The East African Community (EAC) is seeking alternative mechanisms for raising funds to support its activities to supplement the grants from the European Union (EU) and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), its key donors, as it becomes apparent that fundraising remains the Community’s biggest challenge. EAC Secretary-General Juma Mwapachu said the new mechanisms will see the region’s bigger economies that earn huge revenues from Customs, remit a proportionate chunk towards the EAC budget.
Currently, the five partner states contribute equally, a situation that is deemed unfair to smaller economies such as Burundi, which has also emerged from 15 years of conflict not too long ago. Burundi and Rwanda acceded to the EAC Treaty in 2007 and were given two years in which to harmonise their institutions with those of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the pioneer members of the Community.