1

AFRICA’s ECOSYSTEM FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

COOPERATION (AID) POST COVID-19-ROLE OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ORGANIZATIONS

by (Student Name)

Course

Professor

University

City and state

Date

Table of Contents
 2

CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................3

1. Background of the Study....................................................................................................3

1.1. International Development Cooperation (AID)..............................................................7

1.2. Role of Regional Development Organizations..............................................................11

1.3. The Objective of the Study................................................................................................17

1.3.1 General objective............................................................................................................17

1.3.2 Specific objectives..........................................................................................................17

CHAPTER 2-LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................................19

CHAPTER 3-METHODOLOGY............................................................................................43

CHAPTER 4-RESULTS AND CONCLUSION......................................................................47

CHAPTER 5-CONCLUSION.................................................................................................57
 3

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the Study

Many social and economic problems affect most African nations, including

widespread extreme poverty, starvation, rising ecological catastrophes and disease outbreaks,

enormous population movements, crumbling educational institutions, and drug smuggling.

The severe poverty line is set by the World Bank at a yearly income of US$370 per person, or

roughly US$1 each day. Thirty percent of the inhabitants in developing nations, or 1.3 billion

people, are projected to be living in absolute poverty depending on this measure, and their

population is rising, particularly in Africa (AREA STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional

Sustainable Development Review), 2022). Poverty and an unfriendly global trading

environment have left many African countries struggling. Most Africans would be forced to

flee their homes to pursue better opportunities in wealthy nations due to the expansion of

droughts, desertification, and the aids pandemic.

This dissertation focuses on the role of International Development Cooperation in

alleviating human misery and promoting sustainable improvement in Africa. The relevance of

international cooperation is discussed, as well as its goals. History shows that post-World War

II global collaboration may be traced back to the Marshall Project in 1947, the establishment

of the United Nations (UN), and the Bretton Woods organizations. As a result, assistance and

international collaboration have become so intertwined that they are generally considered

interchangeable phrases (Kwesi, 2022). Properly defined, aid only refers to the portions of

direct investment that are not provided by regular market incentives. It is currently used to

describe the movement of long-term governmental economic means between industrialized

 4

and developing countries.

In this dissertation, Africa' development cooperation ecosystem will be discussed.

International development cooperation is financial and technical support given by

governments and other agencies to support the economic, environmental, social, and political

development of developing countries. It may be mentioned that International Development

Cooperation is the worldwide collaboration of nations toward cooperative action in mutually

beneficial and beneficial fields of activity. Developing nations and countries in development

have a responsibility to help the global community's attempts to develop an appropriate

global economic framework to tackle their serious economic and social issues(AREA

STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional Sustainable Development Review), 2022). This kind of aid

might have a significant impact on changing foreign relations, lowering political turmoil, and

making it easier for underdeveloped nations and economies in the transformation to join the

global economy (African Union and regional Organizations — Austria, 2022). As a

prerequisite for achieving a high degree of international collaboration in Africa, each country

must do its part. In contrast, although industrialized countries must help African countries

rebuild their broken economy, the latter must also be increasingly accountable for their

economic strategies and economic plans, which should be tailored to their conditions and the

requirements of their people.

International Development Cooperation initiatives may be driven by a desire to

achieve desired economic, cultural, governmental, and environmental outcomes. Several

examples of international cooperation strive to broaden common views and values and

promote effective co-management of issues that do not recognize national boundaries. The
 5

March 2000 floods in Mozambique and Madagascar dramatically demonstrated

environmental degradation and displacement concerns, pharmaceuticals and pandemic

illnesses, and natural catastrophes. In recent years, foreign cooperation in Africa has shifted

its focus to promoting democracy, effective governance, and economic changes involving the

liberalization and privatization of global and subnational businesses.

This dissertation will further compare where the African development cooperation

ecosystem was before and where the African development cooperation ecosystem is after

facing the Covid-19 pandemic. The first incidence of COVID-19 was reported in Africa on

February 14, 2020, prompting several countries to take immediate action to stop the

propagation of the disease, notably shutting borders and implementing lockdowns. The

continent's authorities are obligated to change action to manage public health. There have

been ongoing problems across the continent with underinvestment and insufficient data

collecting and analysis systems—especially cross-governmental agencies gathering and

distribution of data for speedy decision-making—which intensified under COVID-19 (Kwesi,

2022). In light of the pandemic, new systems and creative methods of collecting data are

needed. The different projects were established by the Global Partnership and International

Development Cooperation early on (Cohen, 2022). To help nations upgrade their statistics

systems, they have launched these projects, which facilitate collaborations between them. As

a result of these collaborations, nations will be better equipped to deal with COVID-19 in the

short and long term. This can be accomplished through monitoring people, measuring

economic effects, and building information ecosystems.

 6

International problems and difficulties were revealed during Covid-19, from the

vulnerability of digital systems and medical systems to the necessity for safe, affordable

water for everyone. The UN Economic Commission for Africa and the International

Development Cooperation joined together in 2020, the year that COVID-19 swept the globe,

to help address this unprecedented disaster (AREA STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional

Sustainable Development Review), 2022). They responded to what authorities desired across

Africa and discovered that their collaborators were ready and eager to react collaboratively to

their requirements. Having worked together over the last five years, their connection came

along in this moment of need to provide each member with crucial resources, knowledge, and

expertise. They all agreed that COVID-19 had made the urgency of timely data even greater.

Using information, technologies, and solutions, they tried to bring together stakeholders.

COVID-19 also illustrated the necessity of producing, evaluating, and sharing this data inside

a comprehensive data network strikingly. Developing data systems honestly and securely take

time, and they feel that COVID-19 has demonstrated the need to continue to do so (Jones et

al., 2022) . There will be additional pandemics and worldwide catastrophes in the future, such

as the continuing global warming problem. It was important for International Development

Cooperation to keep an eye on the end while concentrating on today's pressing issues (Cohen,

2022). It has always been concerned with the survival of its communities and the earth. They

may use this knowledge and expertise to assist governments in building long-term strategies

for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tracking economic success and applying data

science to improve the quality of health, schools, and other key areas.
 7

The future of international development cooperation requires more forethought. Many

short-term remedies were implemented during COVID-19, which might result in poor-quality

data being exploited to influence key choices or data sharing going beyond its intended

purpose. Developing a resilient system for subsequent disasters requires collaboration, the

ability to use those collaborations, and greater public discussion about what data is gathered

and exchanged. More cooperation between government and industry, civic society, and

education will be necessary to set the framework for future scalability and adaptability should

emergencies arise. Even in the absence of an emergency, governments need to have a better

understanding of geographical information and the application of data science to be better

prepared (African Union and regional Organizations — Austria, 2022) . To guarantee that the

momentum gained during the epidemic serves to establish better systems in the future,

International Development Cooperation is trying to make this happen.

1.1. International Development Cooperation (AID)

After World War II, the Marshall Plan was introduced in 1947 to aid Europe's

development; the United Nations Organization was established, and the Bretton Woods

organizations were established. As a result, international collaboration and humanitarian

help have become synonymous and are often used interchangeably. Assistance, strictly

speaking, only applies to infusions of capital that aren't generated by standard market

conditions. Long-term transfers of government economic resources between rich and

emerging nations are now referred to as the movement of "time" rather than money. It can be

said that international cooperation is essentially the global cooperation of the world's

countries to achieve cooperative action on issues of common interest and sustained

 8

development. We should help the emerging economies and those in the transformation

tackle their financial and social challenges by building a favorable international economic

environment. International relations can be transformed, tensions can be reduced, and

economies in transition can be more easily integrated into the global market with this kind of

support (Kwesi, 2022). Accomplishing an advanced degree of foreign collaboration in

Africa necessitates that all nations around the globe perform their assigned duties to the best

of their abilities. In contrast, while developed nations must help African countries rebuild

their broken economy, the latter must also be increasingly accountable for their economic

strategies and economic initiatives, which should be tailored to their circumstances and the

requirements of their citizens.

International cooperation is driven by achieving good financial, social, cultural, and

ecological goals. Collaboration between industrialized nations and African nations, for

example, intends to grow common views and values and promote efficient co-management

of present and emerging challenges that recognize no national borders. Natural calamities,

such as the storms in Mozambique and Madagascar in March 2000, highlight these

objectives in addressing environmental pollution and movement, drug and pandemic

sickness, and ecological catastrophes. Democracy, effective governance, and economic

changes comprising the liberalization and privatization of global and subnational industries

have recently emerged as important goals of international cooperation in Africa's

development. The UN and its departments, international economic organizations like the

World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and other global and regional agencies

have significantly impacted global multilateralism's growing ethos.

 9

Agricultural sales in global markets for developing nations, particularly Africa, are

becoming increasingly problematic. International decision-making rarely considers the

needs of underprivileged groups. At different conferences in Seattle and Bangkok, emerging

economies staged strong protests over World trade organization efforts to enforce a flawed

economic system, demonstrating the growing discontent of developing countries being

excluded from global decision-making. An additional sign of the ineffectiveness of

international cooperation is the outcome of the consultations held at the New York Africa

Development Forum, an ongoing criticism of IMF and World bank attitudes toward

developing countries generally and Africa in particular, and contractual links.

Social objectives play an essential role in international development cooperation. For

instance, it aims to encourage elementary education for all children by 2010 in all nations.

As a result, numerous international firms are attempting to close the achievement gap

between genders in elementary and high school by 2010. Other social objectives targeted

through international development cooperation include a decrease of 34 deaths by 2025 and

a decrease in baby and child mortality rates below five, respectively (Kwesi, 2022)..

Because no nation, whether in Africa or elsewhere in the undeveloped nations, possesses the

resources and expertise necessary to achieve long-term development, international

development cooperation has taken on a new significance in Africa in recent years (AREA

STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional Sustainable Development Review), 2022). Developing

countries, companies, individuals, countries, and states benefit from international

development cooperation because it helps them obtain the resources and knowledge required

to fix their challenges (Kwesi, 2022). As a vehicle for international development

 10

cooperation, international aid is being questioned because of its poor results in terms of

long-term effects, national sovereignty, and the transfer of practical technological

innovations.

