ARUSHA (Tanzania), Oct 9 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — SOUTH Sudan has acceded to the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for engineers, marking a significant milestone in the movement of professional engineers within the East African Community (EAC).
The MRA aims to streamline the recognition of professional qualifications for engineers in the region, facilitating their cross-border mobility.
The accession agreement was signed recently by the Registrar of the Engineering Council of South Sudan, along with representatives from the Engineers Board of Kenya, the Engineers Registration Board of Tanzania (ERB), the Engineers Registration Board of Uganda and the Rwanda Engineering Council.
By enhancing the mobility of professionals, the MRAs are expected to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills within the region, improving access to a wider pool of experts and promoting quality and professionalism in the EAC.
During the ceremony, EAC Principal Education Officer, Dr Dorcas Omukhulu emphasised the need for competent authorities in the five partner states to ensure quality assurance for engineering professionals.
“I also call upon partner states whose competent authorities have not yet acceded to the Engineers’ MRA to do so,” she added.
Chairman and Registrar of the Engineers Registration Board of Tanzania, representing the Engineering MRA Coordination Committee in East Africa, Engineer Benard Kavishe, noted that the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of South Sudan’s application, as guided by Article 11.3 of the MRA.
“This historic event will further strengthen the region’s engineering profession and facilitate the free movement of skilled engineers within the EAC, contributing to the overall development and economic growth of the region,” he stated.
The EAC-GIZ Cluster Coordinator, Ritcher Bjoern, reflected on GIZ’s support for East African economic integration over the past 25 years.
“GIZ is pleased to support the Engineering Boards of various Partner States, facilitating not just this ceremony but also platforms for cross-border skilled labour. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with engineering stakeholders in the region,” he said.
The accession of South Sudan to the MRA is a testament to the EAC’s commitment to fostering regional cooperation and creating a vibrant and prosperous East African Community.
As part of efforts to break down barriers hindering cross-border mobility, the EAC, in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU), has developed the Digitalisation for East African Trade and Integration (DIGEAT) and LIFTED projects.
These initiatives focus on enhancing the existing Mutual Recognition Agreement for engineers and aim to improve regulatory frameworks for cross-border mobility, as well as establish a digital data exchange mechanism for recognising the qualifications of practicing engineers in the region.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from EAC partner states, the EAC Secretariat and GIZ through the DIGEAT and LIFTED initiatives, which support the EAC in facilitating professional mobility in line with the Common Market Protocol.
The treaty for the establishment of the EAC provides for the creation of a Common Market among partner states, allowing for the free movement of labour, goods, services, capital and the right of establishment.
To achieve this, partner states are required to mutually recognise academic and professional qualifications, as well as licences and certifications granted in other Partner States. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
