The East African Community Secretariat is set to launch a design competition among the Youth in the region for a new emblem and logo as directed by the EAC Council of Ministers.
The 24th meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning held on 30th June, 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, considered and adopted the EAC Brand Architecture Strategy and directed the EAC Secretariat to involve the Youth in the region to develop the new EAC Brand Architecture.
The EAC Brand Architecture Strategy proposes several activities that include: re-designing a new EAC emblem and logo, developing a common unique identifier for all EAC Organs and Institutions; developing one primary (main) EAC corporate colour and one secondary colour; and developing a single visual identity emblem for the Community.
There are several gaps that have been identified in the current EAC corporate identity. For example, the Community does not have a clearly defined brand architecture for its Organs and Institutions and this has created a gap that has led to the inconsistent design of new logos by EAC Institutions.
There is also lack of a visual connection between the current three Organs – EAC Secretariat, East African Legislative Assembly and East African Court of Justice – and eight Institutions. Some of the EAC Institutions have adopted the EAC logo as their primary logo whilst others have developed their own unique logos. Both the EAC flag and logo have too many colours, moreover the current logo is not adaptable to the future expansion of the Community.
The absence of a common unique identifier for all Organs and Institutions, and having two different visual identity symbols, namely the flag and the logo, have created a big gap in the EAC brand architecture.
To kick-start the implementation of the Council Decision on the EAC Brand Architecture, the EAC Secretariat, in liaison with the Ministries of EAC Affairs in the Partner States, will conduct sensitization workshops for the youths/students on the EAC Brand Architecture and thereafter launch the EAC emblem and logo design competition in the National Universities/Institutes in the Partner States as follows:
- Juba University – 29th to 30th May, 2017;
- Ecole Techniques des Arts/Gitega, Burundi – 1st to 2nd June, 2017;
- University of Rwanda – 5th to 6th June, 2017;
- University of Dar es Salaam – 8th to 9th June, 2017;
- University of Nairobi – 12th to 13th June, 2017, and;
- Kampala, Uganda – 15th to 16th June, 2017).
Guidelines for participating in the EAC Brand Architecture Re-design Competition is available on www.eac.int. The Competition period is from 1st June, 2017 to 31st August, 2017.
