Assessing regional integration in africa viii bringing the continental free trade area about the african continental free trade area cfta promises to give a significant boost to the continents economy and, in particular, to support industrialization and structural transformation. This report focuses on the rationalization of the regional economic communitiesone of the main challenges confronting africa in its quest for full integration. To order copies of assessing regional integration in africa viii. This volume brings together experts from different world regions. United nations economic commission for africa uneca and african union au, assessing regional integration in africa ii rationalizing regional economic communities. Conceptual issues in this area form the theoretical basis of the report which. Assessing regional integration in africa aria ix united. For southern africa, and the southern african development community sadc, a new research project aims to fill the gap. In addition to documenting the major achievements of the regional economic communities, the report shows how overlapping regional economic communities and multiple memberships by. Integration in africa ii rationalizing regional economic communities.
The event is themed towards an integrated and coherent approach to implementation, monitoring and. In this context, the 8th edition of assessing regional integration in africa aria viii looks at what will be needed to ensure that the cfta is implemented and that iintraafrican trade plays a more dynamic role in contributing to economic transformation in africa. The creation of a continentwide free trade area represents a key step towards implementing the abuja treaty. Oct 18, 2016 that is why the au commission, the afdb and united nation economic commission for africa eca decided to develop the africa regional integration index. The report is part of a broader study that includes the african union and four other regional economic communities in africa. Status of integration in africa sia v african union. Regional integration for africas economic prosperity. Tracking regional integration in africa international. More focused and gradual steps that are carefully executed at the domestic level may be the best place to start. Bringing the continental free trade area about 06 nov 2017 the continental free trade area cfta is the first flagship project of the african unions agenda 2063 and a key initiative in the industrialization and economic development of the continent. Through cooperation between konradadenauer foundation and the namibian economic policy research unit nepru, a yearbook is established to monitor economic and political integration in sadc. Assessing regional integration in africa knowledge for. In line with ecdpms mission to inform and facilitate euafrica policy dialogue, and financed by the federal ministry for economic cooperation and development, bmz, the studies analyse key policy areas of seventeen regional organisations in subsaharan africa.
To move the regional integration process forward, african countries have also adopted the new partnership for africa s 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. Assessing regional integration in africa ix language. Regional integration in africa is a stated priority goal of both african governments and international donors since the early days of independence ndomo, 2009, p. It presents various experiences with building indicator systems for monitoring the implementation of regional economic integration policies such as preferential trade areas, common markets or economic and monetary unions. These examples show that regional integration today holds a notable attraction all over the globe. Regarding the air transport, various initiatives and programmes are under implementation in the recs. It is from this perspective that the african union commission and the economic commission for africa publish the report on assessing regional economic integration in africa aria. Africas integration journey towards a more connected, competitive and businessfriendly continent is underway and its roadmap is, in some areas, under construction. Assessing regional integration in africa aria vii examines how the three elements of regional integration, innovation and competitiveness are interlinked. Africa s integration journey towards a more connected, competitive and businessfriendly continent is underway and its roadmap is, in some areas, under construction. Africas economic growth continues to strengthen, reaching an estimated 3. Regional economic communities recognized by the african union xi acknowledgements xiii foreword xv highlights 1 chapter one. To assist trade policymakers in the development of a framework, this paper explores ip issues, perspectives, and priorities related to both the cfta and paipo.
Assessing regional integration in africa i united nations. Impact of the european union on regional integration in africa. Auc, the african development bank afdb and the economic commission for. Pdf economic integration in africa overview, progress. 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. Deepening africa s integration goes beyond harmonising recs memberships and policies.
The report leverages the knowledge and expertise of the african development bank, the world bank group, and the world economic forum to present a policy vision that can help africa connect its markets and communities through increased regional integration. It offers short and medium term forecasts on the main socioeconomic factors such as jobs, while at the same time examining the challenges. Bringing the continental free trade area about 06 nov 2017 the continental free trade area cfta is the first flagship project of the african unions agenda 2063 and a key initiative in the industrialization and economic development of. 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. Creating opportunities for all ilo, geneva, 2004, regional economic integration can be a stepping stone to a fairer globalization. Africa s regional integration index is an action tool measuring the progress of an africa on the move. Indicatorbased monitoring of regional economic integration. Through the abuja treaty, african union countries decided to establish the african economic community through a gradual process of regional integration.
