𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗡 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi, received the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Botswana, Her Excellency Ms. Wenyan Yang, during a courtesy visit to the SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana, on 16 September 2026.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the two leaders to reaffirm the longstanding partnership between SADC and the United Nations and exchange views on regional priorities and practical ways of translating policies, strategies and programmes into tangible results that improve the lives of the people of Southern Africa.

H.E. Mr. Magosi highlighted the importance of accelerating the implementation of SADC’s strategic priorities towards 2030 and beyond. He emphasised the need for stronger resource mobilisation, economic diversification and investment in human capital development, particularly in education and health. He further underscored the importance of strengthening implementation and ensuring that national and regional development plans deliver measurable results.

The discussions identified peer learning and the exchange of experiences among SADC Member States as valuable tools for strengthening implementation. The two leaders also explored opportunities for closer collaboration in climate action, disaster preparedness and response, migration and child protection, nutrition, health, education, peace and security, and institutional capacity-building.

Particular attention was given to the growing strategic importance of critical minerals and the need for SADC Member States to strengthen their collective negotiating capacity, attract responsible investment, develop regional value chains and promote local beneficiation and value addition before exporting the Region’s mineral resources. The leaders acknowledged that this approach is essential for ensuring that Southern Africa derives lasting developmental benefits from its natural resource endowment.

The meeting also considered cooperation in migration and border management, including capacity-building, the deployment of modern biometric border-management systems and peer-to-peer exchanges. They further discussed strengthening regional partnerships in disaster-risk management and reinforcing health cooperation, including the HIV response, nutrition and the implementation of relevant regional commitments.

H.E. Ms. Yang reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to working with SADC as a strategic partner and supporting the Region in converting development priorities into coordinated, implementable programmes. She also emphasised the value of a coherent “One UN” approach in supporting SADC’s regional integration and development agenda.

Both parties agreed on the importance of sustained dialogue and stronger coordination to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SADC Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030.

H.E. Ms. Yang was accompanied by Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, World Health Organization Representative; Mr. Itayi Viriri, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration; Mr. Chikezie Anyanwu, Head of Office in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office; and Mr. Nchidzi Smarts, Communications and Advocacy Officer in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.