The East African Community (EAC) is a sub-regional inter-governmental organization made up of the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania. Its mission is to promote economic, political, social and cultural integration in East Africa, as well as achieve increased competitiveness, value-added production, and trade and investments with a view to improving the quality of life of the people of the sub-region. In this context, the EAC develops policies and programmes that strengthen cooperation between the partner states on a wide array of fields (political, economic, social and cultural, research and technology, defence and security, and legal and judicial affairs).
In 2012, the Council of Ministers of the EAC established the Consultative Dialogue Framework (CDF). This cross-border social dialogue forum provides a framework for “continuous dialogue between EAC, Partner States, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Private Sector Organisation (PSOs) and other Interest Groups both at the national and regional level.”It is aimed at ensuring that the integration process involves citizens of the EAC Partner States through multi-stakeholder partnerships.
The CDF requires civil society and interest groups to be organized at the regional level, through apex bodies organized at this level. The East African Business Council (EABC) and the East African Civil Society Organisations’ Forum (EACSOF) are currently recognized as the two apex bodies for the private sector and civil society, respectively. In addition, although they are still largely thematic, regional professional bodies act as key stakeholders that engage with the Secretary-General of the forum.
To provide a platform for this dialogue, an Annual Forum is convened by the Secretary-General of the EAC. The meeting is organized collaboratively based on an agenda agreed upon between the private sector, civil society and other interest groups, and the EAC Secretariat, Organs and Institutions. Sectorial meetings may be also organized.