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Africa Regional Integration

Partnering with regional economic communities and the private sector

Regional economic communities (RECs) are the building blocks and implementing arms of the African Union’s continental integration agenda. They serve as convening bodies for discussions among member states on matters relating to transboundary, socio-economic, free movement of people and goods, and security concerns. The World Bank Group is strengthen its partnership with the RECs by: 

  • Streamlining partnerships around key priority areas that leverage their respective comparative advantages 

  • Strengthening the dialogue with a focus on the implementation of agreed projects for better outcome

  • Supporting capacity-building efforts for projects coordination, deepening cooperation, and for advancing key priorities

Experience from shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, shows that keeping companies solvent is key to saving jobs and limiting the economic damage. The World Bank Group is enhancing private sector-led economic recovery in Africa by: 

  • Supporting private sector engagement in fragile and conflict-affected countries through the World Bank Group’s collective operations 

  • Developing priority regional value chains to increase food security and help people connect to job opportunities 

  • Enhancing regional connectivity with larger markets through financial and trade integration projects

  • Leveraging private finance for the economic connectivity agenda by increasing private finance mobilization through World Bank Group regional integration projects 

 

 

Africa Regional Integration

Coming together to benefit each other

The World Bank is collaborating with African countries and regional institutions to empower people, unleash trade, and optimize shared natural resources and economies of scale to achieve Africa’s transformation.