EMBEDDING regional integration into national policies of the partner states needs decisive action for its realisation, senior EAC public service officials have declared.

A statement by the EAC Secretariat issued here yesterday said that top officials gathered for a two-day strategic dialogue for heads of public service and ministers, intended to push the drive for the EAC integration agenda, “addressing regional challenges and unlocking the full economic potential of the region.”

Fragmented national policies that often operate in isolation had slowed the implementation of EAC commitments, undermining the region's ability to take coordinated action, they said their resolutions, citing weak engagement frameworks for heads of public service in integration matters.

This limits effective alignment of national governance with regional priorities, as the lack of adequate human and financial resources in public institutions significantly hinders the advancement of integration initiatives, the statement affirmed.

Participating senior officials agreed on the need for a robust monitoring mechanism to track the alignment of national commitments with regional objectives to ensure measurable progress, foster accountability and enable governments to effectively address implementation challenges, it said.

Beatrice Moe, chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and Kenya’s cabinet secretary for EAC Affairs said that the pace of implementation of regional protocols and decisions has sometimes fallen short of aspirations.

She stressed the unique role that heads of public service play in ensuring compliance with regional commitments, identifying bottlenecks and addressing implementation challenges to strengthening policy alignment and accountability

Stronger policy alignment, sustained collaboration and reinforced accountability measures would form the basis of a performance monitoring framework to ensure consistent progress toward the harmonization of regional integration and governance, the statement affirmed.

Rebecca Kadaga, EAC Affairs minister for Uganda, said that heads of public service need to familiarize themselves with regional laws as they become binding once passed. The partner states need to walk the talk and follow through on their commitments to advance true integration within the zone.

Lucy Nakyobe, head of the public service in Uganda, emphasized the importance of greater cohesion within the EAC, moving beyond national interests and focusing on streamlining integration at the local government level for effective regional goal implementation.

Veronica Nduva, the EAC secretary general, appreciated the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) and GIZ, the German aid agency, for supporting the dialogue. She stressed integrating the regional agenda into a whole of government approach, cautioning that competing national interests without a unified regional approach could derail the integration process.

Dr Peter Kiuluku, ESAMI director general, stressed the urgency for partner states to think, act, and trade as one, appealing for a shift to a technology-driven economy, strategic value chains, technology adoption and policy realignment to strengthen the region’s global competitiveness.

“The future of our region depends on our ability to collaborate, innovate, and take decisive action. We must harness our strengths, align our priorities, and build a resilient economy that competes on the global stage,” he added.