II - June 2018

The researchers involved in the research project "Steering Regional Development through Regional Economic Communities in Africa" came together for a second Research Workshop in Dar es Salaam from 31 May to 3 June 2018. During these four days they intensively discussed the interim results of their individual research projects. 

Having presented their research proposals at the first Research Workshop in October 2017, the majority of the team members have since carried out field research. They have conducted interviews with stakeholders from regional organisations and in national public and private sector institutions, and in some cases with ordinary citizens. In addition, desk and library research has formed an essential part of their activities, especially for the theoretical underpinning of their work.

The second Research Workshop provided a forum for all researchers involved in the project to present and discuss their interim findings with their colleagues and a number of additional academics from the University of Dar es Salaam School of Law and the University of Bayreuth. Input from practitioners was provided by legal officers from the Ugandan Ministry of East African Community Affairs (Baker Mugaino) and the Kenyan Ministry of East African Community and Northern Corridor Development (Winnie Cheserem). They gave valuable insights into ministerial practice relating to the implementation and enforcement of East African Community law, including the challenges faced.

After the Workshop the team of thirty researchers from nine countries representing three different academic disciplines were continuing their joint investigations on challenges, driving motives and drivers of regional integration in Africa in order to come up with publishable results.