International Development Cooperation is frequently defended based on the following

four reasons: The difficulty of developing nations, particularly in Africa, to create sufficient

domestic resources to support investment and imports essential for national growth during

their initial phases of development provides the financial reason for international

development cooperation. One-fifth of the worldwide people are still living in extreme

poverty, and international development cooperation is a solution to this. They are unable to

lead successful lives due to their living conditions, which include a lack of access to safe

drinking water, proper healthcare, and nutritious food. In many cases, they are illiterate or

numerically illiterate. As a result, countries, groups, and donors must work together to ensure

that these communities have the best possible chance of improving their lives. Aid to the

developing world benefits both the recipients and the countries that provide it. Economic

growth in emerging countries will open up new markets for products and services supplied in

industrialized nations. In addition, when the necessities of the inhabitants of the South are

met, there will be less of a desire for them to migrate to more developed nations. Maintaining

political stability in underdeveloped nations (supportive environment) may assist lessen the

appeal of their populace for migration from these nations to developed countries. Avoiding

population shifts in the north will relieve financial, cultural, and ecological pressures.

In addition, international development cooperation assists established countries in

several ways. A Belgian study on the economic rewards of aiding the developing world is a
 11

powerful illustration of aid's positive impact on international donors (Cohen, 2022) . The

return on investment for this type of development assistance is assessed at 88% (Kwesi,

2022).. To put it another way, 88 percent of the money invested by Belgium in developing

nations is used to pay Belgian workers, Belgian NGOs and institutions, and other Belgian

commodities. The return on international cooperation money is expected to be 94 percent

(Kwesi, 2022). . People are used to offering help with their left hand and then snatching it

away with their right. All boundaries are no longer meaningful in today's increasingly

globalized society (Kwesi, 2022). The issues are no longer simply split into domestic and

international ones. This tendency is being fueled by industrialization and environmental

concerns. Because of this, the need for international aid and cooperation is self-evident as the

global community continues to grow.

1.2. Role of Regional Development Organizations

In this dissertation, a general study will be done that will assess the different roles

played by various Regional Development Organizations and how they have impacted the

state of Africa' development cooperation ecosystem. In the African development context,

there is a structure that looks at continental level, regional level, and national level. At

international level, we have the organizations such as UKAID (United Kingdom Agency for

International Development), GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), UN

(United Nations), USAID (United States Agency for International Development), JICA

(Japan International Cooperation Agency), European Union/European Commission etc. at

continental level we have institutions such as African Development Bank (AfDB). There are

50 nations with the poorest Human Development Index (HDI) where assistance for the
 12

Global Development agenda is most critical, and UK Aid Direct helps society organizations

in those nations (Jones et al., 2022). British foreign assistance initiatives are spearheaded by

the government's Department for International Development. UK aid to Africa, focusing on

alleviating inequality, has performed a major role in assisting African countries in achieving

the Millennium Development Objectives since 1997. Many difficulties persist, but if

contributors like Japan can bring their welfare systems to Africa as successful as DFID (The

Department for International Development)'s, then – depending on the promises of African

states - better progress will be accomplished. For selecting Africa's key regional

infrastructure investments, GIZ guides the management and scientific assessment process,

which will increase access to transportation links, water & energy supplies, and internet

access throughout the continent. Moreover, GIZ is working on several important education

initiatives, including empowering the young and preventing crime and murder. Africa's

peaceful solution has been a priority for it since 1992.

New, dynamic economic marketplaces have emerged in many countries on our

adjacent continent due to economic changes and increased competition. Africa's growing

generation, expanding pool of qualified workers, rising purchasing power, expansion into

emerging businesses, and integration into global supply chains make the content interesting

to business owners. Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast are among the fastest-

growing economy in the region, with annual increases of 7 percent or more (Kwesi, 2022).

GIZ collaborates with associate countries to establish appealing commercial locations, such

as retail and industrial zones, for enterprises in various industries, such as automotive and

transportation, electronics, textiles, and food manufacturing (AREA STUDIES – AFRICA

 13

(Regional Sustainable Development Review), 2022). GIZ on the ground in Africa and with

regional stakeholders produces initiatives to alleviate concrete barriers to investment in

Africa.

GIZ assists African Entrepreneurs, and regional market leaders in establishing

business relationships with each other. The United Nations has significantly impacted Africa

over the previous two decades. Whenever a crisis has reached a point of increasing danger to

security and security, the United Nations has stepped in to help mediate a settlement and

oversee its execution, as it did in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Mali. As a result, the United

Nations collaborated with Member Countries and regional institutions, such as ECOWAS

(Economic Community of West African States and the African Union), to respond to Africa

and the Caribbean crisis (AREA STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional Sustainable Development

Review), 2022).

The United Nations aimed to help the host country more than just providing security

assistance by deploying a multifaceted peacekeeping force. Peacekeeping missions in Africa

by the United Nations have again served as a vehicle for fostering communication between

the various parties to the confrontation, aiding in the development of stronger global defense,

armed forces, and democratic systems while also aiding in the demilitarization and

reintegration of warring parties (Li, Guo and Wang, 2022). Over the past two decades, an

important trend in UN operations over the past two decades has been the "advancement" of

peacekeeping missions from an anticipation force to an organization responsible for funding

long-term security, including improving public institutions. On January 1, 2021, the African

Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will go into operation due to assistance from the
 14

United States government. In terms of development, unemployment reduction, and greater

financial participation in sub-Saharan Africa, the settlement offers a lot of potentials (Cohen,

2022). African sales will rise by $560 billion due to the pact, which is expected to lift the

living standards of roughly 68 million people who currently earn less than $5.50 per day

(Cohen, 2022). Lowering business and capital obstacles, attracting capital, diversifying trade,

and increasing the sale of high-value goods are all goals of the AfCFTA. Due to the almost

two decades of preferential trade benefits provided under the African Growth and

Opportunity Act (AGOA), USAID has played an important role in assisting the AfCFTA to

accomplish many of its goals through improving trade capability and mobilizing private

sector participation.

Japan's International Cooperation Agency (JICA) enables small businesses in Africa

that handle agricultural goods and handicrafts to expand their business independently. When

developing a system for supplying assistance and direction on numerous subjects, JICA seeks

to enhance a method for assisting in the discovery and consumption of local assets, the

improvement of product performance and quantity, sanitation of foodstuffs and their

packaging or design, as well as marketing or promotion of sales. In this way, appealing items

are made possible. AfDB's major role in Africa is to provide funds and equity resources to the

Risk management committee to boost its economic growth. A second service is a professional

help for initiatives and activities related to development. Third, it encourages development

expenditure from both government and commercial sources. In addition, the bank helps

RMCs develop their development strategies. As a part of the AfDB's mandate to foster

regional cooperation, the bank must also emphasize national and multinational initiatives.
 15

At regional level, there are Regional Economic Communities (RECs) such as

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern African

Development Community (SADC), Economic Community of West African States

(ECOWAS) among others. The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are regional

groupings of African states. 21 African Member States joined forces to form the Common

Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to promote regional cooperation(African

Union and regional Organizations — Austria, 2022). The goal was to encourage greater

regional cooperation through economic cooperation and physical and anthropogenic resource

growth. A broader, more unified, and more competitive marketplace is just a few advantages

that COMESA members and partners enjoy. Enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in the

workplace. Increasing agricultural output and ensuring a steady supply of food. As a result of

COMESA's establishment of a Free Trade Area in 2000, tariffs between the Member States

were reduced. There has been an average of 7% growth in the intra-COMESA market, with

the greatest increase seen in the Free Trade Area Nations (Kwesi, 2022). It is the primary goal

of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to promote financial

development, stability, safety, prosperity, poverty eradication, and improve the quality of life

for the inhabitants of Southern Africa. Higher sales volume, greater intra-regional commerce,

capital flows, and enhanced technology transfer are all projected economic advantages of

regional cooperation. In the past 25 years, SADC has made significant progress in several

sectors, including governance, democracy, stability, and safety; facilities and

communications; commerce, commerce, financing, capital; nutrition, agriculture, and

environmental assets; and human and social growth. Despite these accomplishments, Africa
 16

still has a long way to go before it can be considered an important player in international

affairs and the global marketplace.

The dissertation will also investigate whether changes have emerged in the role of

Regional Development Organizations after the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the

Covid-19 outbreak has progressed, the UKAID has stressed that no one is secure until

everybody is secure. Attempts to help manage the pandemic and minimize its effect on health

and culture in Africa have been aided by aid and diplomacy from the British government.

Management of disease, basic healthcare systems, and reproductive health have all received

funding from the United Kingdom. Since Gavi's inception in 2000, the United Kingdom has

been its main contributor. Gavi has helped low-income countries, notably Africa, build better

health systems and conduct vaccination campaigns. Several health care services have been

slashed or eliminated. These are said to involve support for research into ignored tropical

ailments and critical healthcare in Africa and other projects. According to NGOs, UK

assistance investment in healthcare is inadequate to assure the worldwide recovery from the

pandemic and the supply of healthcare services. GIZ helps developing nations struggle

against the coronavirus epidemic, notably in Africa and developing markets. Healthcare

systems and medical services are among the many areas in which GIZ has collaborated with

nations to help them prepare for an outbreak. BMZ and other commissioning partners can

take fast action to stop the coronavirus transmission thanks to its previous experience with the

quick and successful implementation of emergency measures. To combat the coronavirus

epidemic, GIZ is extending ongoing projects without the requirement for extra funding. The

term "health-oriented projects" refers to initiatives that were not focused on health but are
 17

now doing so shortly. When it comes to setting up testing facilities and alerting systems, GIZ

may be a huge help. Purchasing and manufacturing of safety equipment, such as masks,

gloves, safety clothes, and antiseptics, are also encouraged by this policy. It also serves as a

training ground for medical professionals in diagnosing and treating infections (Li, Guo and

Wang, 2022). Also crucial is to educate the public about the dangers of the virus and the best

ways to avoid infection. Government ministries in cooperating nations and GIZ work

together to develop and execute awareness campaigns.

Africa faces a COVID-19 assault that could result in large casualties and enormous

socioeconomic harm, and the United Nations is moving quickly to defend the continent from

this looming disaster. Power Africa's collaboration before, all through, and after the COVID-

19 pandemic is essential in helping our member nations answer the health emergency and

enhance economic rehabilitation (AREA STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional Sustainable

Development Review), 2022). 127.7 million individuals in sub-Saharan Africa now have

access to energy for the first time, thanks to the 5,500 megawatts (MW) of sustainable and

safe electricity production provided by Power Africa since 2013 (Cohen, 2022). As a result of

this new force, health facilities are being electrified, and national and sector-level rebuilding

methods are energetic (Jones et al., 2022). Most medical centers in sub-Saharan Africa lack

power, with only a third of health facilities and a quarter of public hospitals having reliable

access. For the COVID-19 pandemic, Power Africa shifted revenue to fund off-grid energy

production in sub-Saharan Africa and evaluate electricity loads for intensive care amenities,

healthcare facilities, and clinics.

