The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers Responsible for Gender and Women's Affairs convened virtually on 26 June 2026 under the chairpersonship of the Republic of South Africa to review regional progress on gender equality and adopt measures aimed at accelerating the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
The meeting was chaired by Hon. Sindisiwe Chikunga, South Africa's Minister responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency, and brought together Ministers responsible for Gender and Women's Affairs from across the SADC region, senior government officials, representatives of development partners such as UN Women, civil society organisations and the SADC Secretariat. In her opening remarks, Honourable Minister Chikunga reaffirmed the importance of sustained regional cooperation, stressing that "with less than five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda, this calls on all of us to accelerate progress in the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. We must reinvigorate our commitment to holding ourselves accountable to the commitments we have made." Her message underscored the collective responsibility of Member States to translate commitments into tangible action for women and girls.
Delivering his remarks, SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi, reaffirmed SADC's commitment to advancing gender equality as a cornerstone of regional integration and sustainable development. "SADC continues to place gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls at the forefront of the regional integration and development agenda," said the Executive Secretary Magosi.
He further noted that the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030) recognises gender as both an integration and development enabler and a cross-sectoral priority, adding that the recommendations emerging from the Ministers' meeting would contribute to the ongoing Mid-Term Review of the RISDP.
The Ministers reviewed progress in implementing the SADC Gender Programme and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. Discussions focused on women's participation in politics and decision-making, gender mainstreaming, gender statistics, women's economic empowerment, Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV).
Despite notable progress across Member States, the Executive Secretary observed that significant challenges remain.
"The regional average of women's representation at Executive level stands at 28.5%, significantly below the target of 50%," he said, noting that only Namibia and Seychelles have achieved gender parity in ministerial positions while no Member State has yet attained parity in Parliament.
The meeting also reviewed the status of gender-based violence across the region. Ministers noted that reported GBV cases remain high and emphasised the need to strengthen prevention programmes, improve data collection and enhance multi-sectoral coordination.
The Executive Secretary has acknowledged progress made by Member States in strengthening institutional responses to GBV but urged for greater investment in evidence-based prevention programmes supported by reliable data from GBV prevalence surveys.
“The Mid-Term Review of the SADC Gender-Based Violence Strategy found that fragmented implementation, limited capacity, and inadequate multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms remain among the gaps limiting effective implementation of GBV response and prevention initiatives," he said.
The Ministers also welcomed continued progress in implementing the SADC Strategy on Women, Peace and Security, noting the increase in Member States with National Action Plans from eight to nine, following the adoption of this plan by Tanzania. They further welcomed ongoing efforts to operationalise the Regional Network of Women Mediators in Southern Africa.
On women's economic empowerment, Ministers noted the commencement of the Enhancing Women Entrepreneurship Development Project, a two-year regional initiative that will support women entrepreneurs in Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho.
The meeting considered a number of policy decisions aimed at strengthening implementation of regional gender commitments, including accelerating gender mainstreaming, improving gender statistics, strengthening women's participation in political and decision-making processes, enhancing gender-responsive budgeting, expanding women's economic empowerment initiatives and intensifying efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
The outcomes of the meeting will guide the implementation of the SADC Gender Programme during the 2026/2027 financial year and contribute to achieving the objectives of the RISDP 2020–2030 and the SADC Vision 2050.
