The East African Community (EAC) is seeking new investment and stronger international partnerships to support 48 proposed development projects aimed at improving trade, infrastructure, security and economic growth across eight countries.
The proposals form part of the regional bloc’s five-year development strategy covering 2026 to 2031, which seeks to strengthen economic cooperation and create more opportunities for businesses, young people and women.
The plans were discussed during the fourth EAC Development Partners Group Forum, held from 10 to 11 November 2026 at the organisation’s headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The meeting brought together regional officials and international development partners to discuss funding opportunities and ways to improve the implementation of development programmes.
According to the EAC, the 48 proposed projects cover several sectors, including transport infrastructure, trade, technology, social development, institutional reforms and peace and security.
The organisation already has 42 active development projects worth approximately $370 million, supported by 12 major international partners.
However, the proposed 48 projects are still at the planning and investment mobilisation stage, with the bloc seeking financial and technical support to move them forward.
EAC Secretary General Stephen Mbundi said the region must now focus on implementing its development plans rather than simply identifying priorities.
He explained that stronger cooperation with international partners would help attract investment, improve regional infrastructure and create economic opportunities.
The Secretary General also stressed that the success of the partnerships should be measured by their impact on ordinary people, particularly through lower business costs, job creation and improved living conditions.
The EAC comprises Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.
These countries have been working towards closer economic integration through policies designed to make it easier for goods, services, workers and businesses to move across national borders.
Despite these efforts, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, trade restrictions and insecurity continue to affect economic cooperation in parts of the region.
The latest development strategy is expected to address some of these challenges through coordinated regional investment.
The East African initiative comes as other African regional organisations continue efforts to strengthen economic integration.
In West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which includes Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria, has pursued similar objectives through regional trade policies, infrastructure development and the free movement of people.
However, cross-border trade in West Africa continues to face challenges, including poor road networks, high transport costs and administrative barriers.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is also seeking to create a larger African market by reducing trade barriers and encouraging businesses to trade across the continent.
For countries such as Sierra Leone, stronger regional cooperation could help improve access to markets, attract investment and create opportunities for local businesses.
Although Sierra Leone is not a member of the EAC, developments in East Africa offer examples of how countries can work together to address shared economic challenges.
Julia Kronberg, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Tanzania and Chairperson of the EAC Development Partners Group, said successful regional development requires more than financial assistance.
She emphasised the importance of ensuring that international support reflects the priorities of the countries receiving assistance.
According to Kronberg, stronger coordination and shared responsibility would help development partners direct their resources towards projects capable of producing meaningful results.
The forum also provided an opportunity for development partners to examine the proposed projects and identify areas where their financial resources and technical expertise could be most useful.
The EAC says its long-term ambition is to build a more competitive and economically connected region where businesses can expand, infrastructure can improve and citizens can benefit from increased investment.
However, the success of the latest strategy will depend on how much funding the organisation can secure and how effectively the proposed projects are implemented.
For the eight member countries, the challenge will be turning regional agreements into practical improvements in trade, employment and living standards.
