Little-known East African science body in budget dilemma

A regional science and technology body of the East African Community is facing a budget deficit that could potentially cripple its activities for the second year running.

An article published by Tanzanian newspaper, The Citizen, said that the East African Science and Technology Commission received roughly US$1.2 million for the ending financial year 2016-17—a mere 44 per cent of the total amount it needed to carry out its functions.

The sum, which the paper obtained from budget documents, mainly covered salaries and administrative expenses, with only 8 per cent going to funding programmes.