Deputy Secretary General unveils strategy to continue Project implementation despite Covid-19

EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors (DSG-PSS) convened a working meeting from 3rd to 5th of June, 2020. The objective of that meeting intended to evaluate the level of implementation of the 50 million African Women Speak Project, as the project is in its final year. The meeting was convened to review all planned and approved activities for the FY 2019/2020, pending activities as per project plan and identify all activities that cannot be implemented before the end of the Project in six months to come i.e in December 2020. The DSG for Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, thanked all participants for responding positively to the invitation. He informed them that the Project was accepted by EAC from AfDB because it is responding to the issue of empowerment of women in socio economic Development and business as stipulated in Articles 121 and 122 of the Treaty establishing the Community. He mentioned that the Project, shared by 3 RECs (COMESA, EAC and ECOWAS) is very important as it aims at putting in networking women entrepreneurs at continental level. Hon. DSG went on saying that empowering women economically is to empower families, Nations and the entire continent since women are involved in all sectors of development like in informal, cross border trade and SMEs their number excides that of men though they are not seen to the forefront. Evaluation revealed that, for many reasons including the global pandemic, COVID- 19 and delays in platform construction led to delays in implementation of a number of activities. Technical meeting attendants comprising Resources mobilisation, D&ME, Planning, Finance, Communications technical staff concluded that work plan should be reviewed and submitted to the Donor for a non-objection. Reallocation of funds are needed in some areas to suite to the need of the moment. Some physical meetings have to be implemented online where possible; they advised. Technical team also recommended the request of a no-cost extension for 6 months to make sure all planned activities are implemented for the project to achieve its intended objectives. The meeting also contributed technically to a new Project Proposal that respond to emerging issues identified during implementation. Meeting attendants ended meeting reflecting on ways of working around the issue of Covid-19 that has restricted movements in Partner States to continue implementation. The DSG-PSS after listening to all the contribution directed the implementing Unit to review the work plan and reallocate funds where necessary to make sure implementation resumes. Some of the ways to continue implementation include, using country team members in partner States, Content developers and EAC Organs and institutions that are present in Partner States. Though the pandemic has restricted movements in Partner States, countries are implementing development programmes respecting safety requirements in place; Bazivamo said. ‘’We will work in that environment, prioritizing virtual implementation where possible’’ he concluded.