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. The period 19601980, however, witnessed the emergence of the major regional integration schemes that pushed forward the continents economic integration agenda. The challenges and opportunities of regional cooperation and integration in central asia 9. In the late 1970s, northsouth preferential trade agreement represented 60%, while the southsouth constituted 20%, but, by 2010, two thirds. Jul 26, 2009 by akbayan representative walden bello speech at the conference on regional integration.
One response to this crisis has been to dump exportori. The paper presents the key motivations for deepened integration in africa, provides a comprehensive overview of experiences to date at the continental level and proposes forward looking options. Making african integration a reality africa renewal. Regional economic integration in africa hasan tuluy, 2016. Indicative program of regional operations and potential economic and sector work for 20112015 3. Despite the limited growth of intraeac trade, the eac is considered the most successful among all the regional economic communities in africa, having received the highest score among those communities on the regional integration index of the united nations economic commission for africa uneca. Prospects and challenges for regional trade integration prepared by padamja khandelwal1 authorized for distribution by hans peter lankes december 2004 abstract this working paper should not be reported as representing the views of the imf. Togba abstract over the past three decades, regional. Regional integration arrangements were either created under the framework of the lagos plan of action, or arrangements that preexisted it.
The challenges and opportunities of regional cooperation and. The challenges of regional integration in southern africa. The challenges of regional integration and its implications for higher education sarua leadership dialogue series vol 1 number 2 2009 2. Pdf on jan 1, 2014, vincent itai tanyanyiwa and others published challenges and opportunities for regional integration in africa. The lagos plan of action was a critical agreement in the history of regional integration in africa. This paper therefore, examines the current african integration efforts in the age of globalisation in a bid to show the. Meeting the challenges of regional integration, intra. Will the african unionled integration project succeed where others. Despite africas unsatisfactory track record in regional integration over the decades, the case for cooperation and integration has become much stronger in recent years, due to the fact that the continent is facing a number of major challenges, notably globalization and the changing global economic and political environments, to which. According to the perspective of the yearbook monitoring regional integration in southern africa volume 8, 2008. At the beginning of the 21st century, swedish authorities drafted and ultimately adopted on 27 june 2002 a swedish strategy for support for regional and subregional development cooperation in subsaharan africa as a framework for the period until 2006. Apr 19, 2017 this paper appreciates the evolution of regional integration and analyses the rationale for economic integration in west africa.
The african union and the challenges of regional integration. Regional economic integration in west africa diery seck. The challenges of regional integration for development in africa. Challenges of regional integration peoples agenda for. Togba abstract over the past three decades, regional integration agreements have been spreading everywhere across africa. This article looks at the global and regional integration of the indian ocean economy, with a view to identifying challenges to greater integration. Pdf the challenges of regional integration in subsaharan africa. Challenges and prospects, working papers p93, ferdi. Pdf the challenge of regional economic integration in africa. The challenges of regional integration in the east africa. Challenges of regional integration focus on the global south. Indicative results matrix of the regional integration strategy paper for west africa 2. Great insights, which brings together a number of insights and perspectives on some of these characteristics and dimensions that shape various regional integration initiatives in africa. While other regions have successfully used their integration mechanisms to improve their economic welfare, africa lags behind with respect to gdp growth, per.
Regionalism in africa raises several issues of contradictions and debate in the world of theory. Challenges and prospects, wider working paper series 037, world institute for development economic research unuwider. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional grouping of sixteen west african countries founded on may 28, 1975, to promote cooperation and integration through the establishment of an economic union in west africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, foster relations among member. Challenges for regional integration in subsaharan africa. Pdf the challenges of regional integration in africa the.
It is extremely dangerous for democracy, ecology and social justice to make economic cooperation the heart of regional integration. Regional integration refers to various types of political and economic agreements that form closer ties between sovereign countries. Regional integration in southern africa overview of recent developments lolette kritzingervan niekerk emmanuel pinto moreira december 2002 the findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. It evaluates the challenges and prospects of integration in west. The challenges of regional integration in subsaharan africa. This paper examines the challenges and prospects of african regional integration with the focus on southern africa. These examples show that regional integration today holds a notable attraction all over the globe. Assessing regional integration in africa i african leaders now recognize more than ever the urgency of accelerating africas integration, especially given the challenges of regionalism amid globalization. Pdf the challenges of regional integration in southern. The african union and the challenges of regional integration in africa by dipo olubomehin and dayo kawonishe, department of history and diplomatic studies, olabisi onabanjo university, agoiwoye, nigeria. This paper examines the concept of regional integration as a process in which. Meeting the challenges of regional integration, intraafrican trade. The challenges and prospects for regional and economic integration in west africa the agelong practice of the individual survival of nations have long given way to the emergent concept of integration and cooperation among states as an option to meeting the collective development needs of the cooperating states. History of africas regional integration efforts united.
The meeting studied an overview of the macroeconomic and social developments in eastern africa in 2018, based on the annual eca report of the same name. A conscious effort to expand economic and political space as well as the needed instrument to strengthen integration in africa. Over the past three decades, regional integration agreements have been spreading everywhere across africa. Abstract formation of regional blocs and groupings has increasingly become a prominent feature of world politics especially since 1945. Pdf challenges and opportunities for regional integration in. Opportunities and challenges for regional economic. Jun 27, 2018 regional integration refers to various types of political and economic agreements that form closer ties between sovereign countries.
