Regional cooperation and integration have become key features of our globalised world. Such regional dynamics involve stakeholders who try to solve problems at a regional level that cannot be properly addressed at a national level. Many such problems affect poor peoples’ lives in areas such as mobility of people and goods, access to vital services in water and energy, security, environment, etc.

This paper explains the relevance of such regional cooperation and integration for problem solving in Africa. It does so by highlighting a few ongoing regional processes, and by unpacking some of the key actors and factors at work in such processes. Regional cooperation and integration are no ends in themselves, but can be means through which to help transform economies over time and promote sustainable development.

Read Discussion Paper 174 ‘Regional dynamics in Africa: High stakes for development‘

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Authors

San Bilal Head of Programme Trade, Investment and Finance | Economic and Agricultural Transformation Programme

Jan Vanheukelom Senior Advisor Political Economy and Governance