 18

Covid-19's influence on global food security has prompted the COMESA COVID-19

Food Production Response Strategy to be approved by the region's farming, ecology, and

environmental resource governments. Ministers voiced worry over the impact of Covid-19 on

diet and nutrition in their 7th coordination session held via videoconference and urged

National Governments to promptly mobilize resources to sustain the execution of the local

food security strategy. As part of the Tripartite COVID-19 principles, the Ministers also

agreed to guarantee that food and farming input marketplaces and distribution networks and

accompanying transportation and services were open and operational at all times. Ending a

one-day conference, Ministers promised to support research work in developing, transferring

and disseminating climate-resilient inventions and production systems tailored to various

ecological situations and the priorities of the region's farmers and consumers.

1.3. The Objective of the Study

1.3.1 General objective

The study's general objective will be to investigate Africa's ecosystem for

international development cooperation (Aid) Post COVID-19 and the different roles played

by the other regional development organizations. The study will look at both the regional

economic communities as well as international development organizations and the

relationship with the Africa ecosystem for international development cooperation post

COVID-19.

1.3.2 Specific objectives

 To investigate the roles played by regional development organizations towards

maintaining Africa' development cooperation ecosystem.

 19

 To know the impact that has been caused by the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic

towards maintaining Africa' development cooperation ecosystem.

 To propose sustainability models that mix different forms of development cooperation

as well as domestic resource mobilization through industrialization, value-addition

and tapping on the service sector in Africa.

1.3. Research Questions

 What are the roles played by regional development organizations towards maintaining

Africa's development cooperation ecosystem?

 Which impacts have been caused by the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic

towards maintaining Africa's development cooperation ecosystem?

 What are the different roles of the various regional development organizations

towards maintaining Africa's development cooperation ecosystem?

 What new modalities can be considered by African countries for fiscus sustainability

and resilience post COVID-19?

1.4. Outline

Chapter one will discuss the Africa's development cooperation ecosystem. It will

further compare where the African development cooperation ecosystem was before and

where the African development cooperation ecosystem is after facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Additionally, the research will further compare how the International Development

Cooperation used to operate and how they have been operating after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The International Development Cooperation will be assessed on the level of funds they have

been granting to the Africans to ensure that there is consistently addressing its challenges.

The study's general objective will be to investigate Africa's ecosystem for international
 20

development cooperation (Aid) Post COVID-19 and the different roles played by the other

regional development organizations. The study will look at both the regional economic

communities as well as international development organizations and the relationship with the

Africa ecosystem for international development cooperation post COVID-19. Chapter two

will be Literature review which will discuss that the Africa's economic performance and

growth have been exceptionally strong over the last ten years, even in the midst of a recession

and global economic crisis. However, the economic growth experienced in African countries

has not been sufficiently inclusive. Chapter three will discuss the research design,

population, sample design, data collection technique, data analysis, and significance tests.

Research variables provide a broad view of the selected population. Chapter four will discuss

the results and Chapter five will provide a brief conclusion of the whole dissertation.
 21

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW
Attempts at international collaboration aimed at alleviating this scenario have taken

essential significance in recent years in Africa since no single country, whether it in Africa or

any other developing country, has enough resources and capabilities to allow for sustainable

development. The importance of international collaboration in helping people, businesses,

organizations, countries, and governments gain the resources and expertise they need to

tackle their own challenges has long been acknowledged. According to Jones et al. (2022), as

an instrument for international collaboration, foreign assistance is being called into question

due to its poor results in terms of long-term effects, local sovereignty, and the transfer of

relevant technology. International collaboration is generally based on the following four

reasons: Developing nations' failure to create sufficient domestic resources to fund

investment and imports essential for national growth during their initial phases of

development provides an economic reason for international. One-fifth of the world's

population is still living in severe poverty, and international cooperation is a reaction to this

cooperation (African Union and regional Organizations — Austria, 2022). They are unable to

conduct successful lives because they are impoverished and do not have access to clean

water, proper health care, or enough nourishment. In many cases, they are illiterate or

numerically illiterate. Because of this, nations, organizations, and donors should work

together to improve the quality of life for people in these areas. Aid to the developing world

benefits both the recipients and the nations who provide it. Economic growth in emerging

nations is clearly going to open up new markets for products and services supplied in

industrialized nations (Li, Guo and Wang, 2022). Migration pressures in the rich nations will
 22

be reduced if human security and basic necessities are met in developing countries. Another

way of saying this is that developing nations may assist lessen the desire of their citizens to

move to wealthy countries by providing a stable political and social environment. This will

assist to avoid the possible economic, cultural, and ecological challenges that such

demographic migrations in the North are expected to generate (Kwesi, 2022).

In addition, international collaboration has a variety of immediate advantages for

developed nations. Financial flows created by development assistance between 1994 and

1996 were studied in Belgium, and the findings offer clear evidence of the advantages donor

nations get from aiding the developing world. The return on investment for these types of

development assistance is assessed at 88% (Kwesi, 2022). Belgian aid does not only go to the

local community; 88% of it goes to pay Belgian employees, Belgian NGOs or institutions and

to buy Belgium-made items, etc. (AREA STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional Sustainable

Development Review), 2022). The return on international cooperation money is expected to

be 94 percent. This is a well-known phenomenon where people offer help with their left hand

and then take it away with their right hand. In order for Africa to attain long development,

this superficial kind of international collaboration will not suffice. "North," "South," and

"East" and "West" are no longer separate geographic regions in the increasingly globalizing

planet. As a result, concerns can no longer be categorized as either domestic or global. The

major drivers of this trend are challenges related to globalization and the climate. As a result,

in the fast-evolving global community, the need for international collaboration and

compassion is self-evident.

There are two basic types of international cooperation: bilateral and multilateral.
 23

Bilateral international collaboration is a kind of international cooperation between two

nations that agree to work together to achieve a set of mutual goals. Collaboration between

African countries and their colonial neighbors has long been a part of the continent's history

of colonialism. Each of the previous colonial rulers has formed international cooperation

bodies that are primarily focused on their former territories. Because of this mentality, there

are now three distinct groups in Africa: "Anglophiles," and "Francophones." When it comes

to Africa, most African nations turn to their old imperial rulers for counsel before making

choices. However, multilateral cooperation relates to international organizations' efforts to

promote peace and stability across the globe, particularly in emerging and transitional

economies. To conceptualize and implement international collaboration, many well-

established organizations and agencies are engaged.

Almost all the bilateral international development cooperation organizations have

developed policies emphasizing the elimination of poverty, the improvement of incomes and

social fairness, as well as the advancement of women's rights. There are many who advocate

for the protection of human rights in the nations where official support is provided while also

working to advance democracy, better governance, and the active engagement of the general

public in the political process (Kwesi, 2022). The United Nations has estimated that advanced

nations contribute 0.7 percent of their GDP to international cooperation efforts. Only a few

nations, like the Nordics and the Netherlands, are on track to meet or exceed this goal, and

that includes the majority of industrialized nations. African nations are worried that

development aid intended for their continent would be diverted to Central and Eastern Europe

now that the cold war is over.

 24

There are a variety of policy goals aimed at encouraging countries of various

development levels to engage in international cooperation initiatives. The following are some

of the most important policies: Every country's interests should be considered when

coordinating macroeconomic policy. This includes emerging nations and transition industries.

The development of growth and sustainable development requires an open and trustworthy

international trade system. Developing nations are increasingly dependent on scientific and

technical advancements. Therefore, the international community should assist the initiatives

of developing nations to build and enhance their own scientific and technological capabilities.

It is necessary to cater to the fundamental requirements of all individuals of society (such as

food, health care, training, and a place to live). Non-Governmental Organizations' aims and

activities need significant funds for developing nations, particularly the least established.

Human activity's impact on the environment is a major source of worry for governments

across the world. Improvements in human well-being and long-term growth should be the

ultimate goals of economic policymaking (Kwesi, 2022). As a result of the Rio de Janeiro

Summit in 1992, almost all nations now explicitly include environmental preservation and

sustainable growth in their international cooperation policies and goals. Regrettably, there

was no actual will to devote appropriate resources to enable the execution of these principles

and goals. this was a major failure in the plan. In order to improve their development

cooperation policies and objectives, both bilateral and multilateral agencies have been re-

evaluating them. For instance, in 1989, the World Bank resolved to change the way it

distributes assistance to Africa in light of the continent's dire economic situation.

Coronaviruses have become a global health crisis. A socioeconomic shock that affects
 25

nearly every society at once is not merely a global health danger. All nations, not only those

in the Global South, are being affected by the worldwide health crisis. As in the United States

and Western Europe, the condition in the Global South is a little more complicated(Banik,

2022). Africa's authorities have responded quickly and efficiently to the spread of the

epidemic, resulting in less direct health repercussions in Africa than in other areas.

Nevertheless, the indirect social, financial, cultural, and ecological consequences of the

worldwide implementation of national lockdown procedures have been felt by the region at

least as much. Breakdowns in Africa's supply chain might result in the loss of 60 million jobs,

and food poverty could kill more people than the COVID-19 pandemic combined (African

Union and regional Organizations — Austria, 2022). As a result of the epidemic, not only

have the enormous development accomplishments of the past decade been undermined but

existing worldwide inequities are expected to worsen.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, strong policy measures and

strong community stability have been essential for surviving and reducing its effects. An

economic stimulus plan offers a chance to change economies in a social and environmental

way. Government decisions in Africa and globally are having a tough time making evidence-

based and sensible measures as the pandemic's active and passive repercussions emerge. To

begin, society and authorities must deal with ambiguity. The COVID-19 pandemic's ultimate

costs are now impossible to determine due to the uncertain non-linear consequences of

cascading hazards. There is still a lack of understanding about the virus's origins and

propagation. Furthermore, authorities are constantly confronted with a conundrum during

outbreaks. Shutdowns and other restriction strategies can have a negative impact on human
 26

health and safety, as well as on the economy. Third, future governments and civilizations will

be forced to make do with less materials. An outbreak of a pandemic or other external shock

can intensify tensions already present within a corporation. As a result of the pandemic, both

short-term and long-term operational and administrative resources are expected to decrease

significantly.

Despite all of the unknowns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to

rethink growth tactics and policies. The present situation and its repercussions require

international development cooperation to respond. In the context of political decision-making

difficulties, this study proposes possible entryways for (post-)pandemic policy objectives. It

is necessary to consider the conduct and acts of socioeconomic and cultural organizations.

