Program
Economic Growth
Increased Regional Trade and Integration
Program Description
AGRICULTURE
Read about a new initiative: Agriculture and Food Security: AGOA-CAADP
USAID/EA is coordinating a major new program on agriculture and food security focused on staple foods – crops and animal products produced by millions of smallholder farmers and consumed everywhere. The initial emphasis is strengthening services and reducing transaction costs to make markets work for smallholders and improve access to national and regional markets. Support to increase farm productivity and improve input markets is also being scaled up.
The Regional Enhanced Livelihoods in Pastoral Areas (RELPA) program provides coordinated support for pastoralist livestock production and marketing in arid and semi-arid areas, as well as the diversification of livelihoods. All activities are coordinated and aligned with national priorities and programs of other donors within the framework of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP). Key partners: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), and the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern & Central Africa (ASARECA).
TRADE
The USAID/EA Trade Division contributes to the goals of the African Global Competitiveness Initiative, the Initiative to End Hunger in Africa (IEHA), and the Global Food Security Response by increasing trade, competitiveness and food security in the region. It does this by supporting increased regional integration, reducing the time and cost of transit, increasing trade in agriculture with a focus on staple foods, and by supporting increased US-Africa Trade under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA). In FY 2008, new programs were also initiated to increase access to trade and infrastructure finance.
INFRASTRUCTURE
In East Africa, weak energy and transport infrastructures are the greatest inhibitors to intra-regional and international trade. USAID/EA investments go towards stimulating transit and utility infrastructure development through improvements in operations/finance management practices and policy/regulatory environment through regional partners such as the East African Power Pool (EAPP); Regional Economic Communities (RECs); and Regional Customs Transit Guarantee (RCTG).
ENVIRONMENT
USAID/EA works to achieve economic sustainability through appropriate natural resource management. The Transboundary Water for Biodiversity and Human Health in the Mara River Basin (TWB-MRB) focuses on improving water resource management to reduce and mitigate threats to biodiversity. The Mara River Basin and Mara-Serengeti Ecoregion survival is dependent upon trans-national management of these critical natural resources. Partners include local and regional organizations who strive to increase their capacity to maintain critical water levels in the Mara River Basin for all users. In addition, the project provides Basin households increased access to clean water; improved capacity for basic hygiene and sanitation; and support for policy and governance structures on water access.
USAID/East Africa is expanding programs to address mitigation and adaptation to Global Climate Change (GCC) in the region, including the drylands and highlands of East Africa.