Concept Note AFRICAN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE Regional and Continental Integration for Africa s Development

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African Economic Conference Concept Note

1 African Economic Conference Concept Note AFRICAN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE 2018 Regional and Continental Integration for Africa s Development 3-5 December Kigali, Rwanda African Development Bank Group Economic Commission for Africa United Nations Development Programme

2 1. Introduction 1.1 In March 2018, 44 African Countries committed to the launch of a common market for Africa - the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), this follows the launch of an African Common Passport in July These are additional milestones towards Africa s integration that will enable people to build better lives. Africa s integration has considerable potential not only for driving more robust and equitable economic growth through markets, it holds the promise for reducing conflict on the continent. 1.2 Africa s efforts towards regional and continental integration can be traced back to the formation of the Organization of African Unity over 50 years ago, and the subsequent African Union that reflect a compromise between Monrovia and the Casablanca groups which championed various dimensions of continental integration in the 1960s. This first step towards promoting continental unity was followed by an important milestone, the Abuja Treaty (1991) which underpins the African Economic Community. Regional economic communities (RECs) are regarded as the building blocks of the African Economic Community. These RECs have underpinned tremendous progress on Africa s integration, particularly in relation to trade liberalization and facilitation (West Africa economic and monetary Union, COMESA); free movement of people (ECOWAS), infrastructure (SADC, EAC), and peace and security (ECOWAS and SADC). 1.3 Despite this progress and strong affirmations of political commitment by African leaders, over the past five decades, most Africans believe continental integration achievements have been modest compared to set goals. Some of the key challenges associated with the slow pace of progress include lack of political will and the absence of resources and technical capacity to facilitate the implementation of commitments made by leaders. The citizens of the continent nonetheless would wish for more and faster integration across economic, social, cultural and political aspects of development. They want to be able to live and work, run a business, and travel with ease anywhere on the continent. They also want to be respected across the world and want the continent to play a prominent role in the global affairs. 1.4 This aspiration for an integrated continent is a key pillar of Africa s Agenda 2063 and the theme of the forthcoming 2018 African Economic Conference (AEC) which focuses on Regional and Continental Integration for Africa s Development. The discussion will build on the outcome of the 2013 AEC on Regional Integration in Africa and examine practical solutions to make the recently adopted Continental Free Trade Area a reality. The conference outcome will contribute to ensuring that the AfCFTA becomes an instrument for promoting Africa s inclusive development through nurturing institutions and partnerships that sustain actions for Africa s integration in its multiple forms: economic, social, cultural, environmental and political. 2

3 2. Context 2.1 The AEC 2018 responds to four takeaways from the 2013 conference and the challenges that continue to undermine progress on Africa s integration. The first is that Africa s integration is no longer a choice. The continent must integrate to consolidate past gains and maximize the benefit of globalization with a view to becoming a major player in the global arena as envisioned by Agenda However, there a risks arising from a heightened focus on economic integration with less attention to social, cultural and political integration. In addition, there are overlapping memberships in RECs whose policy instruments are not harmonized. Furthermore, there is weak enforcement of existing treaties and Non-Tariff Barriers that continue to hinder free movement of goods, services and persons across borders. 2.2 The second takeaway is that whereas there is tangible progress, it is too slow due in part to differing country interests, ineffective and unresponsive institutions. An innovative approach that takes countries interests into account without being held hostage by them is required. 2.3 The third dimension is the preponderance of bilateral and multilateral agreements with the rest of the world that are not in harmony with regional and continental integration objectives. Under the bilateral/multilateral agreements African countries have the tendency to provide better offers than those exchanged and shared amongst themselves. African countries therefore are confronted by a challenge to ensure that existing and future trade and investments arrangements are in congruence with regional and continental integration. 2.4 The final takeaway was that integration ought to be people-centred with stronger partnerships with citizens, private sector players and civil society institutions to facilitate faster progress and sustainable outcomes. Trust in leadership and institutions will be a critical enabler for accelerated integration to happen. However, trust depends on effectiveness of institutions and leadership to deliver on set objectives of integration and their ability to use integration to drive development outcomes across the continent. 2.5 The convergence of the African Union Agenda 2063, United Nations Agenda 2030 and the Bank s High 5s visions makes it imperative for the three institutions AUC, UN and the AfDB to strengthen their working and collaborative relationship in order to deliver on Africa s integration and inclusive development. These agendas re-affirm the centrality of regional and continental integration. The Agenda 2063 envisions an integrated Africa that is united with a world class infrastructure that criss-crosses the continent - rail, road, water and air transport - that will facilitate intra-africa trade as well as improved connectivity. It also envisions an African citizenship with rights and responsibilities, a common passport, an anthem and a flag and a politically united Africa. The 2030 Agenda commits to eradicating poverty in all its forms through 17 goals and 169 targets. Regional and continental integration is a catalyst to make tangible progress in realizing all the 17 goals. Integrate Africa is one of the AfDB High 5s, which is expected to help facilitate the achievement of light up and power, feed, industrialize and improve quality of life of Africans.

