Who We Are
Concerned African citizens and scholars founded Africa Speak to accelerate Pan Africanism and African Renaissance. The Centre for Governance and Intra-Africa Trade Studies one of the flagship program, which is constituted, to work with different Africa tertiary level academic institutes. Currently CGIATS works with the university of Johannesburg to promote sustainable economic development and African unity through executive training program and organising different platforms to promote African Economic Governance systems. We at AS-CGIATS believe that implementing knowledge-based recommendations can only accelerate the African continent’s economic development and political unification. Africa’s currently stalemated states are a direct result of their incompatible governance structure, which has led to widespread poverty and restricted intra-trade. In this regard, bridging the knowledge gap in governance and intra-African trade in Africa is of the utmost significance for advancing a people-driven agenda. The institution’s primary mission is to identify and recommend policy frameworks for African countries, regional economic communities (RECs), and the African Union (AU). This area of study focuses primarily on the political, economic, and sociocultural barriers that have prevented African nations from providing optimal living conditions for their citizens. Principally examining the structural and operational challenges of supranational institutions in Africa, as well as the breadth and depth of intra-African trade on the continent.
Intervention Areas
Bridging governance reform and intra-Africa trade to unite the continent through research, education, and policy advocacy.
Governance
- Institutional Renewal at Sub regional and Regional levels
- Peace and Security Studies
- Governance Reengineering
- Developing and Shaping Africa Indigenous Governance System
Trade
- Advocating Free Movement of People and Goods
- Creating trade awareness among youth and women’s
- Developing entrepreneurship excellence
- Promoting local manufacturing and distribution
There is an inextricable connection between strategic governance and trade, the cumulative effect of which is economical and sociocultural development. Without suitable governance systems at the national, sub-regional, and continental levels, intra-African trade is impractical. Strategic governance in the African context is linked to nation-state construction, and it is crucial to implement devolution within the framework of an indigenous governance system. Examining the extant regional economic communities (RECs) as a sub-regional structure and supranational entity at the regional level is also recommended. To accomplish the intended goal of forming a single economic society, the institute sought to investigate why the current economic integration had failed per the Abuja Treaty. This is due to the fact that the nature of politics influences the character of governance and trading among African nations, which in turn determines development outcomes. Politics, governance, and development in Africa have evolved and mutated into their current state over the course of nearly sixty years of movements towards political independence. Postcolonial African politics have been characterised by the antinomies of indigenous knowledge and the importation of non-indigenous ideas, which have been incompatible with local norms and practices. Consequently, AS-CGIATS embraces the concept of “think locally and globally” in a new light.
Postcolonial Africa continues to experience Balkanisation due to arbitrary borders, a phenomenon that has led to numerous, frequently protracted intrastate conflicts, economic stagnation, and governance issues. Thus, CGIATS seeks to engage and mobilise African scholars to contribute research analysis and policy recommendations for institutional and governance reform in support of African renewal. Since its inception in 2012, Africa Speaks: Centre for Governance and Intra-Africa Trade Studies (CGIATS) has served as a forum for research, academic programmes, and the exchange of ideas. The purpose of the institute is to enhance and strengthen intra-African trade and governance across all institutions of the Africa Union. Africa Speaks is a member of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and served the African Union ECOSOC from 2014 to 2018.
A Mission Statements
The Centre for Governance and Intra-Africa Trade Studies (CGIATS) is a Pan-African organisation. CGIATS’ mission and operations consist of policy research, strategic analysis, seminars, training, publishing, and consulting. The purpose of the institute is to assist African nations in addressing the contemporary issue of strategic governance at the national, regional, and continental levels. The research hub focuses on the political governance, sociocultural, and economic interactions between African states, both horizontally and vertically. The initiative seeks to analyse the various strata of impediments to African unification over the past six decades and propose policy alternatives for relevant structures. The institute maintains that an examination of the unification effort through the prism of indigenous philosophies of governance that may ring true with average Africans is essential. CGIATS imagine that the governance and Intra-Africa trade needs to be people-centric and problem solving. In this regard, CGIATS complements the efforts of the African Union (AU) and its organs to ensure the success of African unification and intra-Africa trade. CGIATS is an independent, nonpartisan Pan-African not-for-profit making think tank incorporated in Africa by Africans.
Mission and Vission
Mission
Africa Speaks: Centre for Governance and Intra-Africa Trade Studies is a centre of distinction that conducts high-quality research on governance, intra-African trade, and related subjects. The centre brings together African scholars of the highest calibre to engage in dialogue and contribute to the rigorous production and dissemination of knowledge based on indigenous knowledge systems and international practice.
Vision
The centre seeks to trans-disciplinary knowledge and theory production research cooperation and policy engagement, which benefit the Africa Union RECs and Member States. The centre promotes critical dialogue in pursuit of African unification and intra-African trade. Similarly, the institution collaborates in research and instruction with African universities. The ultimate undertaking is to establish people centre sustainable development, harmony and tranquillity among African people and beyond.Â
Motto
Knowledge-driven collaboration between Africa Union RECs and Member States to shape African governance and intra-African trade
Our Guiding Values
The CGIATS is governed by the following principles in its pursuit of its objectives and goals:
- CGIATS conducts its activities in collaboration with African States, Regional Economic Communities, and international partners and stakeholders to ensure knowledge-based policy analysis and relevance and to strengthen governance and intra-Africa trade expertise
- The research is based on a need assessment and responds to the specific issues confronting African nations and the challenges encountered by supranational organisations, which must be addressed scientifically
- Identifying research themes and policy challenges, as well as communicating study results, is a top priority for CGIATS and its collaborators; and they work diligently to nurture close engagement with stakeholders at the national, sub-regional, and regional levels in order to achieve this goal.
Uniqe Approch Promoting Intra-Africa Trade and Goverance
As an academic centre of excellence, CGIATS has set a goal to identify and honour the top one hundred professionals in each of the following fields. A hundred of Africa’s most distinguished economists, political scientists, lawyers, development practitioners, governance experts, and trade experts. The procedure for selecting participants and inviting them to participate will use a variety of matrices, with an emphasis on academic contributions such as the publication of high-quality books, chapter books, and journals. The nomination procedure also takes into account the need to be inclusive with regard to all regions, genders, languages, and other factors without sacrificing quality or dedication to Pan Africanism. The programme will be supported by an annual event of recognition and a special award for the contribution of knowledge to Africa’s development and unification.
The Centres’ Purposes and Broad Objectives
The idea for the establishment of this institution is predicated on the notion that a key obstacle to intra-African commerce may be conquered by means of rigorous research and effective distribution strategies. In addition to this, it is essential to make up for Africa’s knowledge gap by doing research that is both effective and pragmatic, based on the realities of Africa.  The institute will focus on African politics, economics, society, and culture, and will strive to establish bridges between African nations, regional economic communities, and the African Union. In order to ensure that African governance and intra-African commerce are supported by knowledge production and policy formation, the establishment of this centre is particularly opportune. The centre efforts to promote the political, socioeconomic, and cultural cohesion and economic independence of Africa. CGIATS will focus on research, education, seminars, conferences, and international relationships with organisations and governments throughout the world that have similar goals and objectives. AS-CGIATS will seek out and invite researchers from all African nations and beyond who have an interest in and knowledge of the topic to contribute to and take part in the centre’s initiatives.