Since the African Union launched the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) over five years ago (refer to Strategy), Africa leaders have been seeking to bring regional integration into the mainstream of the continent's development efforts. African leaders understand that cooperation and economic integration can help reverse the declining presence of Africa in increasingly competitive global growth rates needed to combat poverty. Programs of coordinated action and regional approaches are needed to spur the additional trade that can be the engine of faster growth.
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The World Bank's support to the shared growth agenda, as outlined in its 2006-2008 Africa Action Plan, correspond to the focus on regional integration. The plan brings the Bank's partnership with national and regional clients strongly to the agenda of trade facilitation, infrastructure and regional capacity development. Regional programs are components of national Country Assistance Strategies (CAS), where regional approaches can complement and leverage national engagements. Examples include transport corridors, regional power systems, telecommunications systems, agricultural research, financial sector integration, and river basin development. The Bank’s regional integration activities intend to mainstream the regional agenda through the Country Assistance Strategies, supporting the drivers of regional integration in the region, and equipping the sub-regional organizations to meet the challenges of the integration agenda. For more information, please refer to:  |
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