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African regional integration: A problem-driven approach to delivering regional public goods

Author

Listed:
  • Bruce Byiers

    (ECDPM - European Centre for Development Policy Management)

  • Antoine Cazals

    (Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, DRM - Dauphine Recherches en Management - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Alfonso Medinilla

    (ECDPM - European Centre for Development Policy Management)

  • Jaime de Melo

    (FERDI - Fondation pour les Etudes et Recherches sur le Développement International, UNIGE - Université de Genève = University of Geneva)

Abstract

Africa is well endowed with organizations to promote regional cooperation and integration. It has 8 African Union (AU)-recognized regional economic communities (RECs), 7 other economic organizations and 25 specialized regional organizations (ROs). On average each country is member of 3 RECs and 4 other ROs. The number of continental treaties signed by African Union member states has accelerated over the last four decades. At the same time, progress on ratifying and implementing these and their regional equivalents is slow, undermining their impacts. This has led to calls to rationalize memberships. At its 50th anniversary in 2013, the AU launched the 50year AU2063 programme, "The Africa we want, " with 15 flagship projects, heralding a renewed push towards continent-wide projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce Byiers & Antoine Cazals & Alfonso Medinilla & Jaime de Melo, 2021. "African regional integration: A problem-driven approach to delivering regional public goods," Working Papers hal-03247039, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-03247039
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03247039v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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