SADC Senior Officials convene to review strategic regional initiatives advancing the implementation of RISDP 2020 - 2030

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened a meeting of Senior Officials from 20 to 21 November 2025 in Gaborone, Botswana, to review and discuss regional initiatives advancing the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020 - 2030. The meeting was supported by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the GIZ’s Strengthening National Regional Linkages (SNRL) Programme.

The primary objective of the meeting was to solicit inputs and guidance from Senior Officials ahead of the submission of these initiatives to the SADC Council for consideration and approval in March 2026.

Mr. Andrew Maswanganye, Director of SADC Economic Integration and Infrastructure for the Republic of South Africa and Chairperson of the meeting, commended the SADC Secretariat for convening this important engagement, which follows up on several key SADC Council of Ministers’ decisions. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Germany for its continued technical and financial support to SADC programmes.

Mr. Maswanganye highlighted that the region is now midway through the implementation of the RISDP 2020 - 2030, emphasising the importance of taking stock of achievements and breakthroughs to strengthen regional cooperation and expand critical programmes. He noted that SADC Member States continue to face structural challenges, including commodity-dependent economies, limited value addition, weak industrial bases, and insufficient benefits from intra-regional and global trade. Emerging issues such as climate change, economic shocks, security threats, intra-state conflicts and rising geopolitical tensions further shape the region’s developmental trajectory.

Mrs. Angele Makombo N’tumba, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Responsible for Regional Integration, reiterated SADC’s commitment to deepening regional integration through strengthened governance, coordination and institutional efficiency. She called on Senior Officials to provide technical guidance to enhance the effective implementation of the RISDP 2020 -2030 and ensure that SADC’s institutional structures operate efficiently, inclusively, and in accordance with the SADC Treaty.

Mrs. Makombo N’tumba further emphasised the importance of streamlining operations and processes in implementing Council Decisions, thereby strengthening Member States’ capacities and improving the practical application of SADC instruments to achieve meaningful regional outcomes.

During the two-day engagement, participants focused on several key areas, including:

• Rationalization of SADC Council Decisions to enhance institutional effectiveness, efficiency, and the overall impact of regional integration initiatives.

• Review and operationalization of the Non-State Actors’ Engagement Mechanism, aimed at fostering inclusive participation in regional processes.

• Assessment of the SADC National Committees Peer Learning and Review Mechanism (S-PLRM) to promote accountability, shared learning, and improved coordination across Member States.

• Review of the establishment and implementation of guidelines and the Model Law on SADC National Committees (SNCs), ensuring alignment with SADC Treaty provisions.

Senior Officials from the following SADC Member States participated: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.