The Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on 16th June, 2023 engaged International Cooperating Partners on the prioritized projects derived from the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2023, as part of the resource mobilization drive for regional high impact projects.
The meeting took place in Gaborone and was co-chaired by the SADC Executive Secretary His Excellency Mr Elias M. Magosi and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Botswana and SADC who is the Chairperson of SADC International Cooperating Partners (ICPs), Her Excellency, Ambassador Petra Pereyra.
In his remarks, the SADC Executive Secretary H.E Elias M. Magosi hailed the enduring partnership between SADC and ICPs as critical towards the attainment of regional aspirations as outlined in the RISDP 2020-2030 and SADC Vision 2050.
The Executive Secretary underscored the need for the region implement critical and impactful projects that will uplift the living standards of SADC citizens.
On her part, Ambassador Pereyra expressed that most of the proritised projects address the contemporary challenges that SADC faces, including youth unemployment, gender inequality, climate change, peace and security.
Ambassador Pereyra added that issues of climate change, peace and security addressed in the prioritised projects are well aligned to the priorities of the International Cooperating Partners in the SADC region.
The prioritised projects cover six strategic priority areas of the RISDP 2020–2030 namely:
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Peace, Security, and Good Governance;
𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗜: Industrial Development and Market Integration;
𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗜𝗜: Infrastructure Development in Support of Regional Integration;
𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗜𝗜𝗜: Social and Human Capital Development;
𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 including Gender, Youth, Environment and Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management; and
𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 of RISDP 2020–2030.
The meeting was attended by the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration Ms. Angele Makombo N'tumba, Heads of United Nations agencies, World Bank, Ambassadors accredited to Botswana and SADC, and representatives of SADC Subsidiarity Organisations.
