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China's development finance for cross-border infrastructure: an East African perspective on its role in advancing developmental regionalism and regional integration.
This study explores whether China's development finance has contributed to regional integration in East Africa. The main research question is: has China's development finance of infrastructure projects contributed to developmental regionalism? This was supported by the sub question: has China's deve...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613286950764544 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Seyuba, Samukumba Mbanje |
| author2 | Ismail, Faizel |
| author_browse | Ismail, Faizel Seyuba, Samukumba Mbanje |
| author_facet | Ismail, Faizel Seyuba, Samukumba Mbanje |
| author_sort | Seyuba, Samukumba Mbanje |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | This study explores whether China's development finance has contributed to regional integration in East Africa. The main research question is: has China's development finance of infrastructure projects contributed to developmental regionalism? This was supported by the sub question: has China's development finance of the Addis-Djibouti railway contributed to regional/development integration in East Africa? The study used a qualitative method and a single case study design. The Addis-Djibouti Railway (ADR) was facilitated by Chinese concessional loans to construct a cross-border railway project. The project addresses Ethiopia's landlocked status and enhances trade connectivity with Djibouti. A thematic analysis of the findings derived from six participants resulted in three themes: a) the African and Chinese approach to development finance; b) the contribution to regional integration in East Africa, and c) the contribution to developmental regionalism. The findings derived from these themes illustrate that the Addis-Djibouti Railway supports economic ties between these two nations. However, its broader impact on regional integration is limited by political instability, fragmented financing, and governance challenges. The study highlights that while China's infrastructure investments align with regional goals like the East African Railway Master Plan, they face significant barriers such as co-financing complexities and inadequate local capacity. Ultimately, the research reveals that while the railway enhances transportation and economic connectivity, the effective implementation of developmental regionalism requires the integration of both hard infrastructure—such as physical transportation networks—and soft infrastructure, including the institutional frameworks, governance mechanisms, and social systems necessary to support and sustain these physical assets. The study finds that the theoretical framework of developmental regionalism and its four pillars would allow for strategic planning and alignment with long-term regional goals which would maximize developmental benefits and foster deeper integration in East Africa. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42662 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:43.673Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice |
| publisherStr | Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42662 China's development finance for cross-border infrastructure: an East African perspective on its role in advancing developmental regionalism and regional integration. Seyuba, Samukumba Mbanje Ismail, Faizel China Development finance This study explores whether China's development finance has contributed to regional integration in East Africa. The main research question is: has China's development finance of infrastructure projects contributed to developmental regionalism? This was supported by the sub question: has China's development finance of the Addis-Djibouti railway contributed to regional/development integration in East Africa? The study used a qualitative method and a single case study design. The Addis-Djibouti Railway (ADR) was facilitated by Chinese concessional loans to construct a cross-border railway project. The project addresses Ethiopia's landlocked status and enhances trade connectivity with Djibouti. A thematic analysis of the findings derived from six participants resulted in three themes: a) the African and Chinese approach to development finance; b) the contribution to regional integration in East Africa, and c) the contribution to developmental regionalism. The findings derived from these themes illustrate that the Addis-Djibouti Railway supports economic ties between these two nations. However, its broader impact on regional integration is limited by political instability, fragmented financing, and governance challenges. The study highlights that while China's infrastructure investments align with regional goals like the East African Railway Master Plan, they face significant barriers such as co-financing complexities and inadequate local capacity. Ultimately, the research reveals that while the railway enhances transportation and economic connectivity, the effective implementation of developmental regionalism requires the integration of both hard infrastructure—such as physical transportation networks—and soft infrastructure, including the institutional frameworks, governance mechanisms, and social systems necessary to support and sustain these physical assets. The study finds that the theoretical framework of developmental regionalism and its four pillars would allow for strategic planning and alignment with long-term regional goals which would maximize developmental benefits and foster deeper integration in East Africa. 2026-01-23T10:53:40Z 2026-01-23T10:53:40Z 2025 2026-01-23T09:10:28Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42662 en eng application/pdf Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice Faculty of Commerce University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | China Development finance Seyuba, Samukumba Mbanje China's development finance for cross-border infrastructure: an East African perspective on its role in advancing developmental regionalism and regional integration. |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | China's development finance for cross-border infrastructure: an East African perspective on its role in advancing developmental regionalism and regional integration. |
| title_full | China's development finance for cross-border infrastructure: an East African perspective on its role in advancing developmental regionalism and regional integration. |
| title_fullStr | China's development finance for cross-border infrastructure: an East African perspective on its role in advancing developmental regionalism and regional integration. |
| title_full_unstemmed | China's development finance for cross-border infrastructure: an East African perspective on its role in advancing developmental regionalism and regional integration. |
| title_short | China's development finance for cross-border infrastructure: an East African perspective on its role in advancing developmental regionalism and regional integration. |
| title_sort | china s development finance for cross border infrastructure an east african perspective on its role in advancing developmental regionalism and regional integration |
| topic | China Development finance |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42662 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT seyubasamukumbambanje chinasdevelopmentfinanceforcrossborderinfrastructureaneastafricanperspectiveonitsroleinadvancingdevelopmentalregionalismandregionalintegration |