The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have strengthened their strategic partnership to advance regional integration, industrialisation, infrastructure development and sustainable financing following a Strategic Engagement Mission held in Gaborone, Botswana, from 08-09 October 2026.
The two-day mission brought together the SADC Secretariat Management Team, technical experts and an AfDB delegation led by Dr Kennedy K. Mbekeani, Director General of the African Development Bank's Southern Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office, to deepen collaboration and align development priorities under the Revised SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 and the Bank's evolving regional strategy.
Closing the engagement, His Excellency Mr Elias M. Magosi, Executive Secretary of SADC, underscored the importance of transforming Southern Africa's abundant natural resources into inclusive economic growth through industrialisation and value addition.
He highlighted the need for enhanced support to advance beneficiation, manufacturing, innovation and competitive regional value chains, which have the potential to create jobs, boost productivity, increase intra-regional trade and strengthen the region's position in global markets.
H.E. Magosi welcomed the African Development Bank's growing role in mobilising investment through concessional financing, guarantees, blended finance instruments and project preparation support. He emphasised that these mechanisms are instrumental in unlocking investments in regional infrastructure, energy, agriculture, health systems, climate resilience and industrial value chains, contributing significantly to the region's industrialisation and sustainable development objectives.
The Executive Secretary also welcomed the Bank's support for the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund (RDF) as a sustainable financing mechanism to accelerate implementation of the region's development agenda.
He noted that the African Development Bank's convening power and strategic partnerships position it to help mobilise capital at scale and align investors and development partners behind a pipeline of transformative regional projects.
He further welcomed the decision by SADC Ministers responsible for Finance and Investment to revive the Annual Consultative Forum between SADC Ministers and the President of the African Development Bank, describing it as an important platform for strengthening policy dialogue, enhancing strategic coordination and advancing regional priorities on development finance.
Speaking during the engagement, Dr Mbekeani reaffirmed the Bank's commitment to supporting Southern Africa's regional integration and development agenda. He outlined the Bank's operating model and the range of financing and advisory instruments available to Member States, including sovereign and non-sovereign financing, project preparation facilities, guarantees, blended finance mechanisms and technical assistance.
He highlighted that the Bank stands ready to support the development of bankable regional projects and mobilise investment for strategic initiatives in infrastructure, trade facilitation, energy and industrial development.
The African Development Bank is one of the SADC Secretariat’s key development partners, supporting a broad portfolio of regional programmes. Among them is the PROFISHBLUE Project, valued at UA6.4 million (US$9.2 million), which has benefited more than 3.3 million people through strengthened fisheries governance, enhanced regional fish value chains and investments in the blue economy.
Other programmes include the SADC Trade and Transit Facilitation Programme (UA4.5 million / US$6.3 million), which is improving trade efficiency and transport connectivity along the North-South Corridor; the Resilient Health Systems for Emergency Preparedness (RHeSEP) Project (UA6.97 million / US$9.8 million), which is strengthening regional health security and emergency preparedness; and the SADC Macroeconomic Convergence and Financial Integration Project (UA5 million / US$7 million), which supports macroeconomic stability and deeper financial integration across the region.
The mission concluded with both institutions reaffirming their commitment to deepen cooperation, mobilise innovative financing solutions and advance strategic investments that accelerate industrialisation, strengthen regional integration and promote sustainable and inclusive growth across Southern Africa.
Dr Mbekeani was accompanied by Mr Patrick Kanyimbo, Chief Regional Integration and Trade Expert, and Dr Lufeyo Banda, Chief Regional Operations Officer, both from the African Development Bank's Southern Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office.
