We want these best practices to be replicated in all countries. This was an internally focused, state-led integration and development plan to be implemented through six phases, each of variable duration, within the regional 'building blocks' over a period of twenty five years, and aimed above all to reduce Africa's external dependencies. For example, countries that share a free trade area allow for the free flow of goods, services, capital and labor. Similarly, policies relating to trade between the Partner States and o… It is a direct result of this that regional integration is required in Africa, as this will help with upgrading economic development (Saku, 2016:2-3). challenges to regional integration in africa: the case of the revived east africa community 2000-2012 gichohi marvin muhammad r50/69883/2011 a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of master of arts in international studies.institute of diplomacy and international studies, university of nairobi august 2015 So, all the infrastructure projects, except in countries and places where colonizers were thinking of settling in a definitive manner, all other infrastructure projects were geared toward extraction, extraction, extraction! And the functional significance of such borders can be reduced through the expansion, deepening and increasing significance of cross-border programs and activities. Regional Integration in Africa: The Case of Ecowas. cal means of popular containment or control. The International Transport is critical to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (United Nations) and the objectives of the Regional Economic Integration in Africa. African social movement analysts and activists hear constant references by their governments to the importance of African unity and cooperation. This is very important in order to track implementation of agreements reached with these partners. In Southern Africa, the regional integration grouping is the thirteen-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC). The economies structured by colonial interests were internally distorted (socially and economically) and disarticulated (lacking internal linkages and dynamics) and excessively extroverted (turned outwards). Similarly, programs to specifically encourage greater intea-regional commercial relations would have to be based not on simple liberalised trade, internal or external, but on preferential and variable trade arrangements. Such practices would all contribute towards higher levels, more evenly spread and equitable development across the region. For more than 40 years, TNI has served as a unique nexus between social movements, engaged scholars and policy makers. In the interests of social and political harmony, unity and cooperation, such artificial colonial lines must be challenged. Governments cannot sit back and allow laissez faire freedom to private companies to pursue damaging and divisive operations over their borders. Doesn’t that contradict the objectives of the regional frameworks, which are top-down? But, to be really useful to relatively small producers and exporters within the region, such market access would also entail South Africa opening up more favourably to its regional partners than to international producers and exporters into its market. These can be summed up as politically-led and democratically negotiated, people-based and equitable developmental cooperation and integration towards more self-sustaining and sustainable development. This means that, on the grounds of the greater weight and actual/potential impact of the much larger industrialised South African economy (which is about 70% of the combined economies of the whole of SADC), the regional giant would have to open up its markets to its neighbours' exports much more rapidly and generously that it could expect from them in return. Regional Integration is a process in which neighboring countries enter into an agreement in order to upgrade cooperation through common institutions and rules. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meets regularly on a common strategy on energy. It is of particular importance important to intensify African competitiveness in the regional and Global Markets by reducing the high cost of doing business in Africa , exacerbated by deficiencies in the transport infrastructure. They said we should have a quantifiable objective so that we are accountable. These programmes reflect member states’ priorities because it is their money, so, for example, if we have a programme in renewable energy in East Africa, it must be a priority in that region. Developmental trade integration would include trade-promoting infrastructural means but also targeted policy measures. It also makes economic sense to regroup the large number of these arbitrarily created countries in Africa which are frequently economically non-viable and environmentally unsustainable. co-operation in sub-Saharan Africa given the severity of food insecurity in that region and its ambitious objectives for regional integration. The aim of regional integration is to uplift the least developed countries, and this is the beauty of the African Union. The ideas and ideals of African unity have, for decades, been articulated and promoted across the continent by researchers and writers, peoples organisations and political parties, and have even been officially endorsed by all African governments, starting with the continental Lagos Plan of Action in 1980. Such joint programs would not only build on the existing 'comparative advantages' of specific member states (that is, what they already have or can do) but be expressly designed to qualitatively shift and share out the 'competitive advantages' of the already more developed countries in the region; that is to raise up all the respectiv(capacities and levels of development. This is why 'S&D' treatment is being demanded by developing countries at the global level as well. At one level, nationalism has been deliberately fostered by the ruling elites as part of their ideological and politi These reports provide in-depth analyses of progress towards fulfilling the objectives of Africa’s regional integration in broad and thematic areas, in accordance with . What is the current state of integration? For the next three years, Africa needs to create 60 million jobs, but we can only target 1 million jobs for now. Thesis Presented to the Faculty of Arts of the University of Zurich for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Olubomehin D. and Kawonishe D. (2008). Regional integration is seen as a rational response to the difficulties faced by a continent with many small national markets and landlocked countries. You have also advocated for a bottom-up approach to development. If the consensus is strong...we can have strong agreements and start thinking about an implementation roadmap. The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), which consists of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, is one of the oldest regional groupings in Africa. But to be appropriate, effective and 'owned' by all the participating governments and their populations, such arrangements can only be