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The East African Partner States include Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. When a disease outbreak occurs across international borders or simultaneously within two or more East African partner states, the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat plays a coordinating role. As part of its regional contingency plans for public health security, the EAC Secretariat took part in a field simulation exercise, at Namanga which is located at the Kenya-Tanzania border in June 2019. The exercise was responding to a simulated “outbreak” of Rift Valley Fever. The cross-border exercise took over one year to plan and involved close to 300 participants. During the exercise, there were accurate assessment reports. There was also excellent cooperation and coordination across borders. However, there were difficulties in operational communications flow, following sample handling procedures and working with suspected ‘infected’ animals. Recommendations made to improve preparedness capacities included the dissemination of available operating procedures and plans, training of staff and responders at all levels on operating procedures,  defining the role of each sector in the One Health context, and having a clear risk communication and community engagement strategy.