EAC-CHINA FORUM ON AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CONCLUDES IN ARUSHA

The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko has commended the People’s Republic of China for the extensive support extended to the EAC not only in Civil Aviation sector but also in many other areas critical to the Community’s integration at the bilateral and regional levels.

The Secretary General, in particular, hailed the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and China Electronic Technology Group Corporation (CETC) for organizing and facilitating a three-day EAC-China High 

Level Forum on Air Traffic Management (ATM), which concluded on 27^th November, 2016 in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Secretary General, who was represented by the EAC Director for Infrastructure, Mr. Philip Wambugu, disclosed that the EAC is currently the leading Regional Economic Community in matters of Civil Aviation, thanks to the many collaborative projects and programmes supported and implemented by the Partner States. 

“Collaboration with China at the regional level has been growing and the Secretariat, on behalf of the Partner States, wishes to acknowledge the great support by the China Civil Aviation Administration during the MA 60 Aircraft Type Certificate Acceptance Procedures and the continued support to Burundi CAA in meeting its Safety and Airworthiness obligations to allow the commencement of MA 60 Operations in the region,” said Amb. Mfumukeko.

“The type, acceptance and certification of the MA 60 aircraft opens the doors for EAC and China to expand their cooperation in the aviation sector through various avenues including technology transfer, purchase/lease and operations of Chinese aircraft and parts among others. This is a critical milestone achieved by both parties and is also in line with the signed EAC-China Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement,” added the Secretary General.

The Political Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Mr. Yang Tong, underscored the readiness of the People’s Republic of China to support the development of a robust aviation sector in the EAC region. He also pledged to take forward with the Chinese government the implementation of the proposals arising out of the Forum.

The Forum was characterised by various presentations including on the status of the China Civil ATM; a glimpse of EAC Integrated ATM by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC); status of ATM in EAC by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority; and on the Establishment of the EAC Upper Flight Information Region (EAC-UFIR) Project. The main objective of the EAC-UFIR Project is the creation of a single bloc of upper airspace (above flight level 24,500 feet above sea level) to ensure efficient levels of safety and advantages in capacity, efficiency and performance over the present scheme in the Regional Air Navigation services provision.

The EAC-China Forum on ATM was also attended by the Chairpersons of the Partner States’ Civil Aviation Authorities; Representatives of CAAC and CETC; Director Generals of Partner States’ Civil Aviation Authorities; the Executive Director, Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency.

EAC.

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AFRICA LAND FORCES SUMMIT TAKE OFF IN ARUSHA TANZANIA

GROUP PHOTO  FOR AFRICA LAND FORCES  COMMANDERS AND THE US ARMY HELD IN ARUSHA.

The 16^th African Land Forces  Summit is on goinhg in Arusha with the   exchange between the United States, the United Republic of Tanzania and land force chiefs from across Africa.

The meeting is set to discuss and develop cooperative solutions to regional and transregional challenges and threats.

Senior leaders from African nations will have the opportunity to solidify relationships, exchange information on current topics of mutual interest and encourage cooperation in addressing challenges.

 U.S. Army  Africa leverages the Total Army and uses a regional focus, embedded in the Army's global engagement strategy to strengthen African land forces and regional organizations. 

These foundational capabilities help synchronize efforts and provide options to prevent conflict, to shape the security environment and to win conflicts. This seminar is just one example of U.S.

 Army Africa's commitment to strengthening relationships with partner nations in Africa. Future summits and security cooperation engagements will be scheduled to take place in Africa and U.S. Army Africa will continue to develop and build upon the relationships and partnerships established here.

The African Land Forces Summit provides an opportunity for U.S. Army to hear issues and concerns directly from African military leaders. It also provides a forum for the partner nations to freely express their opinions, concerns, desires, goals and ideas. Developing cooperative relationships and enduring partnerships among the militaries helps to promote security, stability and peace in Africa, and protect the national security interests of the United States.

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DESIGN HUMAN CENTERED FINANCIAL SERVICES TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS

Nearly 54 percent of 45 million Tanzanians have no access to formal financial services, despite the fact that financial institutions have been struggling to reach them.

Various studies highlighted illiteracy as one of key factors behind the mess, but during the just ended ‘FinDisrupt’ event in Arusha that brought together product development teams among financial service providers as well as researchers in the financial sector, tech developers and end users, a new insight came in the picture.

Traditionally, financial experts have been working extra time to capture this huge market by pushing their readymade products through orchestrated marketing strategies, but in vain.

Now, the Financial Sector Deepening Trust (FSDT) experts gave an interesting insight that the financial products that have been pushed on the market do not respond to the real challenges facing the local people.

“The tricky issue is that experts have been trying hard to make people understand their products, instead of them to comprehend the customers need well before creating product” says FSDT operations director, Irene Mlola.

Ms Mlola argues that unless the product developers change their mindset and understand their customer’s need before inventing any financial service, majority of people would continue using their traditional way of saving money.

Her argument was anchored by an expert from San Fransisco, Dr Ibanga Umanah, Co Founder Brave Venture Labs, who said that in the digital economy, product developers ought to devise the people centred financial products in order to win the hearts and minds of their potential customers.

“Human centered design is a process for understanding people and designing solutions to their problems” Dr Umanah explained.

                 Build empathy

He told the financial services developers that they need to be open to seeing the customers’ world from their point of view and let them lead.

“When you interact with the potential customers talk 10 percent, listen 90 percent and ask open ended questions to solicit stories” Dr Umanah stressed.

He also insisted to follow up on personal and concrete topics, use the words they use, be warm and interested, in particular, smile.

“Create from the user’s point of view, not your businesses” Dr Umanah underlined.

Although, institutions such as FSDT, the world Bank, the National Bureau of Statistics and a number of market research firms among others, generate insights on the demand side of the financial sector, the response from the market, but new products does not give the confidence that the insights generated are being used for the improvement and development of new innovative products.

It was from this background, FSDT decided to ignite a conversation on consumer centered product development in order to fill the product improvement and development gap in Tanzania.

The main objective of FinDisrupt was to promote evidence based decision-making in product development by financial service providers in Tanzania.

In most cases, the product development teams are at the heart of tweaking international products cascaded to them by their mother companies / improving exciting products and in a few cases they are involved in the development of new products.

“In order to shake up the financial products development space in Tanzania, this is the group which we would like to influence and work with post the event” chipped in Mr Elvis Mushi,FSDT Head of research.

At the end of the three-day FinDisrupt event, the product development teams from mobile network operators (MNOs) banks, microfinance institutions such as saccoss, Insurance Companies and Pension funds, were able to design the people centred products.

The FSDT mission is to generate sustainable improvements in the livelihoods of poor households through reduced vulnerability to shocks increased incomes and employment achieved through providing greater access to financial services for more men, women and enterprises.

The FSDT in partnership with the Bank of Tanzania defines financial inclusion as a state where: 

“All Tanzanians regularly use financial tools and payment platforms to manage cash flows and mitigate shocks. These are delivered by formal providers through a range of appropriate services and infrastructure, with dignity and fairness”.

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EAC HEADS OF STATE LAUNCH ANOTHER ROAD TO CONNECT CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CORRIDORS

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