achieved through processes of giveand-take in democratic and accommodating negotiations. Trade between these countries is based on differing interests and policies but they have one agreed 'common external tariff in relation to all other countries and one system for collecting and sharing out customs duties. Given the lopsided strengths of African economies—with SMEs concentrated in more economically advanced countries—it appears poorer countries will benefit the least from this programme. It reverses that trend of extractive-based infrastructure by focusing on regional projects and transport corridors that ease movement and spur development. It could even entail practical cross-border sub-subgroupings of 'real' local economies or natural geo-economic zones between adjoining areas in member states. This was set up in 1991 as a long-term multilateral development project based on cross-border cooperation in all aspects of the economies and societies of the member countries. The Strategic Aims of Regional Cooperation and Integration in AfricaDot KeetAlternative Information and Development Centre AIDC Regional Briefing 1/2004. The unification of Africa is also to be advanced economically through six regional or sub-regional "building blocks". You can have the big strategy, but in terms of implementation, in terms of innovation, it must come from the bottom. Regional groupings have, at least initially, to be created as communities of nations and peoples although encouraging cross-border convergences and actively promoting emerging regional - and broader African - identities as well. The main strategy of the Plan for There is a pre-existing and specifically trade grouping, the Southern African Customs Union located within SADC, consisting of South Africa and the much smaller BLNS states (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland). Implemented today, such an alternative model of integration would not only be a practical living example of different means and paths to successful development but could also be, or become, part of a broader challenge to the globalised, liberalised, corporate-serving and market-driven paradigm (or model) now dominating the world. But agricultural productivity will not increase if the energy issue is not addressed. We know the technical skills we need, and there is political determination to implement the agreement. In an interview with Africa Renewal’s Kingsley Ighobor in New York Dr. Mayaki spoke on AUDA’s role in Africa’s development agenda and discussed regional integration and his agency’s plan to create a million jobs. 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It took time to be designed and to get everybody on board. You have announced a plan to create 1 million jobs. This article was published in GREAT Insights Volume 1, Issue 1 The artificial lines drawn across the continent by the colonial powers randomly cut across societies, 'ethnic' groups, clans and even families. Such aims and methods cannot and will not be promoted by 'market forces' which function according to different business profitability' criteria and narrow time-frames and through competitive not cooperative processes. The strategies are underpinned by investments in regional infrastructure especially energy, transport, water and information and communications technology (ICT). No, it cannot be top-down, because none of the frameworks will work if you do not empower the local communities. The new index is therefore a framework for assessing the achievements of RECs in That way we boost intra-Africa trade. Its creation was one result of the AU reforms championed by Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, former chairperson of the AU. The African Development Bank tells us that 60% of our SMEs have less than 20 employees and the other 40% have less than 10. Journal of Common Market Studies, 32: 45- 69 Mcdonald A.S.K., (2005). How will you achieve that? Africa’s new free trade area, for example, is a continental initiative. They can, for a start, be eroded through the greater freedom of movement of African people. Overlapping and Competing Regional Groupings. Tb provide effective bases for more rounded and viable development, African countries need to be combined within wider, more realistic and rational economic entities. It works with the media in Africa and beyond to promote the work of the United Nations, Africa and the international community to bring peace and development to Africa. But the now-hegemonic or dominant view at different levels of power and spheres of influence, in Africa and internationally, is that 'Regional Integration is A Good Thing'. After independence regional integration became a pillar of Africa’s developmental strategy. This is primarily based on trade promotion and liberalisation through uniform tariff reductions and the removal of other barriers to trade. The money we get from the African Union is rarely used for projects in Egypt, South Africa or Nigeria. Overlying all of these programs are the more recent proposals in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) for a comprehensive program for the whole continent. One of the critical factors of success in regional integration is having everybody on board. Contrary to the simplistic free trade formulae being pushed by the World Bank and in the WTO, trade agreements between the partners within a region should be negotiated to encourage productive development and stimulate constructive trade between them... and in preference to powerful international traders. Although based on encouraging market forces and foreign investment, this has a considerable role for governments and includes some seemingly positive economic, security and 'governance' elements. of our rural population in Africa has no access to electricity. therefore fills a gap in the Africa Regional Integration Index, which could not forecast the implementation of an integration programme with reference to the objectives, deadlines and implementation action plans fixed. One of the critical factors of success in regional integration is having everybody on board. You have reiterated that regional bodies play a bigger role in Africa’s development. Therefore, trade is at the core of the Customs Union. A degree of political cooperation is taking place at inter-governmental level through the creation of continental political bodies, and security and other agreements. A number of the countries in both these groupings are also members of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Such differentiated trade arrangements would, in Southern Africa, have to ensure, above all, that there are gradual, assymetrical and even non-reciprocal processes of market opening between South Africa and the other member countries. However, despite their internal weaknesses and fragilities, many African countries have, especially since independence, developed their own national identities. What do you mean by that? It is expected to address implementation challenges regarding decisions made by the African Union. But such greater levels of responsibility would also rest on all of the stronger member governments to ensure that 'their' companies do not