More states to benefit from Comesa Fund

The number of countries accessing the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Fund through its adjustment facility (CAF) fund is expected to reach 17 out 19 by the end of this year.

According to the latest status report of the Comesa Regional Integration Support Mechanism (RISM), the average disbursement per country is expected to be about €4 million (Sh448m) with a few countries likely to get over €8 million (Sh896m) during the life of the programme. RISM is currently providing funding for the facility.

Critical tool

The 13th Meeting of the Technical Committee of the Comesa Fund that took place recently in Lusaka, Zambia was informed that the Fund has improved implementation of regional programmes at the national level with a performance rate of 80 per cent.

“Indeed the CAF is proving to be a critical tool for your integration process and is providing instrumental support as envisaged in the Comesa Treaty,” COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya told the delegates who were attending the policy organs’ meeting.