The SADC Secretariat led by H.E. Dr. Stergomena L. Tax attended a meeting convened by the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region His Excellency Said Djinnit in Nairobi, Kenya on 25th August 2015. The meeting was also attended by continental and regional community organisations' leaders and/or representatives. The meeting focused on how to enhance coordination, collaboration and synergies in the Great Lakes region in line with the objectives of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region (PSCF).
Participants shared information on respective initiatives, projects and programmes, particularly those with significant cross-border benefits, as well as confidence building measures and agreed on priorities, broad principles and modalities for coordination and maximisation for synergy. The meeting agreed to focus on peace and security; investments and regional integration; gender and governance issues, including elections and the management of natural resources.
The meeting further recognised the need to build capacity so as to enhance effectiveness in coordination, implementation and monitoring within respective organisations.
Participants further agreed to meet regularly, under the auspices of the AU Special Representative for the Great Lakes region and the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region to discuss issues of common interest. To this end, they decided to establish a Technical team to formulate modalities for engagement and cooperation.
