Regional integration in Southern Africa : overview of recent developments

Abstract

The purpose of this background paper is to inform the Bank and others about challenges and opportunities for strengthening socio-economic integration in southern Africa, and specifically in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), by: highlighting some salient political, socio-economic and geographical features of the sub-region, giving an overview of recent developments in regional integration in southern Africa, and giving an indication of selected international development partners' support for regional integration in sub-region. Without the benefit of 'regional' economic The paper finds that the political, institutional and socio-economic environment between countries in the southern Africa region is heterogeneous in the extreme, converging in policies, but not necessarily in outcome. Together with the multiple memberships of countries in regional integration arrangements, this is posing particular challenges and opportunities for regional cooperation and integration efforts and no less to development partners' support for integration in the sub-region. Currently, SADC finds itself in the midst of major reforms of its institutions, processes and management as well as of its regional integration agenda. One of the outcomes of SADC's restructuring process would be a regional strategic development plan. This plan would also be important for the Bank in designing a responsive regional integration assistance strategy with the sub-region.