Publications

Research

Regional integration and poverty in the EAC

Policy Brief #2

November 2016

Gasiorek, M., Byiers, B., Rollo, J. 2016. Regional integration and poverty in the EAC: What do we learn from the data and understanding the political economy? (ECDPM - University of Sussex - CUTS Policy Brief 2). Maastricht: ECDPM.

Direct empirical evidence on the link between regional economic integration and poverty alleviation is hard to find. That is no different for the East African Community (EAC). The lack of evidence about who benefits or not, and why, offers a poor basis for regional decision-making and monitoring of impacts. Beyond a need for greater
data and monitoring, this further raises the importance of understanding political interests and power in determining what decisions are made, how they are implemented, and what impact they might have.

This Policy Brief was produced to document evidence on economic integration of the EAC and its possible linkages to poverty reduction in East Africa. Special attention is paid to the role of actors and interests in shaping the regional integration agenda and its implementation.