Building Integrated Markets Within the East African Community

This book has been prepared by the World Bank, based on an extensive consultation-based diagnostic exercise initiated at the request from the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat. The EAC - in its ongoing efforts to deepen the economic linkages within its fast-growing region and strengthen the competitiveness of its Partner States – launched a review of the conduciveness of the existing legal, regulatory, institutional and financial framework in place within the region to foster increased public-private partnership investments in regional infrastructure. The World Bank team, in close cooperation with the Secretariat and through a critical dialogue process with the Partner States also sought to provide recommendations on actions that can be taken by the EAC to augment its role in supporting this regional PPP agenda. This book details the diagnostic outcome and recommendations arising from this exercise. This includes the development of a EAC Policy on PPPs, the establishment of an EAC PPP Resource Centre within the East African Development Bank and further work to develop additional financial instruments such as Project Development Facilities and Viability Gap Funds to further leverage private sector regional PPP engagement and financing. The Report also recommends that the Secretariat establish a specialized Task Force team to carry this initiative forward with a timebound workplan.