Dr. Joy Kategekwa is a globally respected international trade and investment lawyer, with a distinguished career dedicated to structuring Africa’s trade policy, negotiations, and industry landscape for sustainable development. As Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office at the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, she leads the Bank’s Integrate-Africa portfolio, driving multi-country operations that promote industrialization, trade, and economic cooperation across the continent. Her vision is to make regional integration a People’s Agenda, spearheading high-level policy dialogues that foster reforms in market integration, finance, productive capacity, and macroeconomic policies.

A seasoned negotiator and policy strategist, Dr. Kategekwa has played a pivotal role in the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), overseeing key initiatives such as the HERAfCFTA Initiative and the AfCFTA Futures Report. She is the Founding Head of the UNCTAD Regional Office for Africa, where she led the design of the AfCFTA technical advisory framework, and previously served at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Recognized for her thought leadership, she sits on the AfCFTA Secretary General’s Advisory Council on Trade, Investment, and Industry and has contributed to global trade policy through the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Trade and Investment (2018–2023).