Mar 04, 2019 the reports assessing regional integration in africa viii and africa economic outlook 2019 give examples of increasing cooperation on security across africa. Assessing progress of regional integration in africa duration. Commission for africa assessing regional integration in africa 2004 3233. Pdf assessing regional integration in africa iii towards. United nations ilibrary assessing regional integration in. The purpose of this report is to provide a brief overview of the various components of the regional 1 article 352 of the cotonou agreement states that economic and trade cooperation shall build on regional integration initiatives of acp states, bearing in mind that regional. Ecowas, focusing in particular on what drives and hampers this regional organisation in preventing and resolving conflicts in west africa, and in promoting a regional approach to agriculture and food security. 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. Assessing regional integration in africa aria ix next steps for the african continental free trade area signed by 52 african countries, the african continental free trade area afcfta is, by the number of participating countries, the largest trade agreement since the formation of the wto. For regional integration in africa to be a success, africas leaders will have to move beyond grand gestures and abstract visions. It suggests that process and substance issues are each important to create fair and.
State and government leaders of the african union adopt and implement efforts for regional integration as a common strategy for the development of the continent. Eca policy research report united nations, economic commission for africa on. Oct 19, 2004 the report, assessing regional integration in africa, observes that african countries are taking concrete steps towards integrating their economies by building regional economic communities, adopting common currencies and increasing intra regional trade. Regional integration is a development priority for africa. Assessing regional integration in africa aria ix united nations. The index aims to be a barometer for governments and the general public, enabling them to check the performance of countries and recs in terms of regional integration. Understanding economic integration and peace and security. Assessing regional integration in africa viii united nations. Jan 28, 2011 for southern africa, and the southern african development community sadc, a new research project aims to fill the gap. Assessing regional integration in africa vii innovation. 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. Economic relations now based on unilateral trade preferences provided by the eu are envisaged to be based on economic partnership agreements that should regulate trade and cooperation establishing new trade regimes between the. Understanding economic integration and peace and security in igad. Assessing progress of regional integration in africa youtube.
In the medium term, growth is projected to accelerate to 4 percent in 2019 and 4. The annual african economic outlook report highlights economic prospects and projections for the continent as a whole and for each of the 54 countries. Africa regional integration index measuring an africa on. That is why the au commission, the afdb and united nation economic commission for africa eca decided to develop the africa regional integration index. The cost of doing business in africa is usually high, due in part to the infrastructure gaps, the duplicative border customs procedures and the uncomfortable paper. For example, progresses have been uneven, so far, among the eight regional economic communities recs recognized by the african union commission auc 3 and supposed to be the building block of regional integration in africa. 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.
Innovation, competitiveness and regional integration africa. The reports assessing regional integration in africa viii and africa economic outlook 2019 give examples of increasing cooperation on security across africa. The objective at continental level is the establishment of the african economic community as the last of six consecutive stages, including the strengthening of intersectoral cooperation and the establishment of regional free trade. Innovation, competitiveness and regional integration. Crucial to implementation is an understanding of the political economy underpinning economic integration in africa. The african development week is taking place in addis ababa. Southern african news features assessing regional integration in africa. 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. The social dimension of regional integration in ecowas. Assessing regional integration in africa iii towards monetary and financial integration in africa economic commission for africa african union.
The development and dynamics of regional integration in africa are severely influenced by the transformation of the trade relations imposed by the cotonou agreement. Africas challenges call for pragmatism and a sense of urgency in action. However, the regional integration process is not necessarily smooth and linear. 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. The african union and regional integration in africa. To order copies of assessing regional integration in africa iv. A handbook on regional integration in africa commonwealth. Chapter 2 the state of play and next steps for the african.
Regional integration in subsaharan africa experience and prospects faezeh foroutan the emphasis of regional integration in subsaharan africa should shift from the integration of goods markets to the regional coordination of macroeconomic and microeconomic policies, the harmonization of administrative rules and regulations, and. Assessing regional integration in africa iv united nations. This is about the same rate achieved in 2017 and up 1. United nations ilibrary assessing regional integration. Next steps for the african continental free trade area. The ideal of african unity can be traced back to the nineteenth century, when the idea of panafricanism first gained traction. Africas regional integration index is an action tool measuring the progress of an africa on the move. Pdf economic integration in africa overview, progress and. Oneal, empirical support for the liberal peace, in edward d. The mip comprises those activities, projects and programmes that the recs have selected to accelerate and bring to completion as part of the regional and continental. The establishment of the continental free trade area cfta is a major milestone in the long march of african. United nations economic commission for africa uneca. Both the eu and sadc have been able to attract new members regularly during their operation.
Status of integration in africa sia v 6 eccas regional project in the area of rail transport is the extension of the railway leketifranceville between gabon and congo. Mar 31, 2016 assessing regional integration in africa, vol vii. Indeed, the african countries have agreed on a minimum integration programme mip. Regional economic integration in africa munich personal. But disputes within regional institutional frameworks in the absence of such levels of interdependence and the associated. Aria assessing regional integration in africa reports of uneca au african union. All africans, not just policy makers and decision makers, have a role to play in making integration a reality for the continent. For example, progresses have been uneven, so far, among the eight regional economic communities recs recognized by the african union commission auc 3 and supposed to be the.