The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the United States Agency on International Development (USAID) convened the inaugural Steering Committee of the SADC-USA Regional Development Agreement (RDOAG). The RDOAG was signed in August 2023, with an estimated global budget USD 224 million to support development priorities related to economic growth, environment and energy, youth democracy and governance, and health.
In officiating the opening, the US Ambassador to Botswana and Special Representative of SADC, H.E. Mr Howard Van Vranken remarked that the US Government is committed to support the region in tackling some of the development challenges such as economic inequality, strained health, conflicts, climate change, unemployment poverty and corruption. He expressed that the RDOAG provides a good opportunity to strengthen collaboration and partnership.
USAID presented updates on the programming and implementation of the RDOAG, which has to date, committed financial resources amounting to USD 104 million. The SADC Secretariat thanked the US Government for the continued supported to from USAID, including other development initiatives under the Millenium Challenge Account and the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Secretariat indicated that the RDOAG is aligned to the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030). In the context of implementing the RDOAG, the Secretariat expressed need for further support in the areas of environment and climate change, natural resource management, democracy and governance, food security, economic growth, water and energy, health and youth development.
Both sides agreed to deepen sectoral engagements for purposes of strengthening synergies and avoiding duplication of efforts. Such sectoral engagements will be facilitated through the existing SADC-ICP Thematic Groups, which are co-chaired by the Secretariat and various ICPs. To enhance monitoring, both sides agreed to schedule site visits to the various projects supported under the RDOAD, as part of promoting visibility and enhancing results and impact.
The Steering Committee was co-chaired by Dr Mubita Luwabelwa, Director for Policy Planning and Resource Mobilisation (representing the Deputy Executive Secretary for regional Integration, Ms Angele Makombo N’Tumba) and Mr Richard Burns, Deputy Mission Director for the USAID Southern Africa. The USAID Country Representative to Botswana, Ms Vikkie Stein, also participated, and technical staff from both USAID and the SADC Secretariat.