Their role is critical in mitigating the pandemic's acute impacts, dealing with its long-term

harmful implications, and striving toward structural reform (Kwesi, 2022). For international

development, understanding the diverse political and social reactions to the epidemic is

critical. Policy for post-pandemic prosperity must encourage structural change. The

pandemic's short- and long-term repercussions are determined by permanent route

dependencies established by social, financial, and political systems, as well as the Ecological

complexes (Jones et al., 2022). Countries that rely on fossil energy exports, for instance, are

more vulnerable to global trade restrictions and falling commodities prices than nations with

more diverse economies. During the epidemic, path constraints are likely to worsen. During

the epidemic, institutional weaknesses and strengths also influence political actions and

human psychology. Clearly harmful trends must be reversed. The pandemic hastens

tendencies that were already underway prior to its onset. Growing socioeconomic inequality,
 27

for example, is likely to exacerbate poverty. In this context, Africa's development cooperation

must confront fundamental determinants that affect long-term patterns and provide chances

for African countries to construct sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic structures.

In general, the pandemic's direct consequences in Africa have been minimal.

Nevertheless, in many African nations, weak healthcare systems compound the direct

impacts. Highly affected conflict-affected nations have restricted access to basic health

facilities and are ill-prepared to respond directly to epidemics. If a community lacks medical

personnel, technology, or financing, a mild COVID-19 disease profile can lead to an increase

in mortality. Only 41% of African populations, for example, have access to basic healthcare;

most have less than 10 doctors per 100,000 individuals and one medical bed per thousand

population. In addition, conflict-affected nations were less equipped to contain and respond to

a pandemic quickly (African Union and regional Organizations — Austria, 2022). There were

no public healthcare crisis structures or monitoring systems in place in any of these nations to

ensure a prompt response to a global health crisis.

Almost all African nations have seen economic losses of varying magnitudes as a

result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the immediate effects on GDP growth for

African financial systems may be less extreme than for OECD or Latin American and

Caribbean financial systems, sluggish domestic and external roles, large existing account

deficiencies, low concentrations of diversification, high impairment to climate events and

other natural catastrophes, and difficulties in accessing distribution networks may all delay

African economic healing in the near future(Banik, 2022). However, some beneficial lessons

may be gleaned, including the fact that the general economic condition of African nations has
 28

proven to be durable, and that competent macroeconomic administration has allowed several

countries to contain debt levels. The COVID-19 outbreak is projected to have a significant

influence on raising revenue, with pre-pandemic tendencies expected to persist (Jones et al.,

2022). Due to Africa's large informal employment industry, revenue collections via social

donations, which is a major source of income in other regions of the globe, is exceedingly

low. Low tax revenues are particularly common in countries that rely on petroleum exports

and tourism. For example, Ghana's revenue growth in the first half of 2020 was 26% under

plan, with oil revenue 55.4 % lower than expected.

The current ecosystem of Africa poses many challenges for International

Development Corporation and other Regional Organizations. The COVID-19 pandemic is

putting Africa's resiliency to the test. It is possible that a collapse in commodities prices and

interruptions in regional and international value chains induced by the epidemic might

reverse the recent economic success that the continent has made (Li, Guo and Wang, 2022).

In spite of the gloomy predictions, African countries have responded to the pandemic in a

determined manner. Many African countries were enjoying financial growth prior to the

outbreak of the epidemic. In 2018, the country's subregions grew at a 3.2% annual rate. A

number of nations had achieved significant progress in decreasing poverty and increasing the

quality of their healthcare and governance systems over the past decade. Over US$3.4 trillion

in the Gross domestic product is estimated to be generated by intra-African commerce under

the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is scheduled to come into effect

on July 1, 2020. A delay in getting things started is due to this epidemic, which has already

forced the May 2020 summit between African Union (AU) heads of state to be cancelled. In
 29

its latest proposal, the AU Commission proposes that commerce under the AfCFTA begin on

January 1, 2021.

An incidence of COVID-19 was first documented in Egypt around the middle of

February 2020. Due to their comparatively infrequent flights to Europe and China, the states

were spared the worst of the viral pandemic in the early phases. However, since then, the

number of instances has continuously risen. The United Nations Economic Commission for

Africa (UNECA) estimates that between 300,000 and 3.3 million Africans could die as a

direct consequence of COVID-19 in April 2020, according to the report. The virus primarily

invaded the region's capitals via foreign flights that originated in Europe. As a result,

infectious illness outbreaks in Africa are more likely to occur. Over half of Africa's urban

population lives in slums that are overcrowded and underserved, with few if any residents

having access to even the most basic necessities like running water and soap. There is only

adequate equipment for handwashing available to 34% of the region's inhabitants HIV/AIDS,

TB, malaria and cholera are prevalent in the region. Nearly 40% of children under the age of

five are malnourished. One in three kids under the age of five is underdeveloped or

abnormally short for his or her age in places like Liberia. The main issue facing African

countries is the fragility and strain of their public medical systems. Pharmaceuticals are a

major source of imports for African countries. In fact, pharmaceuticals account for 94% of

the region's overall supply.

There are fewer doctors and operating rooms in Africa relative to other regions. There

are also far fewer nurses and midwives in Africa than in other regions. The continent's ability

to combat a pandemic is threatened by the absence of such a crucial healthcare system. There
 30

are several countries in Africa that have greater healthcare facilities than the rest of the

region, including Egypt, South Africa, and Cameroon. There are several obstacles in Africa

that prevent it from experiencing high death rates as those in the rest of the globe. The

authorities of African nations had time to implement public safety precautions because of the

limited number of flight links to the rest of the globe (Jones et al., 2022) Thermal scanning

and traveler observation at entrance points such as airports, crossings, and train stations were

mainly successful. Many African nations have dealt with viral illness epidemics in the past,

such as Ebola, tuberculosis, cholera, and malaria, so they know how to cope with such

situations. Innovative ways for identifying, isolating, diagnosing, and treating patients with

COVID-19 were developed through this. Accordingly, several African countries were able to

successfully implement COVID-19 preparedness strategies and interact with people in high-

risk border regions, congested cities, and unplanned encampments (Jones et al., 2022).

Governments in West Africa, for instance, were prepared to use the lessons learned during the

Ebola outbreak of 2014–16.

In order to better detect and treat disease, countries must deregulate its reaction and

make it more accessible at the local level. Individual monitoring and exposure to patterns of

sickness must be the starting point for the workaround, which must then be gradually

extended to the community. The ability of African countries to cooperate with community

groups to distribute knowledge about infectious disorders has improved (African Union and

regional Organizations — Austria, 2022). In the wake of the Ebola outbreak, the significance

of reaching out and interacting with others was brought into sharp focus. Information

dissemination is essential, but so is listening to the opinions of the people on the ground and
 31

incorporating their suggestions into response plans. The government and the public must

work together to correct inaccurate and fabricated information. Taking into consideration the

sociocultural aspects of outbreaks is essential to a successful response. Improving existing

laboratory-testing capabilities in Africa has been a boon for the continent (Kwesi, 2022). The

UN's Global Organization for Migration (IOM), a specialized agency, collaborated with them

to perform screenings at all entry points. Governments across the globe shared their testing

capabilities, expertise and scientific expertise in a quick exchange. There have also been

clinical trials conducted by the Africa CDC in partnership with WHO to investigate

conventional medical practices, but further clinical testing to assess their safety and

effectiveness is still pending (Banik, 2022). During the Ebola outbreak, it became clear that

infectious diseases can spread far more quickly than the resources that are available to react

to them. Because of this, establishing mechanisms for fast-reaction funding is critical in order

to provide money promptly to launch an outbreak reaction. While most African nations were

able to contain the virus's early spread, now that it has entered the phase of community

spread, the disease is spreading faster across the globe. Despite the fact that remote medical

systems are vulnerable and under-equipped to cope with complex cases, this presents a severe

issue.

In many African nations, the production of oil is the primary source of income.

Equatorial Guinea and Ghana are two other oil-producing nations that need mention.

Africa exported 9.6 percent of the globe's oil in 2019, amounting to about 7.9 million barrels

each day. With that said, oil prices dropped by half during the first quarter of 2020. There are

significant fiscal and foreign rate repercussions for many fuel-oriented African nations as a
 32

result. In the wake of COVID-19, the UNECA predicts a loss of fuel income for Africa of

US$65 billion. Depending on the country, oil can contribute up to 70–75 percent of public

profit and up to 90 % of export earnings. Reduced money from oil shipments and goods has

had a severe multiplier impact, limiting African governments' capacity to produce the

necessary funds to deal with the pandemic. Several African nations export raw resources,

followed by transitional commodities, and then import consumer and capital products. There

are a number of other commodities that these countries export that is valuable in their own

right. According to the World Bank, 89 % of the nations in the region are commodity-

dependent compared to two-thirds of MENA nations, 50 percent of Latin

American/Caribbean and half of the East Asian/Pacific nations (Banik, 2022). A quarter of

states in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are regarded as commodity-dependent, while

North America has no commodity-dependent nations. Due to COVID-19's unstable

consequences, the decline in commodity and oil prices has unfairly damaged the African

economy.

Covid-19 should be considered a game-changer in international relations and

development cooperation, according to initial discussions. According to what , the Covid-19

pandemic may actually accelerate several already-current trends. In spite of the Covid-19

crisis, the international development cooperation landscape is still described as being highly

competitive. While the need for more and greater international collaboration is growing, the

international industry's desire to engage collaboratively is declining, according to some

analysts. South-South collaboration may serve as key illustrations of how international

cooperation is deteriorating due to the growing influence of rising countries, as well as the
 33

impact these powers have on development cooperation standards and norms (Banik, 2022).

This suggests that COVID-19 is a super-acceleration of tendencies that were already in place

before the outbreak occurred. To address the current worldwide health crisis and all other

sorts of global and regional difficulties, international cooperation is essential (for instance,

multilateral remedies). A "weakest link" strategy is urgently needed by public health

stakeholders. Multilateral approaches, on the other hand, are a natural fit. Because of this, in a

global situation where many governments are actively competing to maximize their own

benefits, the construction of win-win strategies through international techniques becomes far

more challenging. The current epidemic and the underlying condition deficiencies of the

global health crisis are likely to be addressed by a multilateral strategy, as most IR textbooks

advise. Realistically, we could see a rise in "forum shopping" and other forms of government

preferring bilateral cooperation, as well as greater club governance. Internationalism is not

excluded by any of these strategies. The problem is that many of these extensive forms of

collective action may require small parties of "like-minded" nations in order to succeed.

