Perspectives on the Way Forward

While the AU and its Charter clearly offers us the best way to move towards integation and African Unity, it is still a framework that needs fleshing out. This will be an extended process over the next few years that will incorporate the voices of African leaders, ordinary citizens and committed professionals.

Here we have some proposals for ways that different sectors can be developed and utilized to best further the goals of the AU.

"So I, for one, want to see reforms. I want to see intra-African integration, not because we will garner some utopian share of world commerce, but first and formost because it will improve our lives here. It will free up the time of African businesspeople to do business here.It will lower costs. It will make the African consumer's plight so much more hopeful. We must build for ourselves. If we do that others will come."
K. Y. Amoako (taken from Accelerating the pace of Integration-Keynote address to the African Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meetings Symposium on "Regional Cooperation and Integration in Africa: Progress, Challenges and Obstacles" on 26 May 1998)

The Role of African Media

"Communication has always been the key to dissolving borders.The oral storytelling tradition was the way in which us Africans shared our news, preserved our history, ensured social cohesion and stability, and charted our future. We should see the media in Africa today as a continuation of our traditions. The African media is critical to fostering regional integration because it can enable the sharing of knowledge to people in different countries who are linked by common problems and common goals. New technologies like digital satellite radio can turn local content into regional programming. By its very nature, the Internet renders borders defunct, by providing a space for information sharing and dialogue that can unite people from different parts of the continent and the world. With advent of New Media, everyone -- from local communities to national publishers -- can share their news, views and issues with a wider audience. As the space for communication grows, so to do channels for raising awareness about the value-added of regional integration in all its forms. As more and more Africans become part of the communication loop, regional integration truly becomes a reality."

Peter da Costa
Media Specialst

Contribution of economic integration to the unification of Africa

"For about three decades following the wave of independence in the early 1960’s, Africa’s most advocated cause in continental forums has been the liberation of Africa from any form of political colonization, although development had always been on top of the agenda of the Organisation of African Unity. With the advent of an independent Namibia in 1990, no territory of  Africa was any longer under external domination. Yet the unification of the continent has a long way to go. What can Africa’s economic integration contribute to this process?

As evidenced in the case of Europe, economic integration helps create a homogenous space and, to some extent, equalize living conditions. These appear to be prerequisites for a dialogue on the harmonization of political stands. Indeed, an economic space that is physically integrated; where goods and services move speedily and smoothly; where, besides, the mobility of factors (manpower, capital, energy, inputs) is not subjected to hindrances; where, finally, macroeconomic policies are harmonized, is likely to offer equal opportunities to all. Such a high degree of economic integration is not sustainable without a policy dialogue on issues that, at first, may not fall squarely under economic field; peace and security, defense, diplomacy etc.

In the case of Africa, it can be safely stated that, once the continent has achieved a significantly advanced degree of economic integration, its political unification will be greatly facilitated. It appears difficult to conceive a united Africa without strong economic links among countries of the continent."

Ngartando Blayo
Economic Affairs Expert, ECA

The Regional Economic Communities (RECs)

"No country is immune from the effects of regionalism as it shapes world economic and political relationships and influences the development of the multilateral trading system.

What we call Regional Economic Communities (RECs) date back to the colonial era. However, most of the integration schemes were adopted after independence during the late 1960s and 1970s. Common features of these include sharing common colonial ties with a host of common institutions and common official languages. In other instances, the RECs were formed based on the geographic proximity of member States.

RECs have an important role to play as we move towards economic and political integration in Africa if and when the issues of security, bargaining power and commitment are adequately addressed.

RECs, although primarily economic in orientation, can use their membership for increasing security against non-members. They may also enhance a country's security in its relationship with other members which makes conflicts more expensive--and regular political contact can built trust and facilitate other forms of cross-border cooperation. In other words, if African countries know where and how to butter their bread, they'll realize that the formation of RECs is good politics.

The second is obviously bargaining power, the hope that from unity comes strength. As small RECs form bigger ones, they can enter negotiations more effectively than can separate countries or small RECs might be able to. Of course, this is depended on the ability to form common and effective positions. And finally, I believe RECs can provide a "commitment mechanism" for trade and other policy reform measuresto which individual countries must adhere. However, all of this depends on the interests and degree of involvement of all the members.

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) especially through its five Subregional Development Centres (SRDCs) has a facilitative role to play. The Commission's resources can be used to provide technical support to RECs, and ECA can also be instrumental by providing forums of communication and information exchange for ensuring harmony between subregional and regional programmes and those defined by the strategic directions of the Commission. ECA also provides the technical and  advisory services to member States and to RECs to facilite regional economic cooperation, integration and development. In this way the Commission can facilitate RECs to fit in the bigger picture of regional integration efforts in Africa"

Joseph N. Ngu
Economic Affairs Expert, ECA

Effective governance and regional integration.

"The effective implementation of regional integration is founded on enabling environment that promote accountability, transparency and respect for the rule of law. Also strong institutional framework at the regional and national levels is fundamental to streamline regional agreements into national policies. In addition, the establishment of an effective transnational implementation tools pride opportunities to push reforms conducive to good governance at the regional level. A clear demonstration of this can be observed in legal systems and the need for a regional framework and related judicial institutions to provide an improved regional environment for private sector development.

In the course of the last few years, the concept of good governance, and the appropriate ways and means of fostering it, have become a major object of the development discourse. Indeed, measurable progress towards improved governance, as well as acceptance of the broader principles and practices of democracy, are becoming an integral part of the development agenda in Africa. Therefore, the ECA project on assessing and monitoring governance is a timely initiative designed to address these issues.

