Brussels, Tuesday, April 30, 2019: The EU Commission in Brussels and the Chief Executives of the five Duly Mandated Regional Organisation (DMROs) of the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean (ES-SA-IO) have signed an addendum to the Regional Indicative Programme (RIP).

The signing ceremony took place in Brussels on Tuesday 30 April 2019 where the five DMROs namely: COMESA, EAC, IGAD, IOC and SADC participated to review. Among others, the status of implementation of the 11th EDF RIP which was signed with the EU in 2015.

The RIP aid supports the Eastern Africa, Southern and the Indian Ocean in accordance with the provisions of Articles 6 to 10 of Annex IV to the partnership agreements between the member of the ACP group of states on one part and the EC and its Member States on the other.

The financial resources provided are available to the EA-SA-IO during the period 2014 – 2020.

A Mid-Term Review (MTR) for the RIP was undertaken in 2017, following the new European Consensus on Development which recalibrated the development policy of the EU in coherence with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Prior to signing the DMROs, the chairperson, Ms Chileshe Kapwepwe, Secretary General of COMESA said the MTR was an important step to translate modified policy into concrete actions and results.

“This review will refocus the RIP actions towards the Sustainable Development Goals and to respond to evolving global challenges as well as regional developments,” she said. “It is therefore a critical exercise considering the fact that countries priorities of development cooperation have evolved and require to be re-aligned.”