Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Integration in Africa: The Case of Sadc

Abstract

Regional integration is useful for economic, political and social development of countries. Despite the numerous efforts by African states to form regional trading blocs, existing Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa have not been successful achieving their intended objectives of poverty reduction and economic development. This paper looked into regional integration in Africa, with particular focus on the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The research was a qualitative case study. SADC is largely unable to sustain its operations in case of donor funding cessation. Intra-SADC trade is low, though large by African standards. Factors that influence intra-SADC trade were highlighted as lack of industrial capacity within SADC, high cost of doing business, slow implementation of agreements, and lack of private sector participation, geographical proximity and presence of institutional frameworks. There is need for SADC to explore regional value chains as a way of boosting intra-regional trade.