INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

In deciding on the Conference's institutions, the Founders were particularly sensitive to the lessons and experiences of past attempts at regional co-operation in Africa, some of which had ended in dismal failure and bitter disappointment. Such failures were largely because sensitive issues of how best to equitably share the costs and benefits of regional co-operation had not been sufficiently addressed and agreed upon at both national and regional levels.

To avoid similar pitfalls, SADC, from the very beginning placed particular emphasis on a decentralised institutional arrangement that would ensure that Member States are the principal actors in the formulation and implementation of policy decisions.
However, a restructuring exercise took place that saw SADC institutions streamlined and its operations centralised to the Gaborone, Botswana based Secretariat. The former 21 Sector Coordinating Units have been clustered into four directorates and units coordinating the cross cutting sectoral issues of gender, science and technology and …,

SADC POLICY ORGANS AND INSTITUTIONS

The principal organs and institutions of SADC are as follows:

SUMMIT: Comprising of all SADC Heads of State and/or Government, the Summit is the ultimate policy-making institution of SADC. It is responsible for the overall policy direction and control of functions of the Community. The Summit usually meets once yearly around August/September in the Member State holding the Deputy Chairpersonship of SADC at the time. Extraordinary meetings of the Summit are also held if and when the need arise. Summit elects SADC office bearers, namely, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of SADC; the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The functions of Summit are enumerated under Article 10 of the SADC Treaty.

ORGAN ON POLITICS, DEFENCE AND SECURITY: The Organ is coordinated at the level of Summit on a Troika basis and reports to the Chairperson of SADC.

Like the Summit chairing the Organ is on a rotation basis for a period of one year. The Chairperson of the Organ does not simultaneously hold the Chair of the Summit.

The structure, operations and functions of the Organ is regulated by the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation which was approved and signed by Summit at its meeting of August 2001 in Blantyre, Malawi.

At the executive level, it’s work is coordinated by the Directorate of the Organ at the SADC Secretariat.

TRIBUNAL: Was established by the Protocol on the Tribunal that was signed in Windhoek, Namibia during the 2000 Ordinary Summit. The Tribunal is entrusted with the responsibility to ensure adherence to, and proper interpretation of the provisions of the SADC Treaty and subsidiary instruments, and to adjudicate upon disputes, referred to it.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: The Council of Ministers consists of Ministers from each Member State, usually, those responsible for Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Planning and Finance. The functions of the Council are provided for under Article 11 of the Treaty, amongst others, overseeing the functioning and development of SADC and ensuring that policies are properly implemented. Council usually meets twice a year in February and just before Summit in August or September.

SADC NATIONAL COMMITTEES: The Treaty provides for the establishment of these national level SADC institutions in each SADC Member State, to be comprised of of key stakeholders notably government, private sector and civil society in each Member State.

The main functions of a National Committee are to provide inputs at the national level in the formulation of regional policies, strategies, the SADC Programme of Action as well as coordinate and oversee the implementation of the these programmes at the national level. The Committees are also responsible for the initiation of SADC projects and issue papers as an input into the preparation of the Regional strategies.

STANDING COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS: The functions of this Committee are enumerated under Article 13 of the Treaty. The Standing Committee of Senior Officials consists of one Permanent/Principal Secretary or an official of equivalent rank from each Member State, preferably from a ministry responsible for economic planning or finance. As a technical advisory committee to the Council of Ministers, this Committee serves as the clearing house for the Council Agenda.

The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee are appointed from the Member States holding the SADC Chairpersonship and Deputy Chairpersonship of Council.

SADC SECRETARIAT: The Treaty lays out the functions of the Secretariat, being the principal executive institution of SADC responsible for, amongst others, the strategic planning and management of SADC programmes, implementation of decisions of SADC policy organs and institutions, such as, Summit, Council and the Troikas.

The SADC Secretariat’s Vision is to be a reputable, efficient and responsive enable of regional integration and sustainable development.

Its Missions is to provide strategic expertise and coordinate the harmonisation of policies and strategies to accelerate regional integration and sustainable development.

The Secretariat holds dear its Values of quality service and competency; Professionalism; Integrity; Commitment and passion; Team spirit; Mutual respect; courtesy; Equality of opportunity; Transparency and frankness.

SADC POLICY LEADERSHIP SYSTEM

SADC leadership takes place in the Troika system consisting of the Chair, Incoming Chair and the Outgoing Chair of SADC which has been effective since it was established by Summit at its meeting in Maputo, Mozambique in August 1999. Other Member States may be co-opted into the Troika as and when necessary. This system has enabled the Organisation to execute tasks and implement decisions expeditiously as well as provide policy direction to SADC programmes and operations in between regular SADC meetings.

The Troika system will operate at the level of the Summit, the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, Council and Standing Committee of Senior Officials.

CURRENT SADC TROIKAS - AUGUST 2008 - AUGUST 2009

The SADC Troika System vests authority in the incumbent Chairperson, Incoming Chairperson who is the Deputy Chairperson at the time and the immediate Previous Chairperson to take quick decisions on behalf of SADC that are ordinarily taken at policy meetings scheduled at regular intervals. The Summit of Heads of State and Government Summit meets annually, while the Council of Ministers meets biannually – in February, to approve the Annual budgets and in August to prepare the Summit agenda. There is also provision for extra ordinary Summit and Council meetings if and when the need arise. The Troika is also applicable at the level of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials, that comprises Permanent or Principal Secretaries or accounting for government offices, ministries or departments. This also applies to the Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The two Troikas are referred to as the Double Troika.

 

Updated: January 08, 2009
Public Relations Unit