SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY : REGIONAL INDICATIVE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Abstract

In March 2001, SADC Heads of State and Government