The populations of most African countries are too small to constitute significant markets or to attract external investment. Regional economic integration is essential to create larger markets. African countries do very little trade with one another, to the detriment of their economies. Numerous regulatory regimes, border controls and tariffs constitute significant barriers which need to be tackled through coordination between countries, at the regional level.

For example, ‘Public goods’ such as roads, railways, ports and energy infrastructure also need to be provided through an integrated regional approach. Poor infrastructure has been identified as a top priority to promoting growth; energy production and distribution can be supported regionally in a way that is out of the reach of individual countries.

The scarcity of water in Southern Africa means that it is becoming more and more difficult to meet this basic human need across the region. Furthermore, the economic potential of transboundary water resources is not maximised if each country tries to, for example, manage its own section of a river. Countries must collaborate to derive maximum benefit from their resources. Climate change will only exacerbate environmental impacts which are already felt by neighbouring countries.

Communicable diseases do not respect national borders and therefore some aspects of the battle to control them can benefit from a regional approach. Benefits from economies of scale can be reaped if countries pool resources for increasing public awareness or procuring medicines.

Issues of peace and security, while closely bound up with national sovereignty, are also clearly cross border issues with huge implications for a whole region. Cooperation between neighbouring countries, both at the level of governments and among non-state actors, can contribute to stability for all of them.

Other issues can be effectively tackled at the national level, but collaboration between countries may result in added benefits through lesson learning and capacity building, building momentum towards policy innovation, or pooling knowledge and resources.

There may also be some initiatives which could be handled at the national level which will have a disproportionate impact throughout the region. There can therefore be an argument for regional approaches that support pivotal countries in some of their domestic efforts, because of the transboundary influence they have.