SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AT A GLANCE
Secretary General: Tomaz Salomão
Created: 1980
Secretariat: Gaborone, Botswana
Member Countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Objectives: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is an inter-governmental organization that works to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states.
Attracting Donors for the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Status: Complete, 2009
Local Organization: Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Canadian Expert: Frank Schwartz
Centred in Botswana, SADC is a regional community of fifteen member states aimed at promoting sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development throughout the region (member states include: Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe).
Technical assistance was requested through the CIDA-funded Deployment for Democratic Development (DDD) to help strengthen SADC’s Development Finance Resource Centre (DFRC). Established in 2000, the DFRC aims to support a region-wide network of national development finance institutions; as well, the DFRC performs policy research and offers advisory services to SADC governments and development finance institutions. |
“We are not only grateful for this growing support but hopeful that it will continue as our programme needs remain high and in excess of available resources.” Steve Kufeni, CEO of SADC |
Canadian expert, Frank Schwartz, worked with the DFRC on enhancing its capacity to develop the internal documents, mechanisms and structures required to attract potential donors and manage anticipated increases in funding. In conducting stakeholder interviews with senior representatives of the development finance institutions, Mr. Schwartz found that the heterogeneity of the network is one of the biggest challenges. For instance, members from South Africa possess over 70% of the network’s resources and contribute over 70% of its revenues, and yet the DFRC’s mandate is to promote equitable growth throughout the entire membership.
This DDD initiative yielded some important lessons learned about the delicate balancing act that confronts many organizations. The DFRC Board has now formally approved the Strategic Plan and Business Plan, and the DFRC Managing for Results and Accountability system is being implemented.