Regional Integration

Most of economies of the Bank's Regional Members Countries (RMCs) are small, undiversified and face physical, political, and policy-induced constraints to deeper economic integration with their neighbors and the global economy. However, economic cooperation and regional integration are crucial if Africa is to overcome trade and other barriers and take its rightful place in the global market.

For more than 40 years, the Bank has actively promoted regional economic communities (RECs) through regional economic cooperation, trade expansion, capacity building, and renewed support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) programmes. The Bank also actively collaborates with national governments and pan-African organizations, particularly the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), to rationalize and streamline REC structures.

The rationalization process is expected to contribute to more effective Free Trade Areas (FTAs) and Customs Unions (CUs) to accelerate progress toward the creation of larger and open regional markets and ultimately the attainment of the African Economic Community. Other integration measures fostered by the Bank include the development of sub-regional Assistance Strategies to complement its Country Strategy Papers (CSPs). The Bank is actively involved also in many multilateral and bilateral initiatives to boost Africa’s trade capacity and global integration.