Regional organisations
Regional organisations are blocs of African countries. They provide the institutional basis for regional integration, allowing countries to work together on issues that transcend national borders, including trade. Regional organisations help coordinate policies and facilitate the movement of goods, services and people across borders. Beyond the African Union, the largest regional organisation, Africa is home to a large number of regional organisations and trade agreements. This makes the overall system more complex and raises coordination issues.
Resources on regional organisations
REC integration approaches and their implications
By Gerhard Erasmus for Tralac.
03 June 2021
African regional integration: A problem-driven approach to delivering regional public goods
By Byiers B, Cazals A, Medinilla A., de Melo J. for Ferdi.
28 May 2021
The African Continental Free Trade Area and developmental regionalism: A handbook
By Faizel Ismail for TIPS.
01 April 2021
The political economy of regional organisations in Africa – PEDRO project phase 2 (2021-2022)
The second phase of our work on the political economy dynamics of regional organisations in Africa (PEDRO II) focused on the African Union, and looked at the AfCFTA implementation process, the African Governance Architecture and the AU as an international actor.
15 February 2021
The African Union: What role in tackling Africa’s challenges?
For some, the AU is a symbol of pan-Africanism and continental collective action. Others, who seek to support African development and international partnerships, see it as a natural counterpart to the European Union (EU). We have created a virtual guide to understanding more of its history, how it works and what it has achieved since its creation.
01 February 2021
Economic Development in Africa Report 2021: Reaping the potential benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area for inclusive growth
By United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
01 January 2021
The promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
This paper provides an overview of some of the potential opportunities and benefits of the AfCFTA, particularly in relation to manufacturing, agriculture, services and e-commerce, but also of the challenges involved in moving from agreement to impact.
30 November 2020
A critical appraisal of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement
By Akinkugbe, Olabisi D. for International Economic Law (southern) African Perspectives and Priorities.
23 November 2020
Governing the interface between the African Continental Free Trade Area and Regional Economic Communities Free Trade Areas: Issues, opportunities and challenges
By Olayiwola W. and UNECA.
02 November 2020
Designing trade liberalization in Africa: Modalities for tariff negotiations towards an African Continental Free Trade Area
By UNCTAD.
01 January 2020