It is increasingly emphasized that rapid and sustained development requires, other elements – such as an effective public administration, a functioning legal framework, efficient and predictable regulatory structures, and transparent systems for both financial and legal accountability."

Abdalla Hamdok
Governance Expert, ECA

Gender Equity: The Missing Link in Regional Integration

"Consensus is growing that in order to eradicate poverty and ensure sustainable development; it is critical that both men and women are empowered to contribute to trade.

Of the objectives of regional integration, the effects of trade liberalisation on different social groups including women and men are among least understood. In particular, the contribution of cross-border trade to national and regional economic development is imperfectly understood. Cross-boarder trade is an informal but economically important transaction carried out mostly by women between several African countries, and it involves the production and trading in food, textiles products and other commodities and have a potential to contribute to increased regional trade.

Recently, ECA’s African Centre for Gender and Development (ACGD) initiated work on constructing gender-aware mathematical models for policy forecasting and analysis of the effects of national planning instruments on women and macroeconomic outcomes. Modelling the effects of cross-boundary trade in particular, is expected to deepen the understanding of policy analysts regarding the contribution of this trade on women’s welfare and overall regional economic development. "

Alfred Latigo
Gender Expert, ECA

Opportunities for harnessing ICTs for regional integration

"ICTs have become essential components in the whole chain of trade promotion, facilitation and regional co-operation. Tools such as the Internet promote global markets and give voices to small and medium enterprises and farmers alike, to enable them to market and deliver goods and services irrespective of their location.

ICTs can also catalyse trans-border data flows bringing down barriers to personal communications, and removing the constraints of national boundaries, physical disabilities, distance, and time zones. Access to expanded telecommunication networks also reduces the costs of international communication among countries, and fosters cross-border information and data exchange.

Improved institutional information management, intra-institutional communication between regional co-operation institutions and their constituencies also facilitate integration. They can also play a critical role in linking national or regional organisations that work on similar objectives to consult, share information and collaborate on joint projects."

Aida Opoku-Mensah
ICT Expert, ECA

Regional cooperation and integration in the energy sector

"In the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), it is stated that energy plays a critical role in the development process; first as a domestic necessity but also as a factor of production whose cost directly affects prices of other goods and services, and the competitiveness of enterprises. But Africa’s abundant energy resources are unevenly distributed within regions and often occur at great distances from the energy demand areas. This makes subregional energy interchange an ideal opportunity to develop and use energy resources more efficiently and for the greatest benefit of all Africa’s people.

Thus, regional cooperation and integration through energy pooling and cross-border energy flows would help minimize the cost of supply arising from the economies of scale of large regional supply systems, whilst enhancing reliability, and security of supply. This has been achieved through, among others: the joint development of hydropower projects, and promoting cross-border energy trade through the interconnection of electricity grids and gas pipelines networks.

A good example of joint development of hydroelectric resources is the Manantali hydropower project of the Senegal River Basin Development Organization (OMVS) between Mali, Mauritania and Senegal in West Africa region, which started under a 15 year operations and maintenance contract awarded to the south African energy company, Eskom Enterprises.Promoting cross-border electricity trade is well-established within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) in Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, and energy pooling through the interconnection of electricity grids is being developed within the West African Power Pool (WAPP), and an important gas pipelines network is being realised with the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) both in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region."

Pancrace Niyimbona
Energy Expert, ECA

Integrated efforts in the water sector in Africa

"Integration efforts in the water sector in Africa have been primarily in the domain of transboundary river/lake basin organizations (RBOs), although a number of subregional economic communities also play significant roles in promoting subregional cooperation and in implementing subregional projects in the sector.

Subregional economic communities such as SADC, ECOWAS, COMESA and others have implemented and/or have in the pipeline a number of water, environment, irrigation and fisheries-related subregional projects. SADC has the singular distinction of having successfully promoted a subregional protocol on shared water resources that has been signed by all member countries with the exception of DRC.

Various regional institutions such as ECA, ADB and OAU have been promoting subregional and regional cooperation in the water sector in Africa. ECA played a catalytic role in establishing some of the existing transboundary river/lake basin organizations in Africa. ECA also played a role in promoting establishment of similar cooperative mechanisms in the Nile, the Zambezi and the Lake Victoria basins, where formal mechanisms for cooperation presently do not exist. ECA provides technical support and backstopping services to the existing RBOs whenever it is called upon to do so.

ECA in collaboration with OAU, ADB and other relevant subregional organizations is now spearheading the water sector programme under the initiative of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). ECA, OAU and ADB are also preparing a Strategic Action Plan for the implementation of Africa Water Vision 2025."

Azm Hoque
Water-River Basin Development Expert, ECA

Mining and regional co-operation

"Regional co-operation in the mining sector was first articulated in the early 80s following adoption of the Lagos Plan of Action. It embraced a continuum of inter-country collaboration schemes which ranges from simple forms such as information networking to more complex schemes characterized by attempts to adopt common policies, harmonise legislation, standards, procedures and practices. Co-operation in the mining sector among the member states of SADC represents the most elaborate of such schemes.

The driving forces behind regional co-operation in the mining sector in Africa are:

• To facilitate access to specialized services and products in a co-operative manner,
• To create and establish subregional centres of excellence for capacity building, research and development where economies of scale can be realized;
• To improve the competitiveness of mining in Africa by creating a modern geo-infrastructure, improving connectivity and facilitating access to data, producing regional thematic maps and other geo-information, harmonizing laws and regulations and reducing transaction costs in general; and
• T`o maximize linkages between mining and other sectors of the economy "

Antonio Pedro
Mining Expert, ECA