In southern Africa, there is a high level of official commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and overcoming poverty, both by governments and by continental and regional organisations such as the African Union (AU), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Linked to achieving the MDGs, most governments are engaged in the development and implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). Policies to promote growth, democratic governance, and social and economic justice are part of these strategies. To be effective, however, many of this process requires more integrated regional approaches and stronger engagement by civil society and the private sector, at both national and regional levels.
With this challenge come opportunities for new partnerships and alliances, and new forms of advocacy for better public policy. There are also risks
Effective policies that have strong popular support are a political outcome of negotiation and bargaining amongst many different interests and constituencies in society. These processes are crucial to building democratic participation and to creating accountable, responsive governance. However, if the voices of the poor are not asserted in these processes, other interests are likely to dominate in both the design and implementation of policies.
The Southern Africa Trust was therefore established in 2005 to support civil society organisations in southern Africa to participate effectively and with credibility in policy dialogue so that the voices of the poor can have a better impact in the development of public policies
