SPECTARIS and a Successful Partnership in East Africa

The project focuses on providing support and advice to our foreign partner organization, the East African Health Platform (EAHP), with the goal of strengthening its commitment and expertise as a service provider for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and as an advocate in dealings with government institutions. We also explicitly plan to create synergies for our members through delegation trips and by leveraging the contacts established on the ground.

In 2015, SPECTARIS conducted research on various regions and partners that would be suitable for a planned Chamber and Association Partnership Project (KVP). Last fall, discussions with the EAHP were intensified, and potential areas of cooperation were identified. Based on these discussions, SPECTARIS submitted the application for the planned KVP to sequa in December 2015.
In January 2016, the BMZ approved a two-week assessment mission to Kenya and Tanzania in April, during which, accompanied by an external expert, discussions were held with project partners and stakeholders in the target region. The resulting report was reviewed by the BMZ and approved in September 2016.

The East African region—comprising Kenya, Tanzania (excluding Zanzibar), Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi—is home to approximately 135.5 million people. With an annual GDP growth rate of 6 to 7 percent—which is expected to continue over the next few years—and a corresponding increase in demand for healthcare services, East Africa is clearly one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

The East African Health Platform (EAHP), founded in 2013, is the regional advocacy group for private companies, civil society organizations, and faith-based organizations active in the health sector in East Africa.
EAHP members include regional and national healthcare providers, associations, pharmaceutical associations, civil society organizations, healthcare networks, and healthcare institutions in East Africa. Currently, the EAHP comprises 18 healthcare sector associations, which in turn represent approximately 5,000 members. These members are drawn from the East African Community, an organization comprising the partner states of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The EAHP’s goal is to achieve cross-border harmonization of health standards in the East African region. It advocates for appropriate health policies within the East African Community to promote development and growth in the region.

• Organizational Development
• Improving the Range of Services Offered to Businesses
• Support for Economic Advocacy

KVP projects typically consist of two funding phases, each lasting three years. Depending on the type of project and its needs, funding ranging from 150,000 to 350,000 euros per year is available.

• Establishing networks between companies from Germany and East Africa through delegation trips and visits to trade shows and conferences
• Providing our members with timely information on local business opportunities and investment potential (current market data, calls for proposals, relevant policy frameworks, development cooperation projects such as PPPs, etc.)
• Harmonization of the framework conditions for market development in East Africa (licensing, quality standards, training)
• Establishment of a panel of experts on issues related to market development, approval, and registration of medical devices in East African countries
• Communicating the interests of our member companies to the East African Community (EAC) and government authorities

The project is initially scheduled to last three years. During this time, we intend to work with the EAHP to more effectively represent the interests of the healthcare industry in the East African Community (EAC).