Africa's economic performance and growth have been exceptionally strong over the

last ten years, even in a recession and global financial crisis. However, the economic growth

experienced in African countries has not been sufficiently inclusive. Infrastructure

connectedness, limited integration, and low intra-African trade are additional obstacles to

boosting the competitiveness of Africa in the global arena. Different economic organizations

in Africa have attempted to promote economic integration and growth. They include

COMES, ECOWAS, AMU, and EAC. Intra-COMESA commerce grew from US$ 1.5 billion

to 10.3 billion dollars between 2000 and 2018, a dramatic increase in trade between the
 34

countries of the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA) (Zougmoré, Läderach and Campbell,

2021). They are now in jeopardy if the Member States don't band together and react to the

Covid-19 outbreak jointly. Covid-19 instances have been documented in all 21 COMESA

member states, with the bulk rising. They signify a rise in transmissions between

communities, which are directly tied to cross-border freight crews' travel patterns.

COMESA's average level of regional integration is low. Its best performer receives a

modest grade. COMESA's strongest success is in trade integration, and productive integration

is where it might improve the most. With one exception, no COMESA member obtains more

than a relatively high score on infrastructure integration, macroeconomics, production, or

trade. Zambia is an outlier, with the best share of exports and trade in the region and a near-

perfect score on trade integration. Zambia also performs admirably in terms of productive

integration. Comoros, Djibouti, and Somalia are among COMESA's top performers, each

receiving a perfect score on the free movement of individuals component. This score elevates

their overall standing to above average (Zougmoré, Läderach and Campbell, 2021). However,

the greatest score among these three is below the mid-point on the other dimensions of

regional integration. Djibouti has achieved this in trade. Two kinds of methods have been

implemented by governments worldwide: The first step is to prevent the virus from spreading

(Kwesi, 2022). People are restricted in their movements at the borders, companies are closed,

compulsory screening of truck drivers, merchants, and all people entering and exiting the

country is required, and a mandatory 14-day quarantine is in place. Second, there are

procedures in place to mitigate the social and economic consequences of the epidemic. Tariffs

and duties have been eliminated or decreased in some Member States in the struggle against
 35

Covid-19 for medications and medical supplies. Some of these have stopped or lowered

duties, and levies on imports of foodstuffs like crocodile skin, crocodile hide, and crocodile

hide concentrate(African Union and regional Organizations — Austria, 2022). Medical

supplies, masks, ventilation systems, and hand sanitizers have been subject to export

restrictions and licensing requirements. Exports of beans, peas, corn, and sorghum have been

restricted in Egypt and Sudan. There may be a rise in the cost of pharmaceuticals and food

products in the area due to the export controls. In addition to embracing electronic

transactions, Member Countries have implemented a variety of steps to speed the transit of

critical products and services across borders. When dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic,

however, COMESA has established norms for the transportation of products and services.

Industrial enterprises in COMESA are repurposing their manufacturing lines to make Covid-

19 critical products to overcome supply problems and sustain output and income.

COMESA adheres to global ideals such as Agenda 2063, Peace and Stability, the

International Development Corporation, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to

achieve its goal and objectives. Four principles of the African Peace and Stability

Infrastructure are being implemented by the African Development Corporation and

COMESA, one of the Regional Financial Organizations. The COMESA Plan on

Administration, Safety and Stability aims to enhance peace and safety and improve

democratic administration through efficient global and sub-national institutions. For the

Common Market to succeed, stability and security in the region must be a requirement. This

is a position shared by all member countries. Peace and security are to be fostered and

maintained by member states through collaboration and talks on conflict prevention, better
 36

conflict management and conflict resolution (Li, Guo and Wang, 2022) .

As part of the African Development Corporation, COMESA is involved in various

development concerns. Among these include eradicating absolute poverty, combatting global

warming, and safeguarding the world's oceans, continents, and forests (Zougmoré, Läderach

and Campbell, 2021). The ambition of COMESA and the necessity of establishing an African

Economic Community have acquired fresh relevance in light of the recently adopted

worldwide 2030 International Development Plan and its Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs). To achieve the SDGs, the SDG strategy places a high priority on international

commerce and finance. This confirms the importance of business, financing, and regulations

that promote sustainable development, viable demand and supply, and long-term economic

expansion while assisting countries improve or transform to food and energy protection,

climate resilience, preservation of natural resources and poverty alleviation.

Since the rebirth of the East African Community (EAC) in 1996, GIZ has assisted

East Africa's regional cooperation efforts. Wealth, competitiveness, safety, stability, and

political union are the primary goals of the EAC. Partnership nations are attempting to forge

financial, political, and cultural cooperation that is more inclusive than ever before. Security,

competitiveness, added value, commerce, and investment all enhance the standard of living

for everyone.

EAC has a good level of integration. It excels in the dimension of the free movement

of individuals. However, macroeconomic integration is not far behind. No member affiliated

with EAC has a bilateral investment treaty in place. However, Rwanda's currency, which is

the EAC's best performance in this area, is easily convertible, and countries in East Africa,
 37

such as Tanzania, have the best inflation difference in the community. In terms of

productivity, EAC countries are the worst performers (Kwesi, 2022). The low placements of

Burundi and South Sudan best explain this average, which contradicts Kenya and Uganda's

good performances. Even though the regional economic community's score in trade

integration is not particularly high, it is worth noting that tariffs between its members have

been eliminated. EAC's poor performance in commerce is mostly due to this.

ECOWAS has a reasonably high score on regional integration. Still, its low score on

the productive dimension shows that significant gains may be made if expenditures were

directed toward complementary productive capacities. The finest performance of ECOWAS

countries can be seen in the free movement of persons component, which demonstrates both a

goal and its realization (Akanji, 2019). The vision is ECOWAS' goal of building a borderless

region, and open visa policies among ECOWAS countries realize the vision. Only three

countries, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Togo have signed the Kigali Protocol on the free

movement of individuals. The near-total lack of constructive integration by seven of

ECOWAS' 15 members drags down the average (Ogbuabor et al., 2020). The group's

strongest member (Mali) achieves barely a tenth of its potential, while the weakest member

(Niger) achieves nothing. The performance of ECOWAS' most integrated countries is

insufficient to compensate: the top performer, Côte d'Ivoire, receives a good 0.718, while

Nigeria, the second-best performer, only receives a score around the mid-point, and Senegal,

the third-best performer, receives a good score. COMESA adheres to global ideals such as

Agenda 2063, Peace and Stability, the International Development Corporation, and the

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve its goal and objectives. Four principles of
 38

the African Peace and Stability Infrastructure are being implemented by the African

Development Corporation and COMESA, one of the Regional Financial Organizations. The

COMESA Plan on Administration, Safety and Stability aims to enhance peace and safety and

improve democratic administration through efficient global and sub-national institutions. For

the Common Market to succeed, stability and security in the region must be a requirement.

This is a position shared by all member countries (Akanji, 2019). Peace and security are to be

fostered and maintained by member states through collaboration and talks on conflict

prevention, better conflict management and conflict resolution.

As part of the African Development Corporation, COMESA is involved in various

development concerns. Among these include eradicating absolute poverty, combatting global

warming, and safeguarding the world's oceans, continents, and forests. The ambition of

COMESA and the necessity of establishing an African Economic Community have acquired

fresh relevance in light of the recently adopted worldwide International Development Plan

(Ogbuabor et al., 2020). To achieve the SDGs, the SDG strategy places a high priority on

international commerce and finance. This confirms the importance of commerce, financing,

and regulations that promote sustainable development, viable demand and supply, and long-

term economic expansion. At the same time, assisting countries improve or transformation to

nutrition and energy protection, climate resilience, preservation of natural resources and

poverty alleviation.

EAC has a good level of integration. It excels in the dimension of the free movement

of individuals. However, macroeconomic integration is not far behind. No member affiliated

with EAC has a bilateral investment treaty in place (Jones et al., 2022). Seven Partner States
 39

comprise the East African Community (EAC), a regional international organization . Urban

populations make up more than two-thirds of the population in the Eastern and Central

African countries (Promotion of peace and security in the East African Community (EAC),

2022). According to the EAC Statistics for 2019, its realization has tremendous tactical and

geopolitical importance as well as promising possibilities for the revitalized and revived

EAC, with a unified land size of 4.8 million square kilometers. Amidst the globe's fastest

international commercial blocs, the EAC is expanding and enhancing cooperation among its

Partner States. Political, economic, and societal factors all have a role.

As part of the initial ECOWAS agenda, a strategy for resolving interstate issues was

included. Even Nevertheless, the wars that erupted throughout the area in the 1990s took the

region and the Economic Community of West African States by surprise. Economic

cooperation and trade were no longer the primary goals of ECOWAS as it was forced to deal

with regional problems. Even though the ECOWAS troops were sent on the spur of the

moment, the experience taught the organization valuable lessons about dispute resolution,

management, and monitoring. This was used in the second Liberia crisis, and it appeared to

be more successful, competent, and structured than prior approaches. ECOWAS, on the other

hand, remains poor in the conflict cycle's preventive phase and its post-war capabilities in the

region are still limited by inadequate capability. As a result, the UN Peacebuilding

Commission's aid was warmly received by ECOWAS. Peace and stability; infrastructural

facilities; policy convergence; and strong corporate management are the four pillars of today's

modern ECOWAS (Banik, 2022). The West Africa Customs Union taking effect on January 1,

2008, is one of the organization's current highlights. Creates employment by integrating

 40

regional commerce while increasing exports of processed items from the area. Member states

are encouraged to recognize that sticking to the supra-national scale will have a positive

impact on their own economies (The Role of ECOWAS in Achieving the Economic

Integration of West .., 2022). For ECOWAS, the major aim of financial cooperation is to

increase living conditions and foster economic growth among member nations. ECOWAS has

also attempted to solve some of the region's safety concerns by creating a peacekeeping

mission. Free enterprise was created in ECOWAS in 1990 and a single external tariff was

imposed in January of this year.

The United States Business and Investment Framework Agreement Council met for

the second time in September 2016. ECOWAS-U.S. trade and investment collaboration was

explored in new areas, including a review of present actions in support of shared goals, and

ECOWAS-U.S. business and investment collaboration were expanded. ECOWAS members

and the United States exchanged commodities worth $14.1 billion in 2017. Moreover $9.3

billion in products were imported into the United States. There was a 4.5 billion dollar goods

trade imbalance between the United States and ECOWAS members in 2017.

KfW has been working with the Economic Community of West African States

(ECOWAS) to obtain laboratory technology since the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The

German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is raising the

existing epidemic control initiative with ECOWAS by EUR 5.72 million to a maximum of

EUR 22.72 million in order to limit COVID 19 (Kwesi, 2022). This will enhance the ability

of laboratories to conduct ecological investigations. The signed contract dates back to January

1st, 2019. Many of the countries in West Africa's area are of the world's weakest, making it an
 41

ideal candidate for assistance in the battle against COVID 19. Since 2016, KfW has worked

on account of the German federal government to assist the West African Health Organization

(WAHO), the ECOWAS-wide health organization. Funds from the BMZ's Corona Crisis

Program have now been used to purchase COVID 19 fast testing and other supplies for the

ECOWAS nations, which will help to stop the virus's spread. In addition, the region's medical

services and labs are being improved so that solid medical results on pandemics like Corona

may be made from the start (Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) -

USTR, 2022).

