Tag: East African Development Bank (EADB)

East African Development Bank and KFW sign agreement to finance agriculture in Kenya

The East African Development Bank (EADB) has today announced that it has entered into a financing agreement with KfW, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, for the ‘Agricultural Financing Kenya’ project which is funded by the German Government as part of the wider ‘One World – No Hunger’ special initiative.

The announcement was made at the East African Development Bank Head Offices in Kampala, Uganda. Vivienne Yeda; Director General of EADB made the announcement.

EADB and KfW’s ‘Agricultural Financing Kenya’ will cater to the SMEs and farmers along the agricultural value chain in Kenya. The project which will be funded by EUR 13 million consists of two components.

L-R Oliver Junger the KfW Development Bank Kampala office Director

The first component will provide medium- to long-term loans to small and medium sized farmers and SMEs along the agricultural value chain. This will be done via selected partner financial institutions that boast extensive market knowledge; while the second component will be technical assistance and will involve training and capacity building measures.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Yeda noted that agriculture is the key source of income among Kenya’s rural population.

“Most of the farmers from rural Kenya are employed in Small and Medium sizes enterprises (SMEs). This program will go a long way to improve food security for the communities while achieving the greater purpose of poverty eradication,” she said.

“It is our belief that the program will give agricultural SMEs in Kenya the opportunity to invest and therefore expand and grow. This will greatly improve agricultural productivity and efficiency in Kenya. Ultimately, a more efficient Kenyan agricultural sector should boost economic growth, generate employment creation, reduce poverty and increase food security,” Ms. Yeda concluded.

The ‘Agricultural Financing Kenya’ program follows the successful implementation of two similar collaborations between EADB and KfW in Uganda: the ‘Rural Finance Enhancement Program’ and the ‘Agricultural Enhancement Program’. The two programs follow a similar model and have delivered over EUR20 million in financing to SMEs in Ugandan rural areas and along Uganda’s agricultural value chain.

April 20, 2017
EADB passes out first graduates of its first cancer management fellowship in Uganda

In a bid to sensitize the masses about non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the East African Development Bank (EADB) has passed out the first medical practitioners in its first cancer management fellowship in Uganda.

EADB started a medical training programme aimed at sensitizing the communities of four East African states; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda where it operates. The target is to train 600 medical practitioners in four of these East African countries under a period of four years.

Fifteen medical practitioners have been passed out in Uganda at Nsambya Hospital. These completed a training in various fields of non-communicable diseases. The doctors were trained in the fields of; headaches, brain tumors, movement disorders, nerve and muscle diseases, brain infections, Epilepsy, Strokes, Spinal cord pathology and Dementia.

Non Communicable Diseases, also known as chronic diseases, are not passed from person to person. They are of long duration and generally slow progression. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors are an emerging problem in East Africa. In Uganda, it is reported that cancer kills almost 21,000 people every year.

The fellowship focuses on early detection, research and treatment of cancer and neurological disorders especially in communities and areas where access to qualified professionals remains a challenge.

Two East African countries have now been able to conclude the train. These include Kenya and Uganda. The training is done for a week at a selected hospital.

Speaking during the passing out of the fresh graduates, Ms. Vivienne Yeda, the Director General of EADB said; “We are undertaking this training so that we can improve our chances in the fight against Non Communicable Diseases in our communities. In partnership with the British Council and the Royal College of Physicians, the East African Development Bank will be training 600 doctors across four East African countries. We are joyed to pass out our first set of graduates in Uganda. We hope they can go and help their communities to combat cancer.”

These diseases are driven by forces that include ageing, rapid unplanned urbanization, and the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles. For example, globalization of unhealthy lifestyles like unhealthy diets may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose, elevated blood lipids, and obesity. These are called ‘intermediate risk factors’ which can lead to cardiovascular disease, a NCD.

All age groups and regions are affected by NCDs. Very often, these illnesses are associated with older age groups, but evidence shows that 16 million of all deaths attributed to NCDs occur before the age of 70. Of these ‘premature’ deaths, 82% occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

Children, adults and the elderly alike are all vulnerable to the risk factors that contribute to Non-communicable diseases, whether from unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, exposure to tobacco smoke or the effects of the harmful use of alcohol.

October 3, 2016
Three East African Lecturers to Kick-Off Inaugural Class of EADB Math, Science, Technology and Engineering University Scholarship Program

The East African Development Bank (EADB) has today held a farewell event for the 3 successful teachers from the East African region who will make up the inaugural class of the EADB-AAI Scholars program. Recipients of the scholarship program will arrive in the United States in early-September to pursue a Master’s Degree in Education and Mathematics (EDM) at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Keith Muhakanizi giving a speech on the during the farewell of the 3 successful teachers from the East African Region

The three scholarships were awarded to experienced East African teachers and lecturers with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, who are actively teaching in an East African public university. The scholars were selected from nearly 300 applicants from the East African countries of Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, who competed for a choice few slots.

The scholars include two Ugandans; Emmanuel Nsadha, 33 and Theode Niyirinda; 31-year-old who will pursue Masters Degrees in Education and Mathematics at Rutgers University.

The third scholar, Alfred Mutembei Limbere,is a 26-year-old from Kenya and will also pursue a Masters Degree in Education Mathematics at Rutgers University.

Director General of the East African Development Bank, giving a speech during the farewell of the 3 successful teachers from the East African region who will make up the inaugural class of the EADB AAL scholars program

Speaking at the event, Ms. Vivienne Yeda, Director General of the East African Development Bank said The EADB created the EADB Math, Science, Technology and Engineering University Scholarship Program, in partnership with The Africa-America Institute, for experienced teachers and lecturers to earn a post-graduate degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology in the United States.

“This scholarship program will go a long way in helping to increase the number of qualified academics in the STEM fields and strengthen the workforce in the science, engineering and technology in East Africa. “The EADB and AAI warmly congratulate these scholars as they have successfully navigated a long and challenging application process,” Ms. Yeda added.

Keith Muhakanizi, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development who was the evening’s guest of honor commended EADB for their commitment to both infrastructural and personal development in the region.

The 3 Successful teachers, Mr Keith Muhakanizi, Director General of the East African Development Bank Ms Vivienne Yeda and government officials pose for a group photo during the farewell event

“We are here today to celebrate these three individuals who are starting an exciting journey. But we must realize that the benefits of this scholarship extend beyond their personal recipients. When Emmanuel, Theode and Alfred return to teaching at their universities, countless students will in turn reap the fruits of their qualifications.

That is why I want to commend and appreciate The EADB and AAI. This initiative ties in to our Government’s goal to increase access to education, with better learning and skills outcome,” Muhakanizi concluded.

The EADB scholarship aims to maximize the impact of EADB’s investment into the higher education sector by granting scholarships to accomplished lecturers who have agreed to return to their East African universities and continue teaching after they have received their graduate degree at Rutgers University.

The fully-funded EADB graduate level scholarships will provide full tuition, room and living expenses within a stipulated budget.

August 31, 2016