4 2.6 Regional and continental integration remains a valuable strategy to help utilize Africa s greatest asset optimally the youth. Integration of people, trade, finance, infrastructure, to mention a few remains a potent tool to create the future today. Africa is now home to 1.3 billion people, and this will reach 2.5 billion in For integration to be well accepted, it must be all embracive and render tangible benefits to all Africans. In this regard, integration must be able to catalyse goals and aspirations of Africans, enabling them to build better lives. 2.7 The conference s value addition, in the wake of the launch of the Continental Free Trade Area for Africa, will be to advocate for and provide clear policy guidance based on research and best practices for a stronger partnership for faster integration in all its dimensions. 3. Objectives of the Conference 3.1 The African Economic Conference is now the leading forum for the discussion of Africa s issues of the day. The specific objectives of the African Economic Conference are to: Promote knowledge management as an important driver of policy dialogue, good policy planning and implementation; Foster dialogue that promotes the exchange of ideas and innovative thinking among researchers, development practitioners and policymakers; Encourage and enhance research on economic and policy issues related to the development of African economies by promoting evidence-based policymaking; Provide an opportunity for young African researchers, Africans in the Diaspora, and organizations to share knowledge with policymakers; and Serve as a platform for researchers, policymakers and private sector operators to meet and have consensus on regional and continental integration as an instrument to accelerate Africa s inclusive and sustainable development. 3.2 Since its inception in 2006, the AEC series has fostered dialogue and the exchange of knowledge on a variety of issues and challenges that Africa is facing (see Box 1). Box 1. Past themes of the African Economic Conference 1. AEC Accelerating Africa s Development Five Years into the 21st Century. 2. AEC Opportunities and Challenges of Development for Africa in the Global Arena 3. AEC Globalization, Institutions and Economic Development of Africa 4. AEC Fostering Development in an Era of Financial and Economic Crises 5. AEC Setting the Agenda for Africa s Economic Recovery and Long Term Growth 6. AEC Green Economy and Structural Transformation in Africa 7. AEC Fostering Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Age of Global Economic Uncertainty 8. AEC Regional Integration in Africa 9. AEC Knowledge and Innovation for Africa s Transformation 10. AEC Addressing Poverty and Inequality in the Post 2015 Development Agenda 11. AEC 2016 Feed Africa: Towards Agro-Allied Industrialization for Inclusive Growth 12. AEC 2017 Governance for structural transformation 4

5 4. Format of the Conference 4.1 The Conference, jointly organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will be the thirteenth edition of the AEC Series. The discussion will be organised around 4 pillars and 12 strategic actions towards more effective partnership that drives continental integration in all its dimensions. 4.2 Each pillar will constitute a Plenary Session. The 12 strategic actions will constitute 12 parallel sessions where the papers presented will focus on key solutions to make integration a reality. The 4 pillars and 12 agenda actions are presented in Table 1: Table 1: Four (4) Pillars and 12 Actions for continental integration # 4 Pillars 12 Agenda actions 1. Conceptual underpinning of Africa s integration 1.1. Economic integration where are we, what are the lessons and opportunities? 1.2. Social and cultural integration - where are we, what are the lessons and opportunities? 1.3. Political integration where are we, what are the lessons, opportunities? 1.4. Environmental integration where are we, what are the lessons, 2. Infrastructure for Africa s integration 3. Leverage private sector for Africa s integration 4. Institutions and Partnerships for effective integration opportunities? 2.1. Expand infrastructure across the continent, including opening up the skies, and remove barriers for movement of people, goods and services across Africa 2.2. Making Regional Economic Communities (e.g. ECOWAS, EAC, COMESA, SADC) more transformative 2.3. Accelerate policy and institutional (including regulatory and judicial) harmonization, and people s integration across the continent 3.1. Reduce the cost of doing business across the continent, including transport 3.2. Invest in skills, innovation and value chains, build critical mass of entrepreneurs 3.3 Accessing finance for intra-africa trade 4.1. Establish mechanisms for early warning system and response 4.2. Foster accountability structures and interconnectedness at all levels including existing and future trade and investment agreements with the rest of the world are in congruence with continental integration 4.3. Redefine and widen the partnership for continental integration 4.3 The African Economic Conference 2018 will offer a unique avenue for researchers, policymakers and development practitioners to debate and build knowledge on solutions for continental integration. The debates would focus on using four pillars to propel innovative solutions to impediments of Africa s regional and continental integration. 4.4 As is the tradition, all the papers will be professionally and blindly peer reviewed by the co-organizing institutions and those accepted for presentation shall be original quality work. 5

6 4.5 A distinguished panel will assess the papers presented and award a prize to the author whose paper has been deemed as the best Conference paper. The award always goes to young researchers. The winner will be announced at the closing ceremony. 5. Submission Guidelines and Time Frame 5.1 Authors must follow the instructions on the AEC 2018 website ( ( ( to submit papers. Only full papers will be considered for presentation. We also encourage the submission of policy-and-solution oriented papers with strong empirical work. The Conference shall give priority to solution-oriented papers. 5.2 Participants and experts submitting papers for the Conference must adhere to the key deadline dates as stated in Table 2: Table 2: Annotated Time Frame Annotation Deadline Date Call for papers 14 May 2018 Deadline for paper submissions 30 July 2018 Notification of final acceptance 30 September 2018 Last day for registration for presenters 31 October 2018 Closing of flight bookings 2 November 2018 Conference dates 3 5 December Young African female and male researchers are especially encouraged to submit their articles. One of the objectives of the AEC series is to provide young African researchers with the opportunity not only to share their work with a broader audience, but also to expand their networks. 6

7 6. Expected Outputs and Outcomes 6.1 The outputs of the conference are expected to include: Conference Report: A summary of key findings and policy recommendations distilled from conference papers and keynote speeches. The proceedings of the Conference, incorporating relevant comments and feedback from peer review and conference participants, may be published after the Conference. A special issue of the African Development Review journal containing the most innovative articles of policy and operational relevance will be published. Policy pieces to be shared with RECs and RMC governments. Metrics of how recommendations inform government and regional policy. 7. Sponsorship 7.1 Authors will be requested to indicate whether they require support to cover expenses (travel, accommodation and daily subsistence allowance) associated with their participation at the Conference. Only one author per paper accepted for presentation will be eligible for sponsorship. Support is reserved mainly for presenters and young researchers from Africa.

AFRICAN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE 2013

CALL FOR PAPERS FOR AFRICAN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE 2013 REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN AFRICA October 28-30, 2013 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA African Development Bank Group United Nations Economic Commission for