As economic cooperation among Member States is central to SADC’s mission, the low levels of productivity throughout the region are disconcerting. Poor economic growth, investment, and employment can have negative impacts on a region’s social and economic development. In order to increase productivity in the region, SADC passed its Declaration on Productivity in the Southern African Development Community on 18th August 1999.
Recognising that increased productivity occurs in an environment of efficient economic systems that equitably distribute gains from production, the Declaration employs productivity strategies at three levels: the macro level, institutional level, and enterprise level. At each level, SADC intends to craft appropriate policy frameworks that engender productivity, promoting horizontal and vertical linkages throughout industry, encouraging participatory labour relations, and establishing organisations for regional cooperation on productivity.
