NEPAD has been officially endorsed by the African Union although the practical implications have yet to be tested out in practice. In the case of Southern Africa this relates also to the human and economic costs incurred by neighbouring countries in the struggles against colonialism and especially against apartheid. You have announced a plan to create 1 million jobs. Regional Integration in Africa: The Case of Ecowas. You have reiterated that regional bodies play a bigger role in Africa’s development. Overlapping and Competing Regional Groupings. Moreover, integration can improve regional security, because the expansion of international trade often correlates with a reduction of conflict. You have also advocated for a bottom-up approach to development. 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. 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. If the consensus is strong—and that takes time to build—we can have strong agreements and start thinking about an implementation roadmap. 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. 2.4.2.1. What is the current state of integration? Economic . African social movement analysts and activists hear constant references by their governments to the importance of African unity and cooperation. These would create larger markets, be more encouraging to foreign investors and more favourable to the operations of global corporations, as well as being "stepping stones" for such regions to fit into and reinforce the integration of the globalising capitalist economy [see AIDC Regional Briefing 2. The infrastructure of the colonial period still stands in most of Africa, albeit modernised. At one level, nationalism has been deliberately fostered by the ruling elites as part of their ideological and politi It will show that regional integration can help member countries to overcome constraints arising from small domestic markets, and to obtain benefits that can raise productivity and assist in diversifying production and … 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. In pursuance of the objectives of regional integration and rapid socio-economic development of Africa, the OAU Summit of Heads of State and Government adopted the Lagos Plan of Action in 1980. The best way to solve the energy problem is to have decentralized energy services at the local community level, managed by local communities. "Regional economic integration refers to agreements between countries in a geographic region to reduce, and eventually remove, tariff and non-tariff barriers to the free flow of goods, services, and factors of production between each other" (Hill, 2004). 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! This would entail the democratic negotiation and creation, the co-existence and coordination of varying but overlapping sub-groupings of countries, where demanded, in different sectors and spheres of cooperation and within differing frameworks and timetables. 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Agenda 2063 is the blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. Tb provide effective bases for more rounded and viable development, African countries need to be combined within wider, more realistic and rational economic entities. Look at our infrastructure in pre-independence Africa, and even before. Yes. 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. These are excerpts: Africa Renewal: What are the main differences between AUDA and NEPAD? They can, for a start, be eroded through the greater freedom of movement of African people. In the interests of social and political harmony, unity and cooperation, such artificial colonial lines must be challenged. The money we get from the African Union is rarely used for projects in Egypt, South Africa or Nigeria. It took time to be designed and to get everybody on board. The strategies are underpinned by investments in regional infrastructure especially energy, transport, water and information and communications technology (ICT). The African Union and the Challenges of Regional Integration in Africa. Pan-Africanism, an ideology which emphasises continental unity and strong identification with ongoing anti-colonial struggles, was the leitmotif of Africa’s developmental framework. Therefore, trade is at the core of the Customs Union. Contrary to the dominant neo-liberal ideas today, the earlier regional and continental plans and programs were based on a totally different paradigm - that is a different set of principles, policies and programs, processes and participations. It could even entail practical cross-border sub-subgroupings of 'real' local economies or natural geo-economic zones between adjoining areas in member states. But other types of 'combined' efforts and agencies would be even more important for deeper and more inclusive, more pervasive and multi-layered development. 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). Regional Integration is a process in which neighboring countries enter into an agreement in order to upgrade cooperation through common institutions and rules. The Africa Renewal information programme provides up-to-date information and analysis of the major economic and development challenges facing Africa today. 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. At another level, the promotion of greater equity through compensatory programs and redistributive measures can be a major force for economic development. The objective of the study, therefore, was to generate a deeper understanding of some of the key factors that determine the organisational effectiveness of RIIs. What is being ignored or deliberately submerged in this belated flow of political endorsements and practical 'integration' programs are the earlier and very different ideas and aims for the internallydriven integration of Africa, continentally and/or regionally. They disregarded not only linguistic and common cultural areas, and pre-existing economic and political systems and relations on the ground in Africa, but also natural ecosystems. co-operation in sub-Saharan Africa given the severity of food insecurity in that region and its ambitious objectives for regional integration. In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for example, agriculture ministers meet regularly to discuss agricultural transformation in their region. The unification of Africa is also to be advanced economically through six regional or sub-regional "building blocks". That way we boost intra-Africa trade. The economies structured by colonial interests were internally distorted (socially and economically) and disarticulated (lacking internal linkages and dynamics) and excessively extroverted (turned outwards). 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. In this model, equity is both the base and engine of development, as well as the expression and guarantee of human rights, human security and regional stability. 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. Every year we need to create 20 million jobs. 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. 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. This would entail programs where, for example, the relative strengths and respective resources of member countries are marshaled in complementary crossborder agro-industrial projects. How do you ensure that national governments implement AU projects? Further to the above, the unequal natural resource endowments and other uneven levels and forms of economic activities within the respective countries could be addressed through strategically designed complementary and combined programs in agriculture and industry, transport and communications, energy and water, forestry and fisheries and a host of other economic, environmental, social and cultural spheres. What should be done about that? This study was triggered by an observation that many regional integration institutions (RIIs) in Africa have fallen short of effectively delivering on their mandates. 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. It examines the many issues confronting the people of Africa, its leaders and its international partners: economic reform, debt, education, health, women's advancement, conflict and civil strife, democratization, aid, investment, trade, regional integration, rural development and many other topics. Developmental trade integration would include trade-promoting infrastructural means but also targeted policy measures. 2 The . If it was a road, it was one linking a mine to a port. Are there often tensions between regional institutions and national governments? African regional integration was a dream of many of the continent's leaders, and gave impetus to the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. The overall strategic objective of re-grouping African countries and (re)integrating the continent was, from the start, a fundamental response to the effects of colonialism, and intrinsic to African struggles against colonialism and against neo-colonialism after 'independence'. There are, however, many overlapping 'regional integration' groupings in Africa pursuing differing and even competing programs, particularly in the trade sphere. They include many that are also small in territory and/or population and partly or totally landlocked, physically located within other countries. Regional integration is a process in which countries enter into a regional agreement in order to enhance regional cooperation through regional structure and rules. And the functional significance of such borders can be reduced through the expansion, deepening and increasing significance of cross-border programs and activities. 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. 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. It has an economic dimension that benefits everyone. 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. A number of the countries in both these groupings are also members of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). — 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. The Strategic Aims of Developmental Regionalism. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meets regularly on a common strategy on energy. 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. Or the scientific/technical, management and financial resources of one or more countries are brought together in combined projects within, and with, other member state(s) to process or beneficiate their resources, add value to their production and create employment. You can have the big strategy, but in terms of implementation, in terms of innovation, it must come from the bottom. 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. Clearly also, the public sector and public investment will lead the way in such developmental processes, although questions remain as to how, on what bases - or whether - the skills and/or resources of national or regional private enterprise could be marshaled towards such aims in joint public-private projects. development of a common market. No, it cannot be top-down, because none of the frameworks will work if you do not empower the local communities. Doesn’t Africa need more than 1 million new jobs? The Strategic Aims of Regional Cooperation and Integration in AfricaDot KeetAlternative Information and Development Centre AIDC Regional Briefing 1/2004. Regional integration is fundamentally based on solidarity, and we know that solidarity is not only moral. The Treaty establishing the East African Community then names as subsequent stages of EAC integration the establishment of a Common Market, then a Monetary Union and ultimately a Political Federation. 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