Tracking the coronavirus is the first step in battling it. This will be made simpler in

the future in this area, Julien Morel, a financial planner for KfW, stresses this point. In the

ECOWAS area, the extra money KfW was able to grant would enable improved lab

equipment and further training for lab employees. For the time being, assistance will go to

labs. Equipment and materials will be given to them (Li, Guo and Wang, 2022) . In particular,

the local epidemic control network's computer technologies and information management

will be strengthened, and lab equipment repair and repair will be addressed as well.

Annotating documentation will be made easier for laboratory personnel with training and

assistance. As a consequence, the labs trained in this manner are intended to become regional

reference stations from which other labs may seek guidance and help. So far, quality control

in West African labs has been lacking. Safety standards and recommendations are not always

properly applied. Many nations in the area lack the ability to analyze certain laboratory

samples in a timely manner. To catch developing diseases early, governments in the

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have not exchanged enough
 42

information. This will now be updated.

ECOWAS has a reasonably high score on regional integration. Still, its low score on

the productive dimension shows that significant gains may be made if expenditures were

directed toward complementary productive capacities. The finest performance of ECOWAS

countries can be seen in the free movement of persons component, which demonstrates both a

goal and its realization (Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - USTR,

2022). The vision is ECOWAS' goal of building a borderless region, and open visa policies

among ECOWAS countries realize the vision. Only three countries, Burkina Faso, Mali, and

Togo have signed the Kigali Protocol on the free movement of individuals. The near-total

lack of constructive integration by seven of ECOWAS' 15 members drags down the average.

The group's strongest member (Mali) achieves barely a tenth of its potential, while the

weakest member (Niger) achieves nothing. The performance of ECOWAS' most integrated

countries is insufficient to compensate: the top performer, Côte d'Ivoire, receives a good

0.718, while Nigeria, the second-best performer, only receives a score around the mid-point,

and Senegal, the third-best performer, receives a good score. COVID 19 has been uncommon

in West Africa thus far. In the 15 nations of the Economic Community of West African States

(ECOWAS), there have been around 350,000 confirmed cases and 4,300 fatalities since the

outbreak. There are a number of theories as to why the disease is so rare (Banik, 2022). There

is some evidence that a basic immunization is taking place in West Africa, where the median

age of the population is significantly younger than in Europe. Additionally, the poor mobility

of COVID 19 may be a contributing factor to its limited distribution (Economic Community

of West African States (ECOWAS) - USTR, 2022). Only a small amount of testing has been
 43

done, which means that there are likely to be many unknown instances. Some governments in

the area were able to respond more quickly and effectively to the Ebola pandemic than their

neighbors. Within a year of an epidemic being discovered in Nigeria, which has a per capita

GDP in excess of $3200 and is one of the region's wealthiest countries, the disease had been

totally contained. When it comes to the battle against COVID 19, the situation in each

country varies greatly. As a result, the KfW-WAHO initiative is designed to assist enhance

health care in all 15 ECOWAS member nations.

The COVID-19 epidemic, changing climate, and other pressing issues in Africa's

economics and communities underscore the need for better resiliency and long-term

development. Investment and skills are needed in order to simultaneously alleviate current

risks and promote inclusive and resilient development. As part of Africa's efforts to achieve

the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the international development corporation

industry is working to bring about meaningful change. International development

organizations have recently shifted their focus from conventional international assistance to

assisting deep structural transitions, prioritizing funding for the COVID-19 health emergency

and climate science, and utilizing funding and global cooperation to help alleviate the

COVID-19 health crisis. As a result of this transition, focused treatments have had a greater

effect.

One organization can't tackle Africa's development difficulties alone, and global

collaboration has to embrace contextual factors in order to help establish vibrant and resilient

communities. Some of Africa's most pressing development concerns will benefit from

International Development Corporation sponsorship. Even if some nations have successfully

 44

entered the global credit market, others are still struggling to pay off their debts. Promoting

shared economy and nutritional production will need government assistance in moving away

from carbon-intensive businesses and resources and creating inclusive and fair employment

possibilities, such as in agriculture. Advising authorities on how to create business-friendly

climates and promoting trade and investment are also essential. Africa's focus on health will

not waver. The pandemic's social and economic effect is being exacerbated by difficulties in

administering COVID-19 vaccines and inequalities in healthcare access. The distribution of

healthcare solutions throughout the continent necessitates technological advancements that

defy established methods of delivery.

As a result of climate change, the development industry must help local actors prepare

for the effects of climate change, assuring their ability to withstand unpredictable occurrences

and decrease the chance of biodiversity degradation and food and water shortages. When it

comes to conversations regarding COP26 and how Africa's concerns should drive and steer

the dialogue, this is especially relevant. African cities' infrastructure demands may be met by

improving the Public-Private model and putting spatial change at the core of the policy

platform. Access to power and digital connectivity is critical for Africa's progress in the

fourth industrial revolution (Kwesi, 2022). There are both opportunities and problems to be

found in modernizing a region where just 58% of people have access to power and 22% have

Internet. Improving and expanding access to basic services and high learning has the ability

to provide young people, especially girls, the tools they need to build a brighter future for

themselves. It is in line with IDC's social mission and new network plan to change things in

these high-priority areas.

 45

The current literature provides an overview of the roles of different regional

organizations in Africa and how they contribute to the development of Africa. However, there

is a gap in pointing out the roles of these regional organizations before and after the Covid-19

pandemic. Also, further research is needed about the part of these regional organizations in

helping the International Development Corporation after the Covid-19. Therefore, this paper

aims to fill this gap in the literature with the specific aim of investigating Africa's ecosystem

for international development cooperation (Aid) Post COVID-19 and the different roles

played by the other regional development organizations.

 46

CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY
We identified 15 regional development organizations in Africa and performed

research using keywords from those organizations. For our purposes, a regional organization

is one whose membership consists of at least three nations from one of the five geographical

regions or more than one area. Regional organizations that are made up of member nations

rather than networks, groups, or consortia are referred to as "regional organizations." Major

policy partners for public healthcare research systems may engage directly with government

officials. Still, those who connect with academics, research institutes or laboratories,

clinicians, and nongovernmental organizations are more prone to have ties with the latter. At

least one of the significant pillars shown in the planning process was intended to be

identified.

As a starting point, we compiled a list of all of the AU's regional financial

communities and national research institutions' major regional partners. Additionally, we

reached out to experts on the continent to see if they knew of any other organizations that

should be included in our list. To find development activities or declared effect in any four

pillars, we searched all organizations' websites and their administrative, organizational, and

policy papers. Other regional organizations were discovered by consulting the documents

kept by various organizations. The procedure was repeated until no new organizations had

been discovered and documents from previously unknown organizations were searched. As

long as the regional organizations matched our comprehensive description of an African

regional organization, had activities relevant to at least one of the central pillars and were not

heavily controlled by individuals outside of the African mainland, they were considered in
 47

our study. The final stakeholder map includes 22 of the most critical regional groups.

According to our criteria, the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) was the only organization

that did not match the qualifying condition for inclusion. International Development

Corporation's aim to establish a regional scientific financing platform necessitated its

inclusion as the sole non-member state-based regional organization in the research. In light of

the widespread agreement across partners and specialist groups on AAS's privileged situation

in accelerating and funding greatness in African science, this choice is appropriate. As part of

their research, we gathered the following information from the websites of regional

organizations: relevant sub-organizations, headquarters placement, the official requirements

for greater integration, regional sub-region of the organization's mandate, national

governments, and a summary of the organization's part in facilitating. Economic, political,

and technological cooperation groups, as summarized in Table 1, were then grouped.

Table No 1: Types of Regional Organizations

Data from the planning process was then assessed by searching for evidence of

engagement or proclaimed aims or intentions of participating in International Development

based on data and information from web pages. It was decided to classify organizations

depending on whether or not they had shown or stated interest in international development.

We prioritized organizations for discussions if they had established or declared interest in

 48

light of our mapping findings. The initial assessment from groups of researchers and other

interested parties with the understanding of regional organizations was also taken into

consideration, as evidenced or declared interest may not always be available on the internet,

e.g., internet sites that are not updated, and some required documentation may only be

accessible in physical copy. Additionally, our selection of critical organizations assured the

presence of Francophone entities, regional representation, and a variety of organization kinds.

The 19 regional organizations were studied. Sub-organizations of the East African

Community are included to interview them to learn more about their activities, influence, and

possibilities for international development in their respective nations. In all, we spoke to 39

different people for our study. We worked with essential connections in these organizations

during the interview process to identify the most significant sources. Even though there was

only one informant who decreased participation because their organization did not do

anything in international development, one informant was incapable of discovering any

accessibility in their timetable for a survey despite espoused interest and numerous attempts

to satisfy their program, and several (n = 7) didn't respond to any email or phone line

interaction, such as situations when they were suggested by inner coworkers. Eighteen

interviews (13 in English) were performed between January and April 2022 with informants

from 15 regional organizations. Executive and managerial roles accounted for half of the

respondents. A series of structured interviews were conducted to gather information on the

parts, problems, and possibilities of these organizations in developing throughout the

continent, both within and across nations. For the comparative study that followed, we looked

at how various regional organizations function in different areas, where there were gaps, and
 49

what the recurring themes were for obstacles and enablers for regional organizations

supporting the International Development Organization in Africa.

Table No 2: Description of Regional Organisations

When asked, most organizations said they were involved in governance and research

development and use before and after Covid. We noticed a correlation between engagement

and the kind of organization's competence. For the most part, the organizations that claimed

to be engaged in all sectors were those that had competence in health care or higher

education. There was a lack of activity in this region after Covid-19 in our trial. There are 15

organizations listed in Table 2. Details about every organization are provided. Though it

doesn't account for the amount of activity, this offers a general picture of how diverse

organizations' activities fit within a framework for enhancing basic tasks in health research

systems. A significant difference was also identified when comparing regional organizations'

stated activities to those where they believed they had had an effect when examining each
 50

area on an absolute level within our sample.

