The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the East African Community (EAC) last week signed a $2.6 million to finance feasibility studies and design for the rehabilitation of some road sections of the Central Corridor in Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

The Letter of Agreement, under the NEPAD-Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility, was signed by Tonia Kandiero, AfDB’s Resident Representative in Tanzania and the EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is an African Union strategic framework for pan-African socio-economic development.

According to the EAC Secretariat, the grant will finance consultancy services related to undertaking feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, environmental and social impact assessment, and preparation of bidding documents.

All this is for the rehabilitation of the road sections joining Rusumo to Lusahunga and Nyakanazi to Manyovu via Kasulu in Tanzania; Kayonza to Kigali in Rwanda; and Rumonge to Bujumbura via Rutunga in Burundi.