The SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, met the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), H.E. Akinwumi AyodeijiAdesina, on 26 May 2016 at Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia in the margins of the 2016 AfDB Annual meetings. The objective of the meeting was tofollow-up on the meeting between the SADC Ministers of Finance and the AfDB President held in October 2015 in Lima, Peru; and to discuss cooperation and collaboration between the AfDB and SADC in the implementation of the SADC Regional priorities.
The meeting noted that the AfDB High 5 initiatives are inline with the SADC Regional priorities as outlined in the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2015-2020. It was agreed that cooperation between SADC and the AfDB would be on a programmatic approach, focusing on industrialization as the Region's major priority, anchored on the 3 SADC Industrialization pillars of (1) revitalizing regional integration, (2) enhancing competitiveness, and (3) fostering industrialization. Specific attention would be given to projects that will address binding constraints, notably in infrastructure (energy, ICT, transportation, water); and in areas that will enhance competitiveness and facilitate industrialization; specifically in agro-processing and downstream processing, mineral beneficiation, and in national, regional and global value chains. Programmer to be supported will be in line with the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015 -2063, and SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Masterplan (RIDMP).
The President of the AfDB re-affirmed the Bank's commitment to fast truck the operationalization of the INGA power project as part of AfDB power Africa initiative, and a SADC project under the SADC RIDMP. To this effect, immediate measures to be taken.
The meeting further noted the devastating effects of climate change, noting that some of the SADC countries are affected by severe drought and El Nino conditions, thus are at risk of food insecurity. To this effect, SADC appreciated the Bank's announcement to provide financing of $549 million to support African countries to address the adverse effects of droughts and reduce vulnerability. Both parties agreed to solicit additional funds to address climate change impacts.
The meeting between Dr. Tax and Dr. Adesina was preceded by a technical meeting between SADC Secretariat, the AfDB Executive Directors (SADC Constituency) and AfDB Senior staff held on Monday, 23 May 2016 in Lusaka, Zambia. SADC Technical Team was led by Mr. R. Makumbe, Director of Infrastructure and Services.
The Bank's 10 year Strategy for Regional Integration offers an hour opportunity to identify and support programmes aligned to the SADC Regions priorities.