CHAPTER 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The term "governance" includes the policies, laws, and institutions that guide and

control international development, as well as the concept of ethical leadership. (AREA

STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional Sustainable Development Review), 2022) They all said they

had some involvement in the governance of the International Development Corporation for

Africa, according to our interviews. After Covid-1, the regional offices of the CDC in Africa

and the WHO in the Middle East and North Africa seemed to have the largest influence on

progress. Agenda configuration and strategy development, guidelines for national health

study governance, policy harmonization within geographic communities, and geographic

cooperation of national health research were all found to be actions carried out by the

regional organizations involved in the International Development Corporation governance.

International Development Corporation-related policies, laws, objectives, guidelines, and

norms seem to be the emphasis of these efforts. When it comes to health and higher education

following Covid-19, actions undertaken by organizations with professional skills seem to

have had a positive influence on informants' perceptions of their organizations' effect within

subdomains. National governments' attempts to harmonize their national regulations in four

policy areas, including pharmaceuticals, population health, higher education, and intellectual

property (IP), seem to be the primary vehicle through which regional organizations

participate in IDC governance at the national level. Regional organizations are focusing their

harmonization activities on improving the examination, authorization, and usage of high-

 51

quality and inexpensive medications, according to the interviews we conducted. In November

2021, the African Pharmaceuticals Agency was officially established by the AU as the

regulatory authority for pharmaceuticals and healthcare goods in Africa. Many organizations

worked together to achieve this goal (Li, Guo and Wang, 2022). Many people had great hopes

for this regional body, which was inspired by NEPAD's African Medicines Regulatory

Harmonization effort, which was carried out by regional economic communities with

assistance from WHO. Covid-19 has prompted several organizations to announce plans to

coordinate their respective nations' public health regulations and medical practices. Regional

higher education organizations (such as CAMES and IUCEA) have also acknowledged

concentrating their engagement in IDC administration on harmonizing norms and regulations

for academic professional development in institutions, as well as assessment criteria for

educational quality. When East African leaders of state signed a declaration in 2017

establishing a common higher education institution for the area, they hoped to assist the

unification of higher education systems and practices throughout the region. It is via the

African Regional Intellectual Property Organization that member governments in various

subgroups of the continent are working to standardize their intellectual property laws and

rights.

On the other hand, we came across a collection of intergovernmental groups that are

working to establish a strategy for bolstering IDC's continental reach. International

Development Corporation guidelines and initiatives for health research have been created by

institutions such as the WHO Africa Regional Office (AFRO) and the Africa Center for

Disease Control (Africa CDC). Besides this, WHO AFRO has an institutional framework for
 52

providing advice to the Regional Director-General on how to oversee the application of

regional health research strategy and assist nations in improving their national health research

systems. As part of the International Development Corporation administration, regional

organizations are responsible for coordinating national health studies. The AU has selected

Africa CDC as the official authority to organize health research and combine research and

analytic techniques throughout the continent, making it a distinct technical entity among

those examined. Because the headquarters functions through its five regional collaborating

facilities, which have connections with their respective regional economic populations and

with member countries through their national public health establishments, the Africa CDC's

strategy for cooperation differs from others included in our study. Every African country

should establish an NPHI in order to increase public health capability (including research)

and connect it to Africa CDC's interconnected multi-level approach to collaboration. When

compared to other major health-related organizations in Africa, WHO regional offices have

more political aspects of coordination, including interactions with governments directly via

Ministries of Health. In principle, WHO's presence in the country should help the

organization's coordinating efforts. Aside from technical help, recommendations, and

evidence-based support, WHO's competitive advantage as a normative body is centered on its

coordination efforts between countries and other regional entities, according to the

participants in the study. A lack of desire on the part of member states to work together on

policy harmonization, even when it fits within the continental organization's mission, was

cited by many sources as an obstacle to coordination. After covid-19, our interviewees said

that there was a significant lack of coordination between continents or across regions. At the
 53

continental level, few institutions seem to be collaborating across the remits of different

stakeholders.

International Development Corporation scholars and research professionals and

organizations like educational institutions and research institutes are among the resources that

make up the "resources area" (labs, equipment). A common theme in our research was the

involvement of organizations mandated to work in health, advanced education, or research

that had activities connected to the governance of the International Development Corporation

(Banik, 2022). In contrast, economic and development organizations were less likely to affect

this trend. The International Development Corporation received more support from regional

institutions for human resources and personal skills promotion than for research institutions

and facility enhancement. Our research found the most painstaking efforts to enhance

resources at the Africa CDC, WHO region headquarters, WAHO, and CAMES. Education

and innovation exchanges between universities and research laboratories in the developing

world are supported by the OCEAC, Africa CDC, and the Organization for Economic Co-

operation and Development (OECD) (e.g., epidemiology, lab techniques). Groups like

WAHO and CAMES have been essential in facilitating networking across research facilities,

although this was unusual among the regional organizations in our sample. Public entities in

Africa that originate and execute choices on international development companies such as

WHO AFRO and Africa CDC distinguish out in this area. Africa CDC works with the public

health sector for the International Development Corporation via research institutes and

NPHIs, while WHO works with states through Ministries of Health. This regional plan

encourages Ministries of Health in the area to make health research part of their overall
 54

responsibilities and to utilize research findings to inform their programs, services, and

treatments. In the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, WHO was involved. Standard research

methodologies have been disseminated among AFRO members to facilitate the speedy and

accurate development of information about Africa's continent.

Moreover, both of the WHO regional offices in Africa have conducted training to

strengthen national health study governance, which has resulted in the development of ethical

committees in various countries, according to the WHO's reporting. Among the organizations

in our sample, only AAS funds initiatives to promote research on human resources

throughout the continent. The Alliance for Speeding up Excellence in Science in Africa

(AES) platform, established by the African Union (AU) as a consulting and application body

for its Agenda 2063 and the Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa,

provides marketable grants to help the instruction and advancement of individual researchers

and research networks. WAHO also acknowledged assisting resource development at the sub-

regional level via particular grant programs. Researchers need physical networks, technology,

and material wealth, all provided by research infrastructure. There was little evidence that

most regional organizations are participating in or had invested in developing research

infrastructure in their member states. Regarding International Development Corporation

infrastructure development, regional institutions seldom provide support. However, regional

centers of competence have been mentioned as potential funding sources. As a component of

any investment in human resources development, regional organizations might also support

and implement the International Development Corporation infrastructure. Despite the stated

human resource development efforts, the allocation of experienced researchers throughout the
 55

continent remains unequal(AREA STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional Sustainable Development

Review), 2022). Despite the efforts of WAHO, AAS, and CAMES, regional organizations

should do more to foster networking. When it comes to research partnerships, regional health

organizations play a significant role by bringing together academics from nations without

research-active institutions or professors trained in research to promote equality.

Producing and using health sciences research is the third area in which the

International Development Corporation may be improved after Covid-19. Most of the

regional organizations we spoke to said they were involved in this pillar, just as they were in

the governance framework. However, only a few institutions were discovered to be actively

engaged in the process of knowledge creation. More and more healthcare organizations are

working with experts and collaborators to do International Development Corporation research

rather than performing their research. Knowledge distribution and interpretation are the

primary focus of this pillar's activities. Researchers (information producers) and policy-

makers (knowledge consumers) may benefit from regional organizations' convening capacity

and formal mandate to address research uptake, according to our findings. There are several

ways in which regional organizations contribute to spreading and applying knowledge. We

have provided evidence-based health strategy and management training to nations who

requested it, including developing policy briefs for decision-makers. Their ethical role calls

on governments to establish evidence-based policy networks and collaborate with healthcare

ministries to build national institutions for health research. Scientists, policy-makers, and

occasionally the people who will benefit from their findings are brought together in regional

cooperation forums organized by the same regional organizations. Regional scientific

 56

publications and initiatives like the Evidence-Informed Policy Network of the WHO local

offices assist this. Traditional methods of regional organizations disseminating information

include publications, best practice recommendations, and meetings. But the most popular

technique for information translation was the employment of multi-stakeholder forums,

which bring together academics and policymakers. Multi-stakeholder media has been utilized

by specific organizations to aid in developing new ideas.

A wide range of regional organizations has the power and credibility to facilitate

platforms that bring together and link the epistemological and policy groups. It's not clear

how many can administer multi-sector systems on an operational basis unless they are part of

a long-term initiative. With a few notable examples, the regional organizations we spoke with

did not have a mission to develop knowledge as part of our investigation. Most of their data

come from collaborations with academic institutions and universities. The African Union and

the World Health Organization have been pushing evidence-informed decision-making for

years, and regional groups claim that their forums help with that strategy. Research usage was

allegedly increased via the translation and dissemination of information carried out by

regional entities through various channels. Despite this, many informants said that

government officials should also advocate for the utilization of research.

On the other hand, informants acknowledged that policymakers' ability to exploit

research is still lacking, indicating that lobbying might be improved (AREA STUDIES –

AFRICA (Regional Sustainable Development Review), 2022). A lack of knowledge, priority,

and usefulness of information by decision-makers is one of the major impediments to

research usage that regional organizations face, according to several informants interviewed.
 57

Through specialized research synthesis centers, federal institutions may help support regional

forums for information translation and policy development. On the other hand, informants

stressed the importance of decision-makers willingness and capacity to incorporate research

into their decision-making processes.

AUDA-NEPAD is the only AU organization that can contact and engage with various

government departments other than healthcare and heads of state. It was the only one that was

evaluated for this position (Banik, 2022). The International Development Corporation's

efforts to persuade governments to participate have mixed results. But several groups

indicated that attempts to enhance health sector funds had improved. Most of the people

surveyed said that the International Development Corporation's dependency on foreign and

external financing was a significant impediment to local ownership and advantages on the

continent. In addition to facilitating the development of IDC's capability, international

relationships also serve this purpose. Informants, however, expressed worry about the long-

term viability of independent academics and research institutes in Africa relying on these

monies. According to the regional organizations we spoke with, the regional economic

organizations should be more active in securing alternative financing sources to augment

public investments from authorities and institutions in the International Development

Corporation. According to many sources, the International Development Corporation (IDC)

should focus on two key advocacy areas. Regional organizations have a distinct advantage

because of the capabilities and deficits they represent.

Development financing organizations, such as multilateral and national development

agencies, have grown more engaged in health in the last several decades. Questions remain
 58

concerning how regional organizations may convince major financial organizations on

account of their member governments. The private industry and commerce are the second

new focus for advocacy. Several regional organizations' informants agreed that, despite the

ability to do much more with the business industry in Africa, their involvement with the

International Development Corporation as a funding source was weak(Cohen, 2022) . This

might be done by regional organizations working with member nations to educate authorities

about the positive effects of private sector participation in the International Development

Corporation.' Personal sector involvement in national health research systems and private

sector organizations as scientific producers might potentially be encouraged by regional

economic blocks.

