WHAT: Fourth AfDB Integrate Africa Public Lecture Series – In collaboration with the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance
THEME: AfCFTA: How Do We Ensure Success?
WHO: African Development Bank Group’s Regional Integration Coordination Office, Partners
WHEN: Tuesday, 23 September 2025; 14:00 – 16:00 (SAST)
WHERE: The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town – South Africa
Background
The African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership with the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, is pleased to announce the fourth edition of the Integrate Africa Public Lecture Series.
This high-level event will explore how Africa can fully realize the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a driver of regional integration, industrialization, and inclusive growth.With 54 signatories, AfCFTA represents a bold vision for a unified African market.
Yet, success hinges on coordinated implementation, enabling infrastructure, harmonized regulations, and inclusive policies.
This lecture will unpack the conditions necessary to translate ambition into impact and foster meaningful dialogue among key stakeholders.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Joy Kategekwa – Director, Regional Integration Coordination Office – African Development Bank GroupDr. Joy Kategekwa is a respected International Trade and Investment Lawyer who has dedicated her 20-year career to structuring Africa’s trade policy, negotiations and industry landscape for sustainable development and to ensuring that Africa’s integration into global trade is beneficial and wealth – creating.
With a Ph. D in International Trade Law from the University of Berne’s World Trade Institute, and authorship of consequential books – like “Opening Markets for Foreign Skills: How Can the WTO help?”, she has distinguished herself as a thought and practice leader, and a front runner on knowledge – generation for trade – led economic integration, growth and prosperity.
Dr. Kategekwa serves as Director of regional integration of the African Development Bank Group – leading the team delivering the Bank’s transformative Integrate-Africa portfolio.
Here is the link for virtual attendance: https://uct-za.zoom.us/meeting/register/NdXwxsb1S8qiNIwUVp862Q
For any queries or further information, please contact:
Ms Betty Baisiwa Dowuona-Hammond: b.dowuona-hammond@afdb.org | media@afdb.org | +225058238349
Ms Petunia Thulo: petunia.thulo@uct.ac.za
We look forward to your presence and meaningful contributions to this important conversation.
About the Organizers
African Development Bank (AfDB) As Africa’s premier development finance institution, the African Development Bank plays a central role in advancing regional integration through strategic investments, policy coordination, and inclusive development.
Its Ten-Year Strategy (2023–2033) positions AfCFTA as a cornerstone of Africa’s transformation agenda, with regional integration recognized as a key pillar for inclusive and sustainable growth.
Within AfDB, the Regional Integration Coordination Office (RDRI) – located in the Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery Complex (RDVP) – serves as the custodian of the Integrate Africa priority.
RDRI ensures strategic, programmatic, and operational coherence across regional operations and public goods, while promoting efficient and transparent resource allocation.
The department engages in high-level policy dialogue with the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the AfCFTA Secretariat, and other intergovernmental bodies to streamline cooperation, mobilize investment, and advance reforms aligned with Agenda 2063, Integrate Africa, and AfCFTA.
Internally, RDRI helps mainstream regional integration into the Bank’s strategies and operations, monitors portfolio performance, and provides strategic, policy, and operational insights to senior management to enhance impact.
Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance
The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance is a leading Pan-African school based at the University of Cape Town, dedicated to strengthening democratic governance and inclusive development across the continent.
Through its academic programmes, executive education, and policy driven research, the Nelson Mandela School equips public leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors with the tools to drive transformative change.
With a strong emphasis on evidence-based policy, ethical leadership, and regional collaboration, the Nelson Mandela School fosters a vibrant community of scholars and practitioners committed to building capable and accountable public institutions.
Our work spans research and convening dialogues that address Africa’s most pressing governance challenges.
For more information, visit our website: Home | The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance
