My Leadership in Action project with the TNI focuses on exploring how greater cross-border interdependence in Africa can be developed through improved infrastructure and transport policy, with the wider aim of strengthening regional integration and the African Union (AU). Over the six-week project, I will research existing cross-border infrastructure and transport frameworks, identify barriers to regional connectivity, and explore how policy can be developed to encourage greater cooperation between African states. An important part of the project is ensuring that this research is informed by local perspectives. I will therefore engage with local leaders, policymakers, researchers and other relevant stakeholders to understand how cross-border infrastructure and transport policies operate in practice and how they affect the communities and institutions involved.

My first week was primarily focused on establishing a foundation for this research. I began by developing a broader understanding of the challenges surrounding cross-border infrastructure and transport in Africa and examining the relationship between connectivity, regional interdependence and the strengthening of the AU. I also started familiarising myself with existing African and regional approaches to infrastructure, transport and economic integration, while considering the role that regional institutions can play in facilitating cooperation between states.

One of the key things I recognised during this initial research was that infrastructure cannot be considered simply as a question of constructing roads, railways or other physical connections. Effective cross-border connectivity also depends on policy coordination, border procedures, political cooperation, investment and relationships between states. This made me particularly interested in the gap between the existence of regional policies and how those policies are actually implemented on the ground.

I also began identifying potential local stakeholders who could contribute to the research. This included considering local leaders, policymakers, researchers and other individuals with direct experience of cross-border transport and infrastructure. I recognised that relying solely on academic literature and policy documents would provide an incomplete picture of the issue. Speaking to people directly involved in these systems will allow me to understand practical challenges that may not be visible through desk-based research and will help ensure that any recommendations I eventually develop are grounded in local realities.

This first week also encouraged me to think about the ethical dimension of the project. I do not want to approach the research with predetermined solutions or assume that I understand the challenges better than the people experiencing them. Instead, I want local engagement to shape the direction of the research itself. This means approaching interviews as an opportunity to listen and learn rather than simply using them to confirm conclusions I have already reached.

Overall, Week 1 helped me establish a clearer understanding of the project and the complexity of the problem I am investigating. It has also given me a strong foundation for the next stage, where I will begin mapping existing infrastructure and transport policies in greater detail while developing my interview framework and engaging with relevant local stakeholders.