The new Country Director for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)in Botswana, Mr. Thomas Schaef, paid a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary of the SADC Secretariat, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax on 08th February 2017.
Mr. Schaef assured Dr Tax of GIZ’s support towards strengthened collaboration between SADC and Germany under the SADC-Germany Cooperation on, among others, Transboundary Water Management; Transboundary Use and Protection of Natural Resources; Regional Economic Integration Support; Adaptation to Climate Changes; and Peace and Security. He highlighted the need for close collaboration and communication in implementing different regional programmes supported by the Germany Development Cooperation through GIZ. He further appreciated the alignment of GIZ’s support with the EU in the programming of the Strengthening National Regional Linkages Project under the 11th EDF.
Dr. Tax welcomed Mr. Schaef to Botswana and SADC, and thanked GIZ for their continued support to the Secretariat through the SADC-Germany Cooperation provided at regional level and bilaterally to Member States, thereby enabling SADC to implement projects contributing to the realization of its objectives. Dr. Tax emphasized the importance of joint planning and programming, to ensure that activities were aligned with the priorities of SADC as outlined in the RISDP 2015-2020 and SIPO. She re-affirmed the Secretariat’s continued cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany and GIZ, in order to accelerate regional integration in Southern Africa.
The two parties agreed to continue cooperating on actions agreed upon during the Consultations on Development Cooperation between SADC and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany held in Gaborone, Botswana, on 17th and 18th November 2016 and finalise preparations for the government to government negotiations. The negotiations between SADC and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany are scheduled to take place in June 2017.
