linkages especially with MSME and artisanal fisheries within the fisheries supply chain;
(e) value addition on fish; and
(f) R&D on stock assessment and sustainability levels.
4. The Parties undertake to cooperate in promoting the setting-up of joint ventures in fishing operations, fish processing, port services, enhance production capacity, improve competitiveness of fishing and related industries and services, downstream processing, development and improvement of port facilities, diversification of the fishery to include non-tuna species which are under-exploited or not exploited.
Article 89. Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Development
Cooperation on inland fisheries and aquaculture development shall include the following areas:
(a) Capacity building and export market development through:
(i) building capacity in industrial and artisanal production, processing and product diversification that strengthen the competitiveness of the region's inland fisheries and aquaculture. This could, for example, be achieved by the creation of Research and Development (R&D) centres including the development of aquaculture for commercial fishing farms;
(ii) building capacity for managing export market chains, including the introduction and management of certification schemes for specific product lines; and implementation of market promotion, value addition and reduction in post-harvest losses in fisheries products; and
(iii) increasing capacity in the region through, for example, improving fisheries competent authorities, traders and fishermen's associations in order to participate in fisheries trade with the UK and training programmes in product development and branding.
(b) Infrastructure through:
(i) development and improvement of infrastructure for inland fisheries and aquaculture; and
(ii) facilitation of access to funding for infrastructure, including all type of equipment.
(c) Technology through:
(i) development of technical capabilities, including value-adding technology promotion, for example through fisheries technology transfer from the UK to the EAC Partner State(s); and
(ii) enhancement of fisheries management capacity in the region, for example through research and data collection systems and contribution towards appropriate technologies on harvesting and post-harvest management.
(d) Legal and regulatory framework through:
(i) development of inland fisheries and aquaculture regulations and monitoring control and surveillance systems;
(ii) development of appropriate legal and regulatory instruments on Intellectual Property Rights and building capacity for their implementation in international trade; and
(iii) protection of eco-labelling and intellectual property.
(e) Investment and finance through:
(i) promotion of joint ventures and other forms of mixed investments between stakeholders in the Parties, for example for the setting up of modalities for identifying investors for joint venture operations in inland fisheries and aquaculture; and
(ii) providing access to credit facilities for the development of small to medium scale enterprises as well as industrial scale inland fisheries.
(f) Environmental and stocks conservation in fisheries through:
(i) measures to ensure that fish trade supports environmental conservation, and safeguards against stock depletion and the maintenance of biodiversity and cautious introduction of exotic species for aquaculture; for example, through the cautious introduction of exotic species to be introduced only in managed/closed spaces in consultation with all concerned neighbouring countries.
(g) Socioeconomic and poverty alleviation measures through:
(i) promotion of small and medium scale fishers, processors, and fish traders by building the capacity of the EAC Partner State(s) to participate in trade with the UK; and
(ii) participation of marginal groups in the fishing industry, for example the promotion of gender equity in fisheries, and particularly developing capacity of women traders involved and intending to engage in fisheries. Other disadvantaged groups with the potential to engage in fisheries for sustainable social economic development will also be involved in such processes.
Title V. WATER AND ENVIRONMENT
Article 90. Scope and Objectives
1. Cooperation in this Title shall include natural resources, in particular water, environment and biodiversity.
2. The objectives of cooperation in this Title are to:
(a) enhance the linkages between trade and environment;
(b) support the implementation of international environmental agreements, conventions and treaties;
(c) ensure the balance between environmental management and poverty reduction;
(d) protect the environment and enhance biodiversity conservation and genetic preservation;
(e) promote equitable and sustainable utilisation of natural resources; (f) facilitate and encourage sustainable utilisation of shared resources; and (g) promote public and private sector involvement in natural resource management.
Article 91. Water Resources
1. Cooperation in the area of water resources shall include irrigation, hydropower generation, water production and supply and protection of water catchment areas.
2. The objectives of cooperation in this area are to:
(a) develop sustainable use and management of water resources in the EAC Partner State(s) so as to improve the livelihood of the population of the EAC Partner State(s);
(b) promote regional cooperation for the sustainable utilisation of transboundary water resources; and
(c) develop water supply infrastructure for productive purposes.
3. The Parties agree to cooperate in the following areas:
(a) development of water supply infrastructure in the region;
(b) development of the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks;
(c) integrated water resource management;
(d) capacity building in human resources, improvement in service standards, water management, and institutional structures;
(e) creation of partnerships, linkages, and joint ventures between economic operators;
(f) promotion of technology development, transfer and applications, R&D, innovation, information exchange and networks;
(g) development of water pollution control, purification and conservation, wastewater treatment and sanitation; and
(h) promotion of sustainable irrigation schemes.
Article 92. Environment
1. Cooperation in the area of environment shall include protection and sustainable management of the environment, as well as implementation of trade-related environmental policies.
2. The objectives of cooperation in this area are to:
(a) protect, restore and conserve the environment and biodiversity (flora, fauna and microbial genetic resources including their ecosystems);
(b) develop industries of the EAC Partner State(s) that use environmentally friendly technologies; and
(c) promote technology development, transfer and application, research and development, innovation and information exchange.
3. The Parties agree to cooperate in the following areas:
(a) implementation of international environmental agreements, conventions and treaties;
(b) strengthening and promoting equitable and sustainable utilisation, conservation and management of environment and biodiversity, including forestry and wildlife resources;
(c) reinforcement of institutional and legal frameworks and the capacity to develop, implement, administer and enforce environmental laws, regulations, standards and policies;
(d) creation of partnerships, linkages, and joint ventures between economic operators;
(e) prevention and mitigation against natural environmental disasters, and the loss of biodiversity;
(f) promotion of technology development and adaptation, transfer and applications, R&D, and innovation;