Improving the quality of life of the people of East Africa is at the heart of the regional integration process. The State of East Africa Report 2013 emanates from the following three elements of the objectives, fundamental and operational principles in the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

The first is the attainment of sustainable growth and development of the partner states by the promotion of a more balanced and harmonious development of the Partner States (Article 5). The second is the equitable distribution of benefits (Article 6) and the third is the commitment to people-centred and market-driven co-operation (Article 7).