Integration, as well as a highlevel dinner that considered legal perspectives on regional integration in eastern africa. The case of sadc find, read and cite all the research you need. Pdf the challenges of regional integration in africa the case of. The challenges of regional integration in the east africa community. Leveraging new opportunities for regional integration in. Both the eu and sadc have been able to attract new members regularly during their operation. Africa s challenges call for pragmatism and a sense of urgency in action. African trade and economic growth in africa, the contents. The challenges of regional integration for development in. The challenge of regional economic integration in africa. Political motives, geography, and the uneven distribution of gains trumped the traditional efficiency gains across africas regional economic. The paper posits that regional integration is an imperative factor for southern african states as it plays a pivotal role in stimulating their economic growth prospects.
The focus of the second publication in saruas leadership dialogue series for 2009 is onregional integration, an issue that is clearly of great importance to higher education inafrica. 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. Pdf the challenges and prospects for regional and economic. While other regions have successfully used their integration mechanisms to improve their economic. The issues of monetary coordination, foreign exchange volatility, taxation, savings and macroeconomic convergence are investigated from a regional perspective. Chapter four challenges elaborates the key economic, social, and political challenges as well as some institutional and integration challenges. Challenges and solutions to migrant integration, diversity and social cohesion in africa dr. Challenges facing africas regional economic communities in capacity building1 summary the concern for regional cooperation and integration in africa predates independence. The quest for realizing closer economic integration and closer cooperation dates many decades, before and after the decolonization of the african continent. Yet, only the eu has been able to achieve a relatively deep level of integration during the last fifty years, while sadc has not been able to proceed in its. This paper examines regional economic integration challenge in. By akbayan representative walden bello speech at the conference on regional integration.
The agelong practice of the individual survival of nations have long given way to the emergent concept of integration and cooperation among states as an option to meeting the collective development needs of the cooperating states. While the idea of regional integrationis as old as the organization of african unity now renamed as african union, recent summits have reaffirmed africas commitment toward boosting intra. This paper appreciates the evolution of regional integration and analyses the rationale for economic integration in west africa. The challenges of regional integration in southern africa mark chingono and steve nakana university of zimbabwe, p. The challenges and prospects for regional and economic. The challenges and prospects for regional and economic integration in west africa. Regional integration is a tool that can be used for the economic, political and social development of countries. Ecowas monetary cooperation program convergence criteria 5. Pdf greater african integration has long been a cherished but elusive.
The creation of the economic and monetary community of central africa cemac in 1994 as the successor to the economic and customs union of central africa udeac engendered much hope in the subregional integration process of the central african states, a region which had faced many challenges in the preceding thirty years. 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. The discussion is concluded by a few observations on challenges facing regional integration in eastern and southern africa esa. Regional integration and policy challenges in africa pp 89108 cite as. The challenges of regional integration in africa the case of ecowas and sadc. Donald adesubomi williams project officer african migration and development policy centre amadpoc. Regional economic communities recs in developed countries have. For regional integration in africa to be a success, africa s leaders will have to move beyond grand gestures and abstract visions. Assessing regional integration in africa i united nations. This paper therefore, examines the current african integration efforts in the age of globalisation in a bid to show the current development and future challenges. Regional integration in africa world trade organization. Oucho director, research and data hub african migration and development policy centre mr. Challenges and opportunities for regional integration in.
Pdf the challenges of regional integration for development in. This book presents a number of key studies pertaining to the most pressing challenges of economic regional integration in west africa. Pdf challenges and opportunities for regional integration. Africas regional integration arrangements history and challenges tesfaye dinka and walter kennes1 september 2007 1 tesfaye dinka is with the global coalition for africa and walter kennes is with the development directorategeneral of. Challenges and prospects of regional integration in africa. The indian ocean is an increasingly important component of the world economy. Africa has witnessed various efforts of economic integration at the continental and regional levels. Jul 21, 2009 it is extremely dangerous for democracy, ecology and social justice to make economic cooperation the heart of regional integration. The record of regional integration in africa so far has been a sobering one, and many regional groupings are marked by uncoordinated initiatives, political. Accepted 12 september, 2008 regional integration is increasingly being accepted as essential in facilitating economic and political development. The small, sparsely populated, fragmented, and often isolated economies across africa make a compelling case for these economies to integrate regionally to, reap efficiency gains, exploit economies of scale, and reduce the thickness of borders. Countries all over the world are engaging in regional integration arrangements due to their immense benefits in stimulating development. The paper has been designed as the first of an ictsd research series dedicated to regional integration and trade relationships in africa. This is an endeavour that ecdpm is committed to, including with this issue of.
Continuing the precrisis trend, the regions trade and growth have expanded rapidly. Let me close on a more positive note with some recommendations drawn from the european experience. More focused and gradual steps that are carefully executed at the domestic level may be the best place to start. Regional economic cooperation and integration can be an effective means for countries to overcome constraints of size and fragmentation, and to allow. This requires a harmonisation of economic policies, to pave way for merger, hence convergence.