PROJECT

Projects

Summary of Advisory Services Project Information

Project Number

585047

Primary Business Area

Investment Climate

Disclosure Date

Nov 5, 2012

Country

Eastern Africa Region

Region

Africa

IFC Approval Date

Jul 2, 2012

Status

Active

Estimated Total Budget

$8,100,000.00
(Project budget includes all project-funded activities)

Last Updated Date

Nov 30, 2016

Project Estimated Start Date

Jul 1, 2012

Project Description

The program primarily works with the East African Community Secretariat (EAC-S). It’s objective is to increase inter-and intra-regional trade and investment in East Africa through investment climate reforms in support of the East African Common Market. These efforts are expected to result in significantly improved investment environments as measured by the achievement of Investment Climate Reforms. The program is expected to achieve its objectives through the following activities: 1. Review and support the drafting of select EAC commercial laws to be harmonized under the EAC Common Market Protocol. 2. Design and establishment of an EAC Common Market scorecard, which will map and compare the implementation of EAC’s Common Market obligations among member states. 3. Improve and reduce compliance costs of regional and national tax procedures by harmonizing, streamlining and simplifying tax policy and tax procedures. This will support the formalization of small and medium enterprises and seeks to reduce the businesses tax administrative compliance costs in the EAC region. 4. Improve transparency and access to businesses’ regulatory transactions at the national and regional levels by establishing the framework for an EAC-wide e-registry through country-level digitization, improvement of back office workflows, on-line applications and related updates. 5. Improve the capacity of the EAC Secretariat to develop, assess, and monitor policy measures (laws, regulation, directives) aimed at establishing the EAC’s Common Market. 6. Support peer-to-peer learning among EAC reformers through the Network of Reformers’ initiative and the publication of four annual EAC Doing Business reports.

Development Results