MEDIA RELEASE
Immediate, 10 August 2006
The SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan:Towards a Regional Vision to End Poverty?
In order to get a better understanding of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, the Southern Africa Trust together with the Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN), the Institute for Global Dialogue (IDG) and the SADC Council of NGOs (SADC CNGO) are organising a panel discussion on The SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP): Towards a Regional Vision to End Poverty?.
Amidst the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for 17 and 18 August 2006, in Maseru, Lesotho, the seminar aims to provide a knowledge sharing platform on how different poverty reduction efforts pursued by different interest groups in southern Africa relate to the RISDP.
“It has become apparent that any initiative designed to deal with poverty such as the RISDP should be constantly reviewed to ensure that the experiences and voices of the poor are well articulated and taken into account; which we hope this meeting will also attempt to do,” said Barbara Kalima-Phiri, Policy Analyst: Poverty Reduction Strategies with the Southern Africa Trust.
Ms Kalima-Phiri added that the levels of inequality among people in societies continues to rise with some countries still experiencing declining agricultural productivity, conflict, inappropriate economic policies and governance problems which have made it difficult for them to provide essential services such as education, health, clean water and sanitation to their citizens.
“The RISDP is not a policy document for the SADC member states only but for all interested in development and poverty reduction. It provides a useful opportunity for civil society organisations to link their efforts to fight poverty with the official processes”, said Dr Siphamandla Zondi, Programme Director for Africa and Southern Africa with the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD).
The 15 year RISDP, being implemented in five-year phases, has now entered its second year of implementation. However, there is very limited knowledge and involvement of different stakeholders in the RISDP.
Although the RISDP is only indicative in nature, it is a primary regional development plan that should elicit wide debate as it outlines targets and strategies for many different programmes, policies and processes for development in southern Africa.
This discussion is the first in a series of many other activities planned by the Southern Africa Trust in an effort to support work that will contribute positively to building a regional agenda to end poverty.
The seminar will be held at Bambata Stadium Hotel in Maseru, Lesotho on 17 August, 2006 from 14.30hrs to 17:00hrs. It coincides with SADC Day commemorated every year in the region to mark the day the SADC Treaty was signed in Windhoek, Namibia in 1992.
For more information and comments please contact Petronilla Ndebele or Mpho Kgosidintsi on +27 11 313 3065 or +27 73 091 6609 and +27 72 641 9274
E-mail:
pndebele@southernafricatrust.org or
communications@southernafricatrust.org
Website:
www.southernafricatrust.org
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