The role of regional economic communities in Africa: perspectives from stakeholders in urban Zambia

Abstract

While regional integration is perceived as an important component of Africa's development strategy, some economic development programs have underperformed, delayed, or failed altogether due, in part, to inadequacy of resources. Examined in this paper are community perspectives on the role of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in eradicating poverty in Zambia. The focus of the research was to review the relationship of SADC to various definitions of poverty and to severe poverty. Our findings suggest a variance between current SADC development initiatives in Southern Africa and what communities perceive as their needs.