What blocks or drives regional integration in Africa? What role do regional organisations play in this? What are the incentives and power dynamics at play? In 2015 and 2016, we aimed to answer these questions by looking at the political economy of six of Africa’s largest regional organisations. Our latest project on the political economy dynamics of regional organisations in Africa (PEDRO) digs even deeper, by looking at no less than 17 organisations. The PEDRO project, carried out with support from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), ran from 2016 until 2018.

By Kai Striebinger for International IDEA.

This case study looks at the East African Community (EAC), and focuses on transport and infrastructure, gender and trade.

This case study looks at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and focuses on peace and security, food security and gender.

This case study looks at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and focuses on trade, energy and gender.

This case study looks at the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and focuses on infrastructure, gender, energy and conservation.

This case study looks at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and focuses on peace and security, transport and infrastructure, and trade.

The synthesis report summarises the findings of six case studies on the African Union (AU), COMESA, EAC, ECOWAS, IGAD and SADC. The case studies focus on several sectors and policy areas – including peace and security, transport and infrastructure, food security, climate change, gender, trade, energy, conservation and industrialisation.

By Paul Brenton and Barak Hoffman, World Bank.

By Peace A. Jiboku for Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review.