The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany held consultations on Development Cooperation on 19th and 20th February 2019, at the SADC Head Office in Gaborone, Botswana. The purpose of the Consultations was, amongst others, to agree on areas of cooperation in preparation for the next Bilateral Negotiations between the SADC Secretariat and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to be held in November 2019.
The consultations were co-officiated by the SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Botswana, His Excellency Mr. Ralf Breth. In her Opening Remarks, Her Excellency Dr. Tax expressed gratitude to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for the continued support towards SADC regional integration and development agenda. To enable the achievement of the SADC objectives, the SADC Executive Secretary called upon the Government of Federal Republic of Germany to continue supporting SADC priority programmes including the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063; the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP), the Regional Agricultural Investment Plan (RAIP), and other priority strategies and programmes such as the Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Strategy. She further called upon both parties as they prepare for the next SADC-Germany Bilateral Negotiations, to take into account the emerging developmental challenges, while agreeing on areas of mutual interest for their cooperation. She further appealed for increased financial support, which is easily managed and monitored, and the need for continued joint planning and monitoring of the technical support, specifically in agreeing on expected results, and in monitoring impacts.
His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Ralf Breth and the Germany delegation expressed willingness to continue supporting SADC in both technical and financial cooperation. Among others, Regional Economic Integration and peace and security, Transboundary Water Management, Transboundary use and Protection of Natural Resources and Resilience to Climate Change, Strengthening National-Regional Linkages and Study and Expert Fund, were identified as priority areas of continued cooperation among the two parties, details of which, are to be finalized during the November. 2019 negotiations, to place in Gaborone, Botswana. The identified areas of cooperation are in line with SADC priorities outlined in the Revised RISDP 2015-2020 and the Revised SIPO 2015/2020; and the Germany’s Marshall Plan with Africa.
The SADC delegation was led by Dr. Thembinkosi Mhlongo, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, while the delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany was led by Mr. Steffen Weber, Policy Officer for SADC at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The meeting was also attended by the European Union Delegation in Gaborone and the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Botswana, who were invited and participated as observers.
22 February, 2019, Gaborone, Botswana
