EAC Social Affairs Ministers adopt regional policies on social protection, youth, gender and migration

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 15^th July, 2026: The EAC Partner States have adopted a new five-year regional strategy on gender, youth, children, persons with disabilities, social protection and community development, alongside the EAC Social Protection Policy and Action Plan.

The decisions were adopted during the inaugural Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Social Affairs held from 2^nd to 7^th July, 2026 in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.

The meeting also adopted the the Revised EAC Youth Policy (2026), guidelines on early childhood development and regional competency standards for domestic workers and Terms of Reference of the Sectoral Council, providing a unified regional framework for coordinating policies on gender, youth, children, social protection, community development, labour, employment and migration.

The meeting marked the operationalisation of the newly established Sectoral Council on Social Affairs following the rationalisation of the EAC Sectoral Councils. The Council brings together previously separate social sector mandates under one platform to strengthen policy coordination, implementation and oversight across the Partner States.

Opening the meeting was the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers and Chairperson of the Sectoral Council on Social Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga who is also the 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs of the Republic of Uganda. She called for accelerated implementation of regional commitments to ensure citizens benefit from the policies and programmes adopted by the Community.

"The EAC has established a strong foundation of policies and strategies to advance social development. Our priority now is to ensure timely implementation of the decisions and directives already adopted so that our citizens experience tangible improvements in their lives. Uganda remains fully committed to working with all Partner States to advance the Community's social affairs agenda," she said.

Speaking on behalf of the EAC Secretariat, Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, Deputy Secretary General responsible for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, described the establishment of the Sectoral Council as an important step in strengthening regional coordination on social development.

"The Sectoral Council provides an important platform for strengthening policy coordination, enhancing collaboration among Partner States and translating regional commitments into concrete results through effective implementation, sustainable financing and continued political commitment," he said.

The adopted instruments are expected to strengthen social inclusion, youth empowerment, labour mobility, decent work, social protection and the protection of vulnerable groups while promoting greater harmonisation of social development policies across the EAC.

The Council also reviewed progress in implementing regional programmes, including the Creating Opportunities for Youth and Women in Africa (COYWA) Programme by AUDA-NEPAD, which supports innovation, entrepreneurship and employment for youth and women across the eight EAC Partner States. Ministers further welcomed progress under the Empowering Border Communities Project, which seeks to improve livelihoods and promote inclusive cross-border trade, particularly among women and young entrepreneurs.

On migration governance, the Council adopted recommendations from the 1st EAC Regional Consultative Process (RCP) on Migration, including the EAC RCP Action Plan, to strengthen regional cooperation on safe, orderly and regular migration, labour mobility and the protection of migrants. The Council also commended the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for its support in establishing the EAC Regional Consultative Process.

Ministers reviewed progress in implementing previous Council directives and noted that while significant progress has been made, additional efforts are required to address outstanding decisions, strengthen accountability, mobilise sustainable resources and enhance coordination among Partner States and the Secretariat to ensure timely implementation.

For more information, please contact:

Lillian Kiarie
Communications & Media Expert- Office of the EAC Secretary General
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +254 723 797 226
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.eac.int

About the East African Community:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of Burundi, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. The EAC aims to expand and deepen economic, political, social, and cultural integration to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa through increased competitiveness, value-added production, trade, and investment.