The Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), on 13 June, 2018 bade farewell to the outgoing Head of European Union (EU) Delegation to Botswana and Representative to SADC, His Excellency Ambassador Alexander Baum with a call to consolidate the gains made under the leadership of the outgoing Ambassador.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of SADC, Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax thanked H.E. Ambassador Baum for his stewardship which, she said, strengthened the long standing partnership and collaboration between SADC and EU. H.E. Dr Tax further said the SADC Secretariat will work with the successor to Ambassador Baum in promoting and strengthening regional cooperation and integration.
On his part, H.E. Ambassador Baum said he will be leaving for Europe with fond memories of his time in the SADC region, having previously served as Head of EU Delegation to Malawi before coming to Botswana. H.E. Ambassador Baum said, having spent over 8 years in Southern Africa, he developed a deep connection with issues pertaining to the region. On this note, H.E. Ambassador Baum expressed gratitude to the SADC Secretariat for the partnership and friendship that he experienced during his tenure of office.
Under the leadership of H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, the Executive Secretary of SADC, and H.E Ambassador Baum, SADC and the EU collaboratively undertook a number of programmes, including the successful implementation of the 10th Cycle of the European Development Fund (10th EDF), and the programming of 11th EDF, finalisation of Pillar Assessment and, strengthening of the SADC-ICP Dialogue Platform. Programmes implemented during the 10th EDF and to be implemented under 11th EDF cuts across a number of sectors, specifically trade facilitation, promotion and development of value chains, infrastructure development, agriculture, consolidation of democracy, and peace and security.
The SADC Secretariat also bade farewell to the Outgoing EU Delegation Head of Cooperation in Botswana, Mr. Jocelin Cornet, and the outgoing Counsellor for Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Ms. Jana Schlegel.
