EAC: Conclusion

The report outlines a series of strategic interventions for the East African Community (EAC) to address poverty, inequality, and instability. Key recommendations include investing in climate-resilient WaSH infrastructure, harmonising agricultural and industrial policies, and improving regional security and governance to support a rapidly expanding population.

• The East African Community (EAC) faces challenges in aligning development trajectories due to the diverse priorities and shortfalls of its eight member states, including new members DR Congo and Somalia. While the REC is a useful space for coordination in energy, infrastructure, migration, and agriculture, full national government buy-in is required to achieve shared growth.
• To combat low access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH), the EAC must implement the 2023 WaSH Leadership Summit Principles of Action. These priorities include coordinating budgets, removing governance bottlenecks, increasing private sector and climate finance, and creating systems that are resilient to disasters and climate change.
• Regional food security and industrial growth require the harmonisation of national and regional plans. The report suggests prioritising the EAC’s Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan to reduce import dependence and focusing the EAC Industrialization Policy and Strategy on agro-processing industries in the short term.
• Economic integration should be advanced through trade facilitation, competition law, and the full implementation of the AfCFTA. Additionally, the region should improve its investment environment by targeting illicit financial flows and implementing the EAC’s Sixth Development strategy.
• Regional stability and governance are critical, specifically regarding security challenges in Somalia, South Sudan, and eastern DR Congo. The report emphasizes the need for adherence to the East African Community Integrity and Anti-Corruption Bill of 2019 and the protection of civil society and freedom of expression.

APA

McLachlan, D. T. (2026). EAC: Conclusion. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=EAC&topic=05-conclusion

Chicago

McLachlan, Du Toit. EAC: Conclusion. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=EAC&topic=05-conclusion.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=McLachlan |first1=Du Toit |title=EAC: Conclusion |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=28 May 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=EAC&topic=05-conclusion |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mclachlan2026eac, author = {McLachlan, Du Toit}, title = {{EAC: Conclusion}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=EAC&topic=05-conclusion}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }