Regional Integration in Africa: The Case of IGAD’S Biodiversity Programme
Regional economic integration in Africa is not some vague ideal. Nor is it about forming alliances between structures of power detached from the daily reality facing the population. It is a vital contribution to that reality–a tangible effort to improve the livelihoods of everyday people, especially through the promotion of intra-regional trade.
As an example of the importance of regional integration to various aspects of African society–prosperity, peace, and ecological security, to name just a few– the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a multinational organization involved in a variety of projects in the region, among them its Biodiversity Programme. The 2022 IGAD Policy Handbook reads:
digitalization of intra-regional trade. A third important related factor, in addition to the benefits of digitalization mentioned in the
WEF’S report, is with regard to security. With the various forms of trafficking–of human beings, of contraband, of afrms, etc., which threaten to proliferate if these ports are not supported by proper and efficient technology, it is worth conducting more research into just how digital transformation of trade ports might benefit–leaning on information regarding the ports which have already implemented such digital solutions in contrast to those ports which have not the region in the reduction in crime, contraband, human trafficking and other pervasive ills plaguing many of its countries.
As with many of the other reforms involved in economic integration in the region, part of the pressing need to implement digital reforms is for Africa not to fall further behind, as other regions effectively implement digital technology, as the report details in the cases of Asia and Europe in particular. With the speed of technological development, it is imperative to anticipate the increase in the gap between Africa and other regions which not adopting current technologies to sensitive areas of the African economy like trade ports is likely to cause. Thus the digitalization of trade and customs services is not simply a matter of immediate growth, it is also a matter of developing crucial skills and knowledge among African traders and civil servants alike, opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship among professionals in the technological fields, increased security with regards to various forms of trafficking, and keeping up with the significant digital transfofrmation and related economic growth in other regions. These are not just benefits of technological development. They are, in large part, the benefits of economic integration and intra-regional trade in particular. African businesses and industries must continue to work together in order to develop better trade networks as there is much to be gained in doing so.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Biodiversity Programme (BMP) is a European Union financed EUR 14 million programme that supports IGAD in its effort to halt the loss of biodiversity and reversing the degradation of the environment and natural resources in the region. Launched in November 2012, the programme aims to contribute to reduction of poverty through capacity building in sustainable management of biodiversity resources and by promoting regional integration in the environment sector through harmonisation of IGAD Member States’ activities in sustainable management of biodiversity resources. The challenges of reversing environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity in the region is in itself, for ecological reasons, of prime importance. Just as the IGAD Land Management Unit deals with the consequences of environmental degradation on agricultural production, and thus in the challenges of poverty and equal access to economic opportunity, there is a clear human cost to the loss of biodiversity. However, the key to this policy is its advancement of the crucial effort at regional integration, especially concerning environmental and economic policy. The harmonisation of which the policy speaks is necessary to maintain standards, make intra-regional trade and agricultural production more viable in the modern context, and allow Africa to compete as each of the other continental regions are pursuing similar efforts at integration.
Trade requires the standardization of practices and the harmonization of policies. The economic advancement of the region as a whole, the sustainable development and continent-wide prosperity which is the goal of multinational organizations such as IGAD, is predicated on intra-regional trade. This in turn creates the economic resources, the broader and deeper tax base, and the overall environment conducive to development, which in turn bolsters efforts at good governance and institutional effectiveness.
Thus, these policies of harmonization and integration, at the basic agricultural level where most economic productivity in the region still takes place, is essential for the realization of the goals of IGAD and other multinational development organizations. The IGAD Biodiversity Programme requires consistent funding and support from the broader community, especially the governments in the region. The goals of prosperity and peace are attained through the advancement of trade, and the path to the advancement of trade is carved with efforts at regional integration, in particular through the harmonization of policies and the standardization of practices aimed at the agricultural sector. In the process, the long-term catastrophic effects of environmental degradation on the po;pulation, especially on agricultural proiducers can be effectively avoided, and the biodiversity of the region protected. In this case, the protection and stabilization of the status quo, and the economic advancement and development of African societies through trade go perfectly hand in hand. Have already implemented such digital solutions in contrast to those ports which have notthe region in the reduction in crime, contraband, human trafficking and other pervasive ills plaguing many of its countries.
As with many of the other reforms involved in economic integration in the region, part of the pressing need to implement digital reforms is for Africa not to fall further behind, as other regions effectively implement digital technology, as the report details in the cases of Asia and Europe in particular. With the speed of technological development, it is imperative to anticipate the increase in the gap between Africa and other regions which not adopting current technologies to sensitive areas of the African economy like trade ports is likely to cause. Thus the digitalization of trade and customs services is not simply a matter of immediate growth, it is also a matter of developing crucial skills and knowledge among African traders and civil servants alike, opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship among professionals in the technological fields, increased security with regards to various forms of trafficking, and keeping up with the significant digital transfofrmation and related economic growth in other regions. These are not just benefits of technological development. They are, in large part, the benefits of economic integration and intra-regional trade in particular. African businesses and industries must continue to work together in order to develop better trade networks as there is much to be gained in doing so.