Media release
Immediate

SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP): Towards a Regional Vision to end poverty?

Amidst the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government meeting in Maseru, Lesotho on 17th August 2006, civil society, business and media from the southern Africa region met on a rare platform to share knowledge and understand the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP).

The panel discussion is an initiative of Southern Africa Trust (SAT), Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN), SADC Council of NGOs (SADC CNGO) and the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD).

The 15 year RISDP being implemented in five-year phases, has now entered its second year of implementation.

On the challenges and opportunities of the RISDP, Dr Siphamandla Zondi, Programme Director for Africa and Southern Africa with the IGD expressed concern that the SADC and its institutions have no capacity to implement the RISDP.

The former Chief Director of SADC Secretariat Dr Temba Mhlongo who spoke on understanding the RISDP noted that “as much as implementation of the RISDP is largely at national level, there is great need for the SADC secretariat to have more power to hold governments accountable to their commitments”.

Meanwhile Mr. Kwasi Abeasi Chief Executive Officer of the African Business Roundtable says partnership between civil society organizations, the SADC secretariat and the business community is important and that there should be ongoing consultations on the RISDP.

It was also noted during the panel discussion that it is critical to define the actors of the RISDP and put in place mechanisms for implementation and monitoring. Other issues that emerged from the discussion were the need to strengthen the SADC institutions particularly the SADC National Committees; implementation of SADC legal instruments; and to place a representative of civil society at the SADC Secretariat as a critical link between CSOs and the Secretariat.

There were mixed views on whether the region would meet the targets set in the RISDP notably achieving a Free Trade Area by 2008; a Customs Union by 2010; A Common Market by 2015; and a Monetary Union by 2018.
 

This panel discussion is a first in a series in unpacking the RISDP in an effort to increase knowledge and awareness in building a regional agenda to overcome poverty.

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