Can Coordinated Border Management unlock the AfCFTA’s vision of a united and prosperous Africa?

Coordinated Border Management (CBM) is a set of practices that enable border agencies to work together more effectively. By promoting shared risk analysis, joint controls, information exchange, and joint training, CBM helps streamline cross-border flows, boosting legitimate trade while maintaining national security. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) recognizes CBM's importance, with the Protocol on Trade in Goods (Annexes 3 and 4) mandating cooperation and harmonization among border agencies. This collaborative approach is essential for transforming African borders from obstacles to trade into engines for economic growth and regional integration. Achieving the vision of an integrated Africa requires more than the development of physical infrastructure. Even the best roads are useless if border procedures are fragmented and agencies operate in silos. Hence, infrastructure development must go hand in hand with procedural reforms, a change in mindset, and institutional coordination.

Read our paper on the HESPI website.