Looking at regional organizations' engagement in these regions, we can identify a few

enablers and barriers to their capability to assist enhance the International Development

Corporation in nations, such as the complete absence of prioritization of International

Development Corporation at the national scale, donor-driven International Development

Corporation preferences, records of collaboration between groups of member countries, and

the inner institutional capability of the region. This is only one of the many difficulties that

WAHO has recognized as part of its efforts to enhance the International Development

Corporation in West Africa. From our research, it seems that three critical cross-cutting

concerns have a significant impact on the engagement of regional organizations in improving

International Development Corporation in Africa.

Organizations' engagement in International Development Corporation's foundation

strengthening was examined, and organizational objectives and areas of power of regional
 59

arrangements were often mentioned as crucial elements. With regards to assimilation, the

areas of policy and available resources to promote and sustain initiatives to accomplish that

objective differ across regional organizations. In terms of governance, capital creation and

use, and study, institutions with policy-area mandates connected to government agencies in

charge of overseeing International Development Corporation at the national scale (such as

health and education) appeared to have an edge. Aside from their technical skills and mission,

these characteristics are supplemented by their ties and access to experts, including those in

member countries, via policy and intellectual networks. No local institution in our research

has a mandate that includes health research worldwide development as part of its core

mission, even if health is part of the institution's core mission. International health institutions

such as WHO regional divisions and the African Union's African Development Bank

(AUDA-NEPAD) are unusual in that they serve a wide geographic area while also serving as

a vehicle for international cooperation. Africa CDC has five regional cooperating centers,

AUDA-NEPAD has a local trade community, and WHO works directly with governments via

Ministries of Health and their national offices in each individual country. As opposed to the

activity of regional organizations in sub-regional frames with technical growth and wellbeing

organizations, which work exclusively with specialized country officials from ministries to

their institutions and other establishments, such as schools in member countries.

 60

CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION
Our results on the role of regional organizations in relation to the four key areas of

health research systems have shown that organizations with technical mandates in or related

to health reported being engaged in all pillars – with the most activity in governance and the

use of health research. Regional organizations' involvement in governance was mainly

reported around setting regional agendas and policy harmonization across member states. For

those that reported contributing to the development of resources for International

Development Corporation, it was mainly through initiatives for strengthening human

resources, with few involved in developing research institutions, networks, or infrastructure.

Overall, regional organizations reported being more involved in dissemination than the

production of research (Cohen, 2022). With respect to funding, regional organizations were

more indirectly involved through facilitating contacts between funders and research teams or

advocating for member states to increase their budgets for International Development

Corporation. Regional organizations identified several gaps in activities where they believe

their involvement should increase: better coordination within and across sub-regions,

strengthening infrastructure for International Development Corporation at the national or

regional level and improved training and advocacy for research use, and engagement with the

private industry sector and development institutions to increase financing of International

Development Corporation(AREA STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional Sustainable Development

Review), 2022). Beyond the individual pillars, however, we also identified key cross-cutting

themes in relation to mandates, authority, and collaboration that were particularly relevant to

shaping the influence and activity of regional bodies on the International Development
 61

Corporation in Africa.

To enhance the International Development Corporation in Africa following Covid-19,

we have identified three areas of collaboration between African countries. The function of

regional organizations in defining the strategy for developing the International Development

Corporation in Africa has to be clarified in order to avoid confusion.. This highlights the

problem of whether the International Development Corporation's administration at the

regional level is top-down or bottom-up. At the nexus of the international marketplace and

the federal arena, institutions operate in various ways within the organizational architecture of

healthcare governance. At times, they might be seen as an intermediate and an adaptor of

international norms, values, and behaviors in top-down approaches to governance. Others

serve as alleged ringleaders of national or international skills and interests to push for a

bottom-up strategy to healthcare and liberties coordination and collaboration. Both internal

and external influences may have an impact on an institution's behavior and strategy (Cohen,

2022). The closeness of regional organizations to a wide spectrum of state stakeholders is a

benefit in both modes. According to a study, international organizations are building

approaches and mechanisms for nations to connect their public healthcare research policies

and practices with one other. However, it's not obvious whether these local policies are meant

to be used as models for national policies, or if they're meant to serve as benchmarks against

which regional organizations may evaluate national development. A lack of operational

assistance for these strategies is still evident on a large scale, with little acknowledged by

regional institutions to facilitate policy learning across nations and difficulties monitoring the

execution and effect of regional policy choices within individual nations. It's unknown how
 62

regional organizations promote or engage in connections for the International Development

Corporation, whether it's research connections or socializing between multilateral institutions

and other IDC players in their area. ' Researchers have found that regional networks of

researchers may be a powerful tool for promoting the International Development

Corporation's mission in countries where they operate. The creation of regional research

institutions in Africa seems to be supported solely inactively and financially by different

associations that we met with. As a result of this, the African Population and Health Research

Center (APHRC) objectives of regional organizations were established to provide synergy for

biomedical research systems to engage and function as important assets for local potentials. A

background for appreciating the tasks and processes of Regional Associations in Health and

International Development Corporation may also be relevant.

One of the first endeavors to recognize and investigate what regional organizations do

to enhance international development corporations and what role and responsibilities they

perform in assisting international development corporation systems before and after Covid-19

in Africa has been made in the publications on regional cooperation and health care in Africa.

According to our results, the International Development Corporation (IDC) is supported by a

wide range of groups, although technical organizations with a specific mission in health or

further education policy domains seem to be the most active in supporting IDC operations.

There is no direct financial contribution from regional organizations, but they are

encouraging African nations to contribute more in the International Development Corporation

(IDC). Regional organizations in Africa may play a key role in the International Development

Corporation's development and growth if comprehensive thought is done about their

 63

responsibilities, factor endowment, and capabilities. In the aftermath of COVID-19, African

regional organizations will undoubtedly play an important role in this. If our mapping and

analysis may be used as a starting point for future research, we are grateful.
 64

REFERENCES
Amaya, A.B. and De Lombaerde, P., 2021. Regional cooperation is essential to combatting

health emergencies in the Global South. Globalization and Health, 17(1).

Anon., 2009. SOUTH AFRICA: Bad Debts are on the Rise. Africa Research Bulletin:

Economic, Financial and Technical Series, 46(2).

Anon., 2020. South Africa and Regional Integration in Africa: Challenges and

Prospects. Regional Integration in Africa, pp.185-190.

Anon., 2020. The Pursuit of Developmental Regional Integration in Southern Africa and the

Role of South Africa. Regional Integration in Africa, pp.77-103.

Anon., 2022. Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE . [online]

Available at: <https://www.usaid.gov/central-africa-regional/cdcs> [Accessed 30 May 2022].

Anon., 2022. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - USTR. [online]

Available at: <https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/africa/regional-economic-communities-rec/

economic-community-west-african-states> [Accessed 31 May 2022].

Anon., 2022. The Role of ECOWAS in Achieving the Economic Integration of West . [online]

Available at: <https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/the-role-ecowas-achieving-the-economic-

integration-west-africa> [Accessed 31 May 2022].

Anon., 2022. Promotion of peace and security in the East African Community (EAC). [online]

Available at: <https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/15668.html> [Accessed 31 May 2022].

Austria. 2022. African Union and regional Organizations — Austria. [online] Available at:

<https://www.austria.org/african-union-and-regional-organizations> [Accessed 30 May

2022].
 65

AREA STUDIES – AFRICA (Regional Sustainable Development Review),

2022. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN

AFRICA. [online] Available at: <https://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c16/E1-48-01.pdf>

[Accessed 30 May 2022].

Banik, D., 2022. The foreign aid game is changing: these are the opportunities for Africa.

[online] The Conversation. Available at: <https://theconversation.com/the-foreign-aid-game-

is-changing-these-are-the-opportunities-for-africa-143938> [Accessed 30 May 2022].

Caicedo, J.D. and Cárdenas, J.A.G., 2020. DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS IN

AFRICA:. Economic Corridors in Asia: Paradigm of Integration? A Reflection for Latin

America, pp.131-168.

Cohen, R., 2022. The Role of Regional Organizations, ECOWAS. [online] Brookings.

Available at: <https://www.brookings.edu/on-the-record/the-role-of-regional-organizations-

ecowas/> [Accessed 30 May 2022].

Dick, E., 2022. The Role of Regional Organizations in Africa in the Governance of

Migration. [online] ISPI. Available at: <https://www.ispionline.it/en/publication/role-

regional-organizations-africa-governance-migration-23512> [Accessed 30 May 2022].

Enns, C., 2018. Mobilizing research on Africa. Geoforum, 88, pp.105-108.

Gumede, V., 2016. Leadership for Africa’s Development. Journal of Black Studies, 48(1),

pp.74-90.

Havik, P.J., 2020. Regional cooperation and health diplomacy in Africa: from intra-colonial

exchanges to multilateral health institutions. História, Ciências, Saúde-Manguinhos, 27,

pp.123-144.
 66

Jones, C., Sobngwi-Tambekou, J., Mijumbi, R., Hedquist, A., Wenham, C. and Parkhurst, J.,

2022. The Roles of Regional Organisations in Strengthening Health Research Systems in

Africa: Activities, Gaps, and Future Perspectives. International Journal of Health Policy and

Management,.

Kwesi , E., 2022. International Cooperation for Sustainable Development in Africa. [online]

Available at: <https://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c16/E1-48-01.pdf> [Accessed 30 May

2022].

Lamy, M. and Phua, K.H., 2012. Southeast Asian cooperation in health: a comparative

perspective on regional health governance in ASEAN and the EU. Asia Europe Journal,

10(4), pp.233-250.

Li, R., Guo, J. and Wang, Q., 2022. Impact of foreign aid on the ecological sustainability of

sub-Saharan African countries. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 95, p.106779.

Moussa, A., 2022. The Role of Regional Organizations in the Implementation of Trade

Facilitation Reforms. [online] Available at: <https://unctad.org/system/files/non-official-

document/AlyIbouraMoussa_AfricanUnionAfricanCommission_NTFCForum_Jan2017.pdf>

[Accessed 30 May 2022].

Ogbuabor, J.E., Anthony-Orji, O.I., Manasseh, C.O. and Orji, A., 2020. Measuring the

dynamics of COMESA output connectedness with the global economy. The Journal of

Economic Asymmetries, 21.

Penfold, E. and Fourie, P., 2015. Regional health governance: A suggested agenda for

Southern African health diplomacy. Global Social Policy, 15(3), pp.278-295.

Zougmoré, R.B., Läderach, P. and Campbell, B.M., 2021. Transforming Food Systems in
 67

Africa under Climate Change Pressure: Role of Climate-Smart Agriculture. Sustainability,

13(8), p.43-50.