The East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organisation comprised of seven (7) Partner States including Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) is a semi-autonomous institution of the EAC that was established by the fifth Extra Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State on June 18, 2007. This was in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Establishment of the East African Community as set out in Chapter 16, Article 103 (a), where the Partner States undertook to promote co-operation in the development of science and technology within the EAC Partner States.
The overall objective of EASTECO is to promote and coordinate the development, management and application of science and technology to support EAC regional integration and socio-economic development. One of the objectives of EASTECO is to develop regional science and technology policy frameworks and strategies, and to promote the use and development of indigenous knowledge and technologies (IKT). Indigenous Knowledge and Technology refers to intricate knowledge and technology systems acquired over generations by communities as they interact with the environment.
It encompasses technological, economic, philosophical, learning and governance systems. It is a body of empirical knowledge and beliefs handed down through generations of inhabitants of a specific locale, by cultural transmission, about the relationship of living beings with each other and their environment. The legal framework for the protection of IK can either be through the existing intellectual property framework or a sui generis system of protection. When existing intellectual property regime does not offer an effective solution for the protection of IK, the alternative is to have a sui generis system of protection as set out in the African Union model law or the Swakopmund Protocol. The main aim of sui generis type of protection is to offer protection that is unique to IK systems, as well as to ensure that IK is preserved, is protected against misuse and misappropriation, and allows for access and benefit sharing. Defensive protection involves the creation of databases to ensure that information is not used for example to obtain patent protection without the authority of the rights holder. In this regard, cases to consider include the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library and the documentation of traditional knowledge in other forms.
The vision of the strategy is a Community that preserves, protects and economically exploits indigenous knowledge and technologies for socio-economic development of its people whereas the mission is to promote and develop indigenous knowledge and technology systems and uplift the wellbeing of the people and contribute to socio-economic development.
The priority areas of the strategy include: Development and promotion of IKTS, Promotion of Cooperation in IKTS, Integration of IKTS in education and the regional qualifications, Integration of IKTS in the regional innovation system, Integration of IKT in the regional research and development strategy, Human resource development and capacity building and Public understanding and awareness of IKTS.
The East African Regional Strategy for Indigenous Knowledge and Technology Systems is divided into five (5) sections namely,
(i) Section 1 Introduction. This covers background to EAC and indigenous knowledge and technology
systems.
(ii) Section 2 Situational Analysis. This covers legal framework and institutional arrangements of indigenous knowledge and technology systems in the EAC, continental and global conventions, protocols and agreements related to IKTS, legal framework for the protection of IK through the existing intellectual property framework or a sui generis system of protection. It also covers
defensive protection of IKT.
(iii) Section 3 EAC Strategy for indigenous Knowledge and Technology Systems. This covers rationale, strategic drivers, priority areas, vision, mission, aims, strategic objectives and strategies.
(iv) Section 4 Implementation Framework. This covers decision making organs, implementing institutions, EAC IKTS Regional Steering Committee, Implementation mechanisms, regional and international cooperation.
(v) Section 5 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework. This covers monitoring and evaluation implementation plan and integrated learning.
The EAC Heads of State committed themselves to implement the EAC Vision 2050 for the mutual benefit of the Partner States and enhance the quality of life of the people of East Africa. By 2050, the EAC Heads of State, expect EAC to have been transformed into an upper– middle income region within a secure and politically united East Africa based on the principles of inclusiveness and accountability. The East African Regional Strategy for Indigenous Knowledge and Technology Systems has been developed to ensure that EAC harnesses indigenous knowledge and technology for socio-economic development of its people.
