SADC to Convene the 2nd Regional Leather Forum to review progress in the implementation of SADC Regional Leather Value Chain Model Policy Framework

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) with support from the German Cooperation, will convene the 2nd SADC Regional Leather Forum from 23-24 July 2026 in Durban, Republic of South Africa.

The Forum builds on the successful inaugural SADC Regional Leather Forum and Business-to-Business (B2B) Workshop held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in July 2025 and forms part of the ongoing implementation of the SADC Regional Leather Value Chain Model Policy Framework, which was endorsed by the SADC Council of Ministers in August 2023. The Forum also responds to the directive of the 24th Meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration, held in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe, in June 2025, for Member States to provide annual feedback on the implementation of the Model Policy.

Since the endorsement of the Model Policy Framework, significant progress has been made in translating regional commitments into national action. With technical support from the SADC Secretariat and its partners, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have developed National Leather Strategic Work Plans to address country-specific challenges and guide implementation of the Framework. The Secretariat has also supported the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Mozambique in preparing similar implementation plans, thus bringing the total number of Member States with nationally aligned implementation processes to six (6).

The 2nd Regional Leather Forum will provide an important platform for Member States and stakeholders to review progress made in implementing the Model Policy Framework on regional leather value chain, assess commitments arising from previous regional engagements and generate evidence to inform reporting to relevant SADC policy and decision-making structures.

The Forum will further promote knowledge exchange and collaboration among governments, private sector representatives, industry associations, development partners, financial institutions, researchers, regional organisations and other leather value chain development players. Discussions will focus on identifying priorities and practical interventions to strengthen regional cooperation, improve competitiveness, promote value addition and unlock investment opportunities across the leather value chain.

By bringing together key stakeholders from across the region, the Forum aims to accelerate the development of a competitive, inclusive and sustainable regional leather industry that contributes to regional integration through industrialisation, job creation, intra-regional trade and economic transformation in line with the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (SISR) 2015-2063.

The SADC Secretariat remains committed to working closely with Member States and strategic partners to promote regional value chains that enhance economic resilience, increase value addition and improve livelihoods across the region.