The 2021 African Integration Report (released on 15 March 2022) is based on the African Multidimensional Regional Integration Index. The Index was developed by the African Union Commission and the Regional Economic Communities with the participation of the Association of African Central Banks and national statistical agencies.

The third edition of the African Integration Report comes at a time when the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to ravage economies around the world, and the continent is no exception. The economic impact of the pandemic on the African continent is already clear: the first recession in 25 years, with economic activity falling by more than 3% in 2020, according to a recent report by the World Bank. Returning the world to any kind of recognizable ‘normal’ will take years.

In Africa, regional integration has long been viewed as a catalyst for long-term prosperity. With COVID-19 placing severe strain on economies across the continent, regional coordination can be an effective approach to manage the response and promote post-pandemic recovery. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which has now been operationalised, has created a platform and dialogue to support this. In a COVID-19 environment that has been defined by the closure of national borders and the collapse of global supply chains, the continent will become more interdependent than ever.

While COVID-19 has slowed down regional integration, Africa was not performing well even before the pandemic, as documented in the previous African Integration Reports. According to the 2020 and even the 2021 African Integration Report, the level of integration on the continent is low overall.

Comments on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD): Successes and Challenges

IGAD has been successful in establishing an effective peace and security architecture for the resolution of conflicts. IGAD had made commendable progress in regional infrastructure, to mention the Lamu Port South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Project, Djibouti international Free Zone area, Ethiopian reconnaissance dam and more. Commendable progress has also been registered in environmental issues and food security.

When it comes to trade, IGAD has:
* Revived the IGAD Business Forum
* Formed the IGADTruckers Association
* Launched the Warehouse Receipt System to enhance trade logistics.

A number of IGAD Member States still face challenges such as instability due to armed conflict that has produced many refugees and internally displaced persons. The aridity of the IGAD region poses significant challenges, including extreme weather conditions, which continue to adversely impact agriculture and sustainability of biodiversity, which is critical to human survival. As a recommendation, the need to devise regional strategies to overcome these challenges cannot be overemphasized.

Related: IGAD component in the Africa Regional Integration Index