Regional integration in Africa is characterised by its diversities. Next to the continent-wide regionalism, there are the many overlapping sub-contintental regional organisations as well as micro-regional collaborations.

A research project on ‘Regional networks and poverty reduction in the Lake Victoria region’ is undertaken. The core question that this research project seeks to answer is to what extent and under what conditions regional networks are functional (or dysfunctional) for achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction in the Lake Victoria region. The project is built on case studies of environmental networks, trading networks, peace networks, policy networks and aid networks. It is lead by Gothenburg University. Special effort is made to valorise the Africa-related research from the other research clusters in specific publications and dissemination activities. Attention goes primarily to the issue of how African regionalism can best contribute to poverty-reduction.

Contact person: Fredrik Söderbaum