Regional integration and socio-political and economic development in East Africa: Focus on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

The paper is specifically focused on the assessment of the level
performance and the areas of cooperation in the East Africa with specific
emphasis on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and
to seek ways for more fruitful relationship among the member state for the
betterment of all the members of the union and to see if it is possible to
widen the scope of operation. Secondary sources of data collection were
used and contextually analyzed and neo-functionalist theory was adopted
as the tool of analysis. The findings of the paper are: all the members of
IGAD belong to more than one regional group; there is Infrastructural
deficit; many of the potentials are not well utilized; Inadequate capacity
and resources among countries of the IGAD; Conflicting attitude towards
regional integration; The countries in the region have similar resources
which account for lack of comparative advantage; Insecurity and political
instability; Water Scarcity and Management of Shared Water Resources.
This research sought to provide answers to the following questions: for
what purpose was IGAD establish? How has the IGAD carried out its set
objectives? How can the organization improve on its strategies and scope
of operations, membership, and achievement? What are the internal
effects of regional integration? Lastly the study arrived at the following
recommendations: Member states should be persuaded to ensure that
they do not belong to too many regional groups; Effort should be made
towards improving on the region’s weak transport infrastructure;
Countries in the region should be encouraged to adopt energy policies and
established regulatory frameworks to liberalize the power sector; That it
should pursue an aggressive capacity building and mobilization of
resources among countries of the IGAD; That effort should be increased to
relate well with the close neighbours that could allow them channel water
from the region to the landlocked areas; The IGAD should Intensify
Collaborative efforts leading to compromise and ultimate resolution of
conflicts that will strengthen regional integration process; and The
organization should ensure that countries that are conflicting over similar
resources are helped to identify complementary areas of activities based
on their comparative advantage and diversify them accordingly.