This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
On May 2018, the East African Development Bank launched a five-day training program for public sector lawyers and legal professionals to negotiate contracts in the extractives industry.
The training aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills to ensure that the East African region maximizes benefits from exploration, exploitation, and extraction of its resources.
Contracts in the extractives sector are often shrouded in mystery, with many African countries being taken advantage of by multinational companies.
Experts believe that natural resources are a public good that can drive economic development, reduce income inequality, and create jobs if well managed.
According to Dr. Julius Muia, National Treasury Principal Secretary, mining agreements are complex and require specific attention to environmental and social issues, land issues, taxation, and royalties.
The training follows similar ones held in Dar es Salaam and Kigali, and is part of the East African Development Bank's efforts to improve the capacity of governments to negotiate favorable contracts.
