The Civil Society Guide to Regional Economic Communities in Africa

Regional Economic Communities are the building blocks of the African Union. The 1980 Lagos Plan of Action for the Development of Africa and the Abuja Treaty of 1991 establishing the African Economic Community provide the framework for Africa’s overall economic integration.

Given the relatively low level of literacy and exposure among their populations, the movement towards people-driven Regional Economic Communities is only achievable with the intervention and participation of civil society organizations acting as a bridge between the Regional Economic Communities and the peoples of their regions.

This publication presents a guide for civil society actors interested in the work of the East African Community, the Economic Community of West African States, and the Southern African Development Community.