The SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax has today the 28th August 2016, launched four (4) SADC publications in Lozitha Swaziland as part of the 36th SADC Summit. The publications are: “the SADC Energy Monitor”; “the Sixth edition of the SADC Gender Monitor”; “the Trafficking in Persons in the SADC Region; A baseline report”; and “Adding Value: A policy tool Box for SADC Member States to Manage Economic Transformation and Value Chain Development”. These publications provide progress made towards harmonization and implementation relevant regional commitments and programmes both at the regional and SADC Member States levels. They also expected to provide guidance, pointers and tools to help regional stakeholders on what needs to be done to effectively ensure deeper regional integration for the benefit of SADC citizens.
Speaking during the launch, the SADC Executive Secretary highlighted that these publications are aimed at enabling SADC citizens, and regional and international partners to get correct and up-to-date information regarding progress made in implementing regional programmes in terms of achievements and emerging issues. “They are also expected to provide information that is necessary to guide informed decision making and refocusing of efforts to increase impact on the region’s interventions” she noted.
She called upon Media Practitioners to help in disseminating information on the publications, and facilitate the adoption of their recommendations by regional stakeholders. She also thanked International Cooperating and Knowledge Partners among them; the Austrian Development Cooperation, Regional Economic Development Institute; the European Union, the Federal Republic of German and the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC) for the financial and technical assistance that enabled the compilation and publication of these publications.
Also making her remarks, Dr Sibongile M. Mtshali-Dlamini, Chairperson of the SADC Human and Social Development Cluster commended the SADC Secretariat for the publications. She indicated that the Kingdom of Swaziland was already implementing some interventions on Gender and Trafficking in Persons. “The recommendation, tools and guidance provided by these documents will go a long way in helping to mainstream these areas of focus” she said.
Speaking at the same function, the Head of Mission at the Austrian in Pretoria, Dr Matthias Radossztics noted the Government of Austria was happy to be a partner with SADC in the development of these publications. “The main focus of the Austrian Government is to ensure the access to affordable, reliable and modern services by 2030 as agreed in 2015 under the Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the strengthening of women’s and their equal participation in development processes in line with Gaol 5” he pointed out.
