Comparative Analysis of Regional Integration’s Sustainable Development Outcomes in ECOWAS and the East African Community

Abstract

This study examines how regional integration in Africa contributes to sustainable development through a comparative analysis of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the East African Community (EAC). While both blocs pursue market integration and institutional cooperation, they differ markedly in institutional depth, implementation capacity, and sectoral priorities, which shape their development outcomes in distinct ways. Using a qualitative synthesis of peer reviewed literature, policy reports and regional institutional documents, the study assesses integration outcomes across trade performance, border governance, and sectoral coordination. The findings show that the EAC has achieved stronger progress in trade facilitation and regional value chain integration, supporting market deepening and competitiveness, whereas ECOWAS demonstrates comparatively stronger coordination in energy policy and political and security governance. Despite these differences, both blocs face persistent constraints related to weak infrastructure, governance gaps and overlapping regional commitments. The analysis highlights that sustainable development outcomes depend less on formal integration agreements than on credible implementation, institutional legitimacy and effective sectoral coordination. Policy implications point to the need for stronger trade facilitation and value chain support in ECOWAS, deeper institutional enforcement and inclusive governance in the EAC, and future research that links regional integration more directly to distributional and resilience outcomes at sectoral and community levels.