Proposed COMESA 2018 Annual Budget Drops

File:Delegates at the COMESA Council of Ministers conference in Lusaka.

The proposed 2018 annual budget for the COMESA Secretariat and its agencies has declined by US$10 million dollars as several cooperating partners grants come to an end. This was revealed during the opening of the 37th meeting of the Committee on Administration and Budgetary matters.

“The annual budget will decrease from USD42 million in 2017 to USD32 million for 2018. This translates into a 30% reduction,” Mr. Ngwenya said. Member States are expected to contribute $16.7 million while cooperating partners are expected to provide $15.6 million

He told the delegates that funding from cooperating partners may however increase for 2018 if the programming processes of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) funds are completed early and grant agreements are signed.

Among the COMESA agencies that will be affected are the Regional Investment Agency (RIA) the Federation of Women in Business (FEMCOM) and the COMESA Competition Commission.

In his official address, the Secretary General urged Member States to put up deliberate measures to increase the proportion of their financial contribution to the budget.

He noted: “At some point, our cooperating partners will naturally expect COMESA Member States to assume a greater share of funding of the COMESA work programme.”

To ensure the desired levels of integration and cooperation is achieved, the Secretary General called for the speedy implementation of agreed COMESA instruments by member states. He noted that the current levels of production and infrastructure development were affecting job creation and intra-COMESA trade.

“COMESA may not achieve the desired development milestones in 2020 at this low implementation level of COMESA instruments,” he said.

The Administrative and Budgetary Committee supports and guides the Secretariat in administrative, financial, human resources and audit matters.

During the three-day meeting, the Committee will consider matters relating to the management of human resources, review the current (2017) and previous (2016) performance and the 2018 work programme and budget for the COMESA Secretariat, institutions and agencies.

Delegates will examine the consolidated internal audit report which highlights areas that the secretariat is working on to enhance corporate governance and institutional systems

They will also review the internal financial controls ranging from strengthening of financial reporting, external audit, report on internal controls findings and new policy instruments.

Participants comprise technical officers from governments of the 19 COMESA member states. Their report will be presented to the 37th meeting of the COMESA Intergovernmental Committee and eventually to the Council of Ministers meeting next week for decision making.

ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET AHEAD, PROFESSOR JOAN DEJAEGHERE

Laina Mwandoloma welcoming and making opening words to the workshop participants held at Morena Hotel in Dodoma region.

Professor Joan Dejaeghere of University of Minnesota (UMN) speaking during the dissemination workshop held in Dodoma recently which was coordinated by The Fundación Paraguaya in Tanzania. (Photo by Friday Simbaya)

Paraguay Foundation Business Clubs Coordinator Revocatus Kashaga is displaying one of the chairs made by one of the student business clubs, made from recycled materials like water bottle during the students gallery besides the dissemination workshop held in Dodoma recently. (Photo by Friday Simbaya)

Dodoma: IT is discovered that many economically disadvantaged youth in East Africa (EA) are unable to access appreciate skills training linked to labour market or business opportunities. 

This limits their capacity to access and create sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families. 

According to the research findings conducted by a team of local and University of Minnesota (UMN) researchers, they collected demographic and spoken survey data from 2,203 youth before training and upon completion of training program and job placement.

This was disclosed during the disseminating workshop held in Dodoma recently coordinated by Fundación Paraguaya in Tanzania and various stakeholders attended.

Professor Joan Dejaeghere of University of Minnesota (UMN) said the initiative aimed to pilot and scale three approaches that would provide youth with market-relevant technical, employability, entrepreneurship and life-skills; access to jobs and opportunities to start their own businesses; access to financial education, savings groups and formal financial services.

She said that the survey included 45 items to assess change in youth knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to learning, earning and saving, and well being.

Dejaeghere said the research team also gathered annual interview data for five years from sub-set of 230 youth, asking about their participation in further education/training, working for pay, savings patterns, goals, and challenges and opportunities in attempting to create a sustainable livelihood.

She said the pre- and post-training and job placement data showed that program participation had a positive effect on youth’s knowledge and skills. 

In addition, the Fundación Paraguaya in Tanzania Project Manager, Laina Mwandoloma said the program is working in partnership with secondary academic and technical schools to develop school–based businesses that contribute to students learning and school to self-sufficiency.

She said also that they develop business clubs where students learn about and engage in saving and small enterprise development.

Mwandoloma said the school based business approach, on this research was focused, and engages students for three years.

On his part, Business Clubs Coordinator Revocatus Kashaga said the research findings have revealed that youth valued learning by doing and put it into action by starting micro enterprises.

He said that the program can also be implemented both in academic and VETA school time-table.

Kashaga pointed out that vocational education and training (VETA) schools were more likely to start and expanded enterprises. 

About the business club, he said that is a financial entrepreneurial education program for youth, aimed at providing students with hand-on business experience by setting up small scale enterprises through the methodology known as ‘Learning by doing, earning and saving’.

He said that the program focuses on financial literacy and entrepreneurship to deliver programs that equip youth with practical, hand-on business experience.

“The program has managed to set up business clubs in various secondary schools in Iringa and Morogoro regions though the United Kingdom agency for international development (UKAID) in collaboration with Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) which supports various innovations,” he said.

The Fundación Paraguaya in Tanzania is implementing ‘Learn, Earn and Save’ a MasterCard Foundation Youth Livelihoods initiative which was established in 2011 to confront this challenge.

The majority of youth interviewed reported enhanced confidence, recognition in the community, and improved financial and emotional status.

However, many, particularly those that are just ‘getting by,’ remained poor or vulnerable. To achieve sustainable livelihoods, the learning partner recommends that programs consider the following; increasing foundational knowledge (literacy and numeracy), providing depth training (technical, business, life, financial skills); and providing pathways for certification or further education.

In addition, programs should address structural constraints that youth face, such as; gender-segregated workforce, lack of access to capital (money, tools, space and land); and need for ongoing mentorship. 

Paraguay Foundation (PF) is nonprofit organization which was established in 1985 in Paraguay, South America.