Regional integration and africas development trajectory. This edited volume discusses the role of innovation and regional integration in economic development in africa. Indicative program of regional operations and potential economic and sector work for 20112015 3. The objectives of the agreement could range from economic to political to environmental, although it has typically taken the form of a political economy initiative where commercial interests are the focus for achieving broader socio. It provides valuable policy recommendations aimed at stimulating the debate among the government, private sector and development community on the ways to promote regional trade for africa s economic development. It is a dynamic and evolving tool that tracks how the continents eight regional economic communities recs, and countries within each rec, are doing on regional integration overall and by priority areas. The issues of monetary coordination, foreign exchange volatility, taxation, savings and macroeconomic convergence are investigated from a regional perspective. Using southern africa as an exemplar case study, the paper argues that the various metatheories focused on explaining the political economy of regionalism, often closely allied to a development theory paradigm, fail to account for the nature, character and evolution of regional integration. Supranational decisionmaking, the touchstone of regional integration, does not exist, even in limited form. Monitoring regional integration in southern africa yearbook 20152016 3 jul 2017. The quest for regional integration in the east african community.
Africa regional integration index measuring an africa on. The challenges of regional integration in africa page 1 paper 145 june 2007 introduction it is widely acknowledged that africas integration efforts have thus far failed to bear satisfactory fruit. In contrast to integration, cooperation seems to be a more useful approach to tackle the urgent employment and growth problems. While other regions have successfully used their integration mechanisms to improve their economic. Organised topically and covering all regional groupings in africa, the study provides a historical overview of integration and common markets of comesa and ecowas, discussion of africa in the global economy, the question of regionalism in north africa and the. The epa negotiations revealed important gaps between political ambitions and economic reality in african regional integration. The significance of regional integration is an extremely appropriate issue in africa, especially in light of existing political and economic shortcomings kouassi, 2016. The analysis is focused on the process of integration from 1948 when formal institutions of cooperation were created under the east african high commission eahc, and its transformation in 1961 into the east african common services organisation eacso. Regional integration in subsaharan africa has been. Regional integration and migration in africa lessons from. Regional integration in africa world trade organization. Panafricanism, as an expression of continental identity and coherence, distinguishes regional integration in africa from other regions in the developing world mccarthy, 1995, p. Arguably there is no regional integration without this economic component.
Commerce economies of scale international economic relations international trade regional economics. Organised topically and covering all regional groupings in africa, the study provides a historical overview of integration and common markets of comesa and ecowas, discussion of africa in the global economy, the question of regionalism in north africa and the arabmaghreb union, the case of the southern african development community, and a survey of the political economy of the horn of africa. We would like to conclude by asserting that the essence of the germanpolish experience holds true for east africa as well. All africans, not just policy makers and decision makers, have a role to play in making integration a reality for the continent. These agreements are usually made between nations with smaller economies in order to promote trade within the region. Towards agenda 2063 provides a ready and accessible resource for trade policymakers, parliamentarians, the private sector, academia and civil society, as well as the general public. West african regional integration has been marred by the unwillingness of. A rationale for economic integration pambazuka news. Regional integration is a process in which neighboring states enter into an agreement in order to upgrade cooperation through common institutions and rules. The benefits of regional integration trademark east africa. To move the regional integration process forward, african countries have also adopted the new partnership for africas development nepad, the overarching development framework for the region, recognized by the united nations and its agencies and such global bodies as the g8 industrial countries.
Regional integration in africa african books collective. Regional integration and cooperation is the way forward in africa as there are. The africa regional integration index, now in its first edition, aims to plug the knowledge gap on regional integration. African regional integration is seen as key to enhancing political cooperation at the panafrican level, and of promoting economic growth. Regional integration is a development priority for africa. Regional integration dynamics in africa ecdpm home. Regional integration in southern africa a guidebook. Regional integration is a process in which neighboring states enter into an agreement in order to upgrade. It provides valuable policy recommendations aimed at stimulating. The objective of this book is to investigate various initiatives to integrate the east african region from the colonial period to 2000, when the new east african. Mshomba offers an in depth analysis of economic integration in africa with a focus on the east african community eac, arguably the most ambitious of all the regional economic blocs currently in existence in africa. While a plethora of regional institutions came into being over the years, africa is still in the phase of shallow integration or intergovernmental cooperation. Regional economic integration in west africa diery seck. Indicative results matrix of the regional integration strategy paper for west africa 2.
This article was also published in french on july 29, 2015 in passerelles, volume 16 number 5. Making african integration a reality africa renewal. Unuwider united nations university world institute for development economics research. This is the most basic form of economic cooperation. This book presents a number of key studies pertaining to the most pressing challenges of economic regional integration in west africa.
This paper examines the history of regional integration in africa, what has motivated it, the different initiatives that african governments have pursued, the nature of the integration process, and the current challenges. Mwasha abstract regional economic integration rei refers to the commercial policy of discri. We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Regional integration is a process in which countries enter into a regional agreement in order to enhance regional cooperation through regional structure and rules. In east africa we see the potential that exists in regional organisations. Regional integration in western africa report prepared for and financed by the ministry of foreign affairs, the netherlands by sheila page and sanoussi bilal september 2001 overseas development institute 111 westminster bridge road london se1 7jd uk tel. Regional integration in africa oecd development centre regional integration and coordination are not a panacea but they could hold the key to african countries longawaited participation in the world economy. This study outlines the challenges to mutual linkages at a regional level to social and economic development across the continent. Regionalism in africa has always had a strong political motive.
Apr 30, 2011 what is regional economic integration. Ecowas monetary cooperation program convergence criteria 5. Assessing regional integration in africa v by economic. Regional integration and trade in africa mthuli ncube palgrave. The record of regional integration in africa so far has been a sobering one, and many regional groupings are marked by uncoordinated initiatives. Clearly, the process of european integration within the ec has gone further than integration in other regional settings.
These countries, in most cases, have been treated as separate from subsaharan africa. However, it seems fair to say that collective decisionmaking is an important aspect of all regional integration efforts. However, the historical reality and economic and political interests. Chapter 2 status of regional integration in africa this focuses on the major shifts in african regional in tegration since aria vi, published in 20. Nigeria represents 37% of regional gdp but is not in the top performers on regional integration, neither is egypt, which represents 18% of regional gdp.
The centre for regional integration in africa cria, is a dedicated african centre for regional integration that not only seeks to meet the challenges of region building and regional integration in africa, but also offers the muchneeded leadership at all levels in this key aspect of african development. The disadvantages of regional economic integration bizfluent. Echoing the calls of kwame nkrumah and other panafricanists that africa must unite, continental integration and unity have been on the agenda ever since african countries gained political independence. There are four main types of regional economic integration. This is an endeavour that ecdpm is committed to, including with this issue of. Unuwider united nations university world institute for development economics research katajanokanlaituri 6 b, fi00160 helsinki, finland tel. Sep 11, 20 the monitoring regional integration yearbook has become a household name in the sadc region, when it comes to monitoring the progress or nonprogress of integration within the southern africa region. Regional integration in africa bridging the northsubsaharan divide came about as a research project conducted by the africa institute of south africa and examines the north african countries strategies of involvement in the african continent, and their integration initiatives. The east african community in comparative perspective. A relatively loose definition may be better for comparative studies.
Chapter 10 the importance of regional integration for african development. Regional economic integration has enabled countries to focus on issues that are relevant to their stage of development as well as encourage trade between neighbors. Political motives, geography, and the uneven distribution of gains trumped the traditional efficiency gains across africas regional economic. Innovation, regional integration, and development in africa. Regional economic integration agreements are treaties between member states in a particular region of the world such as subsaharan africa or the middle east.
Secondly, regional integration implies the lowering of barriers to trade, thus benefiting the economy and increasing the wellbeing of the member states citizens. The book looks at major issues involving egypt, libya, tunisia, algeria, morocco and mauritania. Over the past five decades, postcolonial african countries have struggled to break loose from the trap of poverty and underdevelopment through the adoption of various development strategies at regional, national, and continental levels. Integration in africa can only be a longterm attempt to solve economic problems, because of its high absorption of scarce and therefore expensive factors of production.