UNECA - The Habari Network

African women and youth traders transporting goods across a border, symbolizing informal cross-border trade and the role of the AfCFTA in Africa’s economic integration.

Africa’s Invisible Economy: Why the AfCFTA Must Recognize Informal Trade

By Ziad Hamoui Every year, somewhere between US$10 billion and US$24 billion worth of goods crosses African borders in what the United Nations Economic Commission for...

Modern African community gathering symbolizing collective well-being and social connection, reflecting the continent’s redefinition of development beyond GDP and traditional economic measures.

Opinion8 months ago

Beyond GDP: Why Africa Must Redefine Development on Its Own Terms

By Danilo Desiderio For more than half a century, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has served as the world’s default yardstick for national progress. Yet this narrow...

Africa’s Integration at a Crossroads: Key Takeaways from the 2025 AU Report

Opinion8 months ago

Africa’s Integration at a Crossroads: Key Takeaways from the 2025 AU Report

By Danilo Desiderio Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its quest for continental unity. The African Union’s newly released Africa Integration Report 2025, published alongside...

African youth using digital technology to drive economic growth under AfCFTA

Opinion9 months ago

Is Africa Ready for Economic Integration? The Promise and Risks of the AfCFTA

By Dishant Shah As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) moves from vision to reality, a pivotal question echoes across boardrooms, policy think tanks, and...

Cocoa beans and rice crops representing the Ivory Coast–Ghana alliance for regional trade and economic growth

Opinion9 months ago

AfCFTA in Action: How the Ivory Coast-Ghana Agro-Industrial Alliance Is Reshaping West Africa’s Agricultural Future

By Ziad Hamoui In a landmark move for regional integration, the African Union Commission (AUC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, and the...

Africa’s Regional Integration: Progress, Pitfalls, and Pathways Forward – Insights from ARIA XI

Opinion11 months ago

Africa’s Regional Integration: Progress, Pitfalls, and Pathways Forward – Insights from ARIA XI

By Danilo Desiderio The 11th edition of the Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA XI) report – jointly published by the United Nations Economic Commission for...