COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN ….docxVIP

COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICACALL FOR APPLICATIONSMASE COORDINATOR (P4) – READVERTISED (Candidates who responded to the earlier advertisement should not apply)Introduction and BackgroundThe ESA-IO region has increasingly been subject to security challenges linked to piracy, maritime insecurity and organised crime. International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported in 2009 that the ESA-IO region had become the most pirate-infested waters in the world. Somali pirates have been attacking vessels in the marine areas of Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, and Madagascar and further off into the Indian Ocean. Piracy and lack of maritime security continue to increase transport costs, trade costs and insurance. This ultimately affects the regional integration process by undermining development efforts which negatively impact on the inclusion of the region in the global economy. Furthermore piracy increases the risks of terrorism and smuggling of weapons and drugs. The increasing concern in the region from a political, social and economic perspective, especially in the economically vulnerable small island states prompted the region to attribute to all the Regional Organisations a specific mandate for the fight against piracy. The 13th COMESA Summit held in June 2009 in Zimbabwe called upon the International Community to adopt a coordinated approach in a holistic manner through the UN. Following this, a high level regional Ministerial Meeting on Piracy was held on 7 October 2010 in Mauritius and adopted the ESA-IO Regional Strategy and Action Plan against Piracy and for Promoting Maritime Security. In line with the Action Plan, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Indian Ocean Community (IOC) under the initiation of the IRCC, have created a common Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region (ESA-IO) regional programme to support maritime secur