reinforce or aggravate the existing economic imbalances through aggressive or predatory business tactics in other countries within the community. Informing all the above is the conviction that more balanced and equitable development has to be consciously promoted within and through all regional agreements and arrangements. AUDA will also focus on resource mobilisation and the connections between sectors to avoid a siloed approach, which as you know is a key aspect of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, you know that access to electricity in Africa is very low—more than 60% of our rural population has no access to electricity. Your question is fundamental because regional integration will only progress if national governments—which manage regional bodies—implement regional decisions. We see national governments push for regional development strategies. However, we want to harness best practices regarding SME creation, incubation centres, protection of intellectual property, financing of SMEs by national development banks, conducive environment, incentives, and others. As a result, African governments have concluded a very large number of regional integration arrangements, several … This requires special and differential treatment between countries with such uneven economic, technical and organisational capacities, in order that the weaker are not disadvantaged in their economic interactions with stronger. These would be public-public partnerships, that is between governmental and parastatal enterprises and institutions and public trusts, and cooperatives, worker/ employee collectives, community-based, mutual aid, and other forms of popular collective self-organisation and joint endeavours. National policies as well as regional agreements are required to ensure that private companies - but also national parastatal agencies - and internation investors operate across the region according to agreed development principles and performance criteria. As it demonstrates the importance of regional economic integration, this study will examine how regional economic integration can help to overcome some of the problems experienced by Africa. For example, when we deliver in agriculture, we also look at water, energy, land, etc. These preferential measures could provide the productive resource base and rising production-and-consumption levels for the majority, and thus create a self-reinforcing development dynamic, a continuous upward development spiral for the whole. At one level, this is based on political and moral issues of equity and justice. This naturally includes trade arrangements, but SADC was not originally conceived as a primarily trade integration process. But other types of 'combined' efforts and agencies would be even more important for deeper and more inclusive, more pervasive and multi-layered development. Trade is not the sole or primary 'engine of growth' as depicted in neo-liberal theory, but it can support production and development if appropriately designed. How do you ensure that national governments implement AU projects? If it was a road, it was one linking a mine to a port. Ibrahim Mayaki, chief executive officer of the the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which is currently transforming into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA)—the implementing arm of the AU. We need to make sure that there is coherence between regional strategies and national plans. For example, we are now the African Union’s technical focal point with development partners such as China, India, the United States, the G20, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Doesn’t Africa need more than 1 million new jobs? Thus, it is important for African social movement analysts and activists to revisit and revive the very different, strategic objectives but, where necessary, refine and improve the means and methods that informed the long-standing visions and plans for African developmental cooperation and integration. Rather, in order to accommodate national political and economic particularities in certain sectors, and even local social and cultural specificities, regional integration might have to reflect a degree of 'variable geometry' with regard to participation in certain agreements. These would include financial transfers (plus profit re-investment), technology and management skills transfers, labour training and rights, and health and environmental protections, as well as local production inputs and product-sourcing to create backward and forward linkages with domestic producers. Regionalism in Africa has always had a strong political motive. Multiple and Overlapping of Membership ... One of the main objectives of the African Union is to promote sustainable development in We said, “OK, let’s set a target of 1 million jobs over the next three years.” But as you know governments do not create jobs; the private sector creates jobs, and the private sector in Africa is dominated by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). They include many that are also small in territory and/or population and partly or totally landlocked, physically located within other countries. Such broader public engagement and active popular participation apply equally to the political processes and inter-governmental negotiations and agreements that will create the legal, organisational, operational and financial means for all the combined or coordinated cross-border dimensions of regional development. Her expertise is in financial regulation and integration in emerging economies The article is an edited version of Salami, I., ‘Legal and Institutional Challenges of Economic Integration in Africa’ (2011) 17(5) European Law Journal 667-682. 2.4.2 Specific Obstacles to Regional Integration in East Africa..... 45 . Regional economic integration is fast becoming a major factor in promoting global business. The African Union is the most recent practical expression of these declared aims. The AU has really made great strides, particularly in the continental free trade area. The best way to solve the energy problem is to have decentralized energy services at the local community level, managed by local communities. Dr. Mayaki: AUDA has a broader mandate. This is what I call bottom-up. 2.4.1 Lack of Success in Regional Integration Efforts in East Africa..... 38 . Equity-and-stability is particularly important between closely inter-linked countries where uneven development or under-development of some to the advantage of others has often been deliberately engineered by colonial authorities and business interests. Extraction of minerals, extraction of agricultural produce, and so on. Regional integration is a process in which countries enter into a regional agreement in order to enhance regional cooperation through regional structure and rules. Similarly, with a large number of differing countries interacting in a comprehensive many-sided integration program, it is not always feasible - or necessarily desirable - to simply incorporate them all, in all sectors, at the same rate and to the same degree within uniform regional arrangements. 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