24 Quality Champions from six countries gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the first Regional Summit of EAC Quality Champions and QC Hubs in February.
Under the EU-funded EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme Phase II (MARKUP II), the programme has continued to strengthen national teams of Quality Champions in six East African Community (EAC) countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Across East Africa, a growing network of professionals is helping small businesses improve the quality and safety of their products. These professionals—known as Quality Champions (QCs)—are trained under the International Trade Centre’s Quality Champions Programme and support enterprises through coaching, training, and advisory services on quality management systems, food safety, and operational improvement.
Under the EU-funded EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme Phase II (MARKUP II), the programme has continued to strengthen national teams of Quality Champions in six East African Community (EAC) countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Many of these experts work closely with enterprises in priority value chains, helping them adopt international standards, improve processes, and become more competitive in regional and international markets. Over time, these teams have also established national quality associations, which now serve as hubs coordinating quality advisory services and capacity-building activities in their respective countries.
Yet despite working toward the same mission, many of these professionals had never met each other.
The summit also brought together key regional partners, including representatives from the EAC Secretariat, the East African Business Council (EABC), and the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO). For many participants, it was the first opportunity to meet colleagues carrying out similar work in neighbouring countries and to exchange experiences face to face.
From the outset, the emphasis was on building relationships. Participants were paired with colleagues from different countries to introduce themselves and share their professional journeys. Through these conversations, they quickly discovered common ground: similar challenges in supporting SMEs, similar successes in helping businesses strengthen quality practices, and a shared commitment to promoting a stronger culture of quality across East Africa. What began as a group of individual experts soon felt like the beginning of a regional community.
Over three days, participants engaged in discussions and collaborative sessions designed to deepen this shared purpose. Quality Champions presented examples of enterprise improvement projects they had supported in their countries, highlighting practical tools for food safety management, lean process improvement, and quality systems implementation. The participation of regional institutions such as the EAC Secretariat, EABC, and ARSO enriched the discussions by bringing perspectives on regional cooperation, standards harmonisation, and opportunities to connect the QC network with the broader regional quality infrastructure.
The summit also created space to look ahead. Participants explored how national Quality Champion hubs could strengthen their services, expand outreach to SMEs, and reduce reliance on project-based funding. They also discussed how stronger regional collaboration could amplify their impact by allowing experts from different countries to share knowledge, support each other’s initiatives, and promote quality more effectively across the region.
By the final day, the discussions had evolved into something more concrete. Participants agreed to establish a regional network of Quality Champions and endorsed the creation of a regional association—the East African Quality Association—to sustain collaboration beyond the current programme. The proposed structure aims to strengthen cooperation among national quality associations, increase the visibility of the QC network, and support enterprises across the region through coordinated expertise and services.
More than anything, the summit demonstrated the value of bringing people together. Participants left with new professional relationships, fresh ideas to apply in their own countries, and a renewed sense that they are part of a broader regional effort.
As the network grows, these connections between Quality Champions will play an important role in strengthening quality culture across East Africa—helping enterprises improve standards, access markets, and contribute to the region’s economic integration.
