Regional integration is now widely recognised as a major instrument for development. There is evidence that regional integration processes can contribute to bringing stability, fostering economic sustainable growth, and delivering regional public goods. The ACP countries are faced with regional integration in two ways: by their own regional integration schemes and by their negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Commission. There is, however, a dual problem: the local research capacity in ACP countries with regard to regional integration is not well developed and the research results are not sufficiently disseminated to the local policy makers. For ACP countries to improve their socio-economic development and strengthen their security environment, the capacity of ACP-based researchers must be increased. Such an endeavour will help to produce quality policy-relevant research and enable social scientists to communicate with policy-makers. Decision makers can thus become aware of the various implications of their policies on regional integration and cooperation with and within regional organisations. The specific purpose of the NETRIS project is to establish and coordinate a network of ACP Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) working within the field of comparative regional integration. The objective of the network is to strengthen the research and training capacities of the partners in the field of regional integration studies, to stimulate mutual learning, shared practices and collective dissemination, and encourage policy relevant research. The target groups of NETRIS are researchers, and research centres located in the participating ACP HEIs while the final beneficiaries will be students on regional integration, as well as ACP policy makers. NETRIS will serve the needs and constraints of ACP HEIs by enhancing their capacities to design, conduct, and disseminate the outcomes of multidisciplinary research on regional integration.

Main Activities

• Establishing and coordinating the network: A kick-off meeting will enable network members to adopt the governance under which the network will work. Key research areas and potential synergies between the network members will be identified.
• Setting up of the website and virtual platform: A virtual platform facilitating exchanges among the members will be set up and will allow sharing of information and collaboration on common documents. A knowledge database will be established to find datasets as well as experts and expertise in every field and method concerning regional integration. The website will be the main access point to the network for the general public.
• Strengthening research centres: The network members with useful expertise will improve the management of research centres by providing participants with trainings on how to design and conduct research. The training sessions will improve the capacity for international cooperation and the promotion and dissemination of their research.

The trainings will include a training of trainers and the publication of a short manual. Joint research programmes on regional integration: Joint research programmes will be facilitated in order to produce quality and comprehensive research and analysis. The network will push for participants to capitalise on each others strength and already existing partnerships. This action, along with the introduction of a mobility scheme, will foster co-operation between HEIs in ACP countries, create poles of excellence and provide highly trained human resources.

• Topic based seminars: During topic based seminars, all taking place in ACP states, lectures will be provided by network members with relevant expertise in the field of study. These seminars may focus on EPAs, Trade and Investment, micro-regionalim, good governance, peace and security and conflict prevention. The presentations and outcomes of the topic based seminars will then be compiled into booklets.
• Exchange programmes and mobility: Network members will design a framework for guest lecturers/researchers mobility ensuring that common standards are respected.

Also, the internship schemes can be introduced in public bodies, especially regional organisations with the aim of offering a direct exposure to the work of decision-makers and practitioners working on regional integration while at the same time providing the institutions’ human resources with academic knowledge.

• International conference and dissemination: The conference, organised by a conference coordinator, will serve as a way to engage network members and other stakeholders, including policy makers, on key issues that are researched by the network members. It will serve as an intellectual debate space and increase the visibility, outreach and dissemination of the network members research including through the publication of a book.
• Final evaluation and workshop: A final evaluation will be carried out by an independent reviewer. A concluding workshop will be held to discuss lessons learned and evaluate the successes and outcomes of the project as well as designing new strategies and future actions.