Sadc’s milestones book a must read
THE year 2020 marked the 40th anniversary of the Lusaka Declaration Southern Africa: Toward Economic Liberation and inaugural summit of nine countries that established SADCC on April 1, 1980.
In commemorating its 40th anniversary, SADC came up with a publication that contextualises the history of the regional bloc, the transformations and its vision for the future.
The purpose of the publication is to raise awareness about the regional community and its agenda for regional integration, pointing to its future trajectory as a building block of the African Union and the African Economic Community.
This is an informative publication, which is a must read for all SADC member states, policy makers, the SADC Secretariat and its subsidiary organisations, international cooperating partners, the private sector, scholars, researchers, academic institutions and media organisations.
It covers the period of the regional body’s formation and gives a historical context to the evolving transformation and the reasons for key decisions taken along the way.
Titled, “40 Years of SADC: Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Integration”, the publication brings to light the history of SADC and key achievements the region has made since 1980. The book was published by the SADC Secretariat in conjunction with the Southern Africa Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC).
It highlights the major milestones and achievements as well as challenges encountered by the regional bloc since its formation.
The publication is thus a presentation and celebration of the achievements of unity and integration in regional community, effective practices and lessons learnt towards a shared future. For easy reading, the book is divided into six chapters with chapter 1 giving a historical context for establishing SADCC in 1980 and the situation through the 1980s when the region was grappling with destabilisation from apartheid South Africa.
The trajectory takes in the role of liberation movements and the frontline states leading to Namibia’s independence in 1990, signing of the SADC Treaty and the transformation of the regional body in Windhoek, Namibia in 1992.
Chapter 2 documents key decisions taken by summits in transforming the organisation, while Chapter 3 looks at the SADC governance structure, which has been developed during this period.
Chapter 4 focuses on achievements in the socio-economic sectors with Chapter 5 looking at the achievements under the fourth pillar of Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2015-2020 that provides the foundation of Peace and Security.
The book concludes with key observations and policy considerations as well as effective practices over the past years since its formation that could be used to advance the regional integration agenda into the future.
SADC milestones
The following are just a few of the milestones that have so far been achieved by SADC
◆ Adoption of 33 Protocols
In celebrating its 40-year anniversary, the regional body highlighted some socio-economic milestones. These milestones include the adoption of 33 Protocols to guide regional integration. Following the signing of the SADC Declaration and the Treaty in 1992, the region has shown commitment to deeper integration through the signature of 33 protocols as well as systematic strategic plans including the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan: Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2020); and SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan.
All these laid a strong legal, institutional strategic foundation for advancing regional cooperation. ◆ Prioritising industrialisation in regional development
The decision to frontload industrialisation was taken in 2015 after reviewing previous efforts to increase intra-regional trade, which were hampered by the little capacity in member states to produce goods for competitive trade within and outside the region.
This led to the adoption of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2020. The strategy recognises the private sector as a major player in SADC industrialisation and regional integration. ◆ Launch of SADC Free Trade Area
The historic launch of the SADC Free Trade Area is 2008 brought a phased programme of tariff reductions and resulted in more than 85 percent of intra-regional trade among Member States attaining zero duty status.
This has been complemented by efforts to open borders to citizens of fellow member states in the spirit of promoting the free movement of goods and services, and facilitation of movement of persons within the region. ◆ A simplified trade regime framework
The adoption of the Simplified Trade Regime Framework in 2019 has contributed to trade facilitation.
Financial inclusion
The approval of the Implementation Plan for the SADC Financial Inclusion Strategy and Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SME) Access to Finance in 2018 has expanded financial inclusion in the region.
Ten member states have developed strategies or a national roadmap on financial inclusion aimed at empowering SMEs, youth and women to participate in economic activity. There has been improvement in financial inclusion among adults in the region to a level of 68 percent.
Real Time Gross Settlement System
The SADC Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) multi-currency platform went live in October 2018 to facilitate faster and more efficient payment transactions in the region. All member states except Comoros are participating in the SADC-RTGS and a total of 85 banks (central banks and commercial banks) are also participating in the system. The SADC-RTGS has enabled member states to settle payments among themselves in real-time, when previously it took several days to process cross border transactions.
Project Preparation and Development Facility
The establishment of the SADC Project Preparation and Development Facility (PPDF) became a reality in August 2008 following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the SADC Secretariat and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. The SADC PPDF has supported nine projects to date, of which two are in the transport sector and seven in the energy sector.
Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan
The Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) was approved in 2012 and was informed by the understanding that infrastructure development and maintenance is a priority for accelerating regional economic integration and development. This includes the concept of One-Stop Border Posts as a key element of the transport and logistics infrastructure to reduce transactions costs for crossing borders.
Pooled procurement of pharmaceuticals
The SADC Procurement Services (SPPS) became a reality after an MOU was signed in 2018 for the pooled procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. The MOU is expected to reduce the cost of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in the region.
Curbing the spread of HIV/ AIDS
The adoption and institutionalisation of a standard, comprehensive package that addresses the unique challenges in providing equitable and effective HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, and provision of services to key and vulnerable populations within SADC, has contributed greatly in curbing the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS.
Regional qualification framework
SADC has taken a significant step towards the harmonisation of education across the region by approving a Regional Qualifications Framework (SADCRQF) in 2017 that will facilitate the recognition of entry and exit qualifications in critical skills areas, making easier access for learners and workers across the region.
SADC Gender Declaration and Protocol
The first SADC instrument towards gender equality following the 4th World Conference on Women in 1995 was the SADC Gender Declaration approved in 1997 at the 17th SADC Summit in Blantyre, Malawi, acknowledging that gender equality is a fundamental human right demanding equal representation of women and men in decision-making and full access by women to, and control over, productive resources and formal employment. An Addendum on the Prevention and Eradication of Violence Against Women and Children was adopted in 2016 to align with international commitments.