Malawi progress on integration attracts Comesa funding
Malawi has made progress in the implementation of the regional integration programmes under the 19-member Comesa bloc and will, alongside other 13 countries, benefit from the body’s adjustment facility amounting to 15.8 million euros (K9.6 billion).
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Adjustment Facility (CAF) provides support to member states that have progressed in the implementation of regional integration programmes, according to a statement posted on its website.
“The support is provided and distributed among the member countries based on formula that includes consideration of contributions to the Comesa fund,” said the statement.
The Comesa fund protocol was adopted in 2002 and includes the CAF and the Comesa Infrastructure Fund (CIF).
The CAF was operationalised by the Regional Integration Support Mechanism (Rism) through a contribution agreement between Comesa and the European Union (EU) in 2007.
Ministry of Industry and Trade spokesperson Wiskes Nkombezi was not immediately available to comment on when the money will be disbursed, or if at all it has already been disbursed and the benefits that will accrue.
According to Comesa, funding for the Rism programme is 78 million euros under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) and a next phase for 33 million euros has been approved for signature this year.
“Rism has motivated member States to re-organise and improve their national institutional mechanisms for management, coordination, implementation and monitoring of regional integration programmes through the establishment of national inter-ministerial coordinating committees,” said Comesa.
Rism has also been instrumental in communicating challenges in the regional integration process through the strengthened technical ties between member States and the secretariat based in Zambia.
Comesa has mobilised an additional 33 million euros under the 10th EDF Rism consolidation programme to be implemented from 2014 to 2016.
The other countries that will also benefit from the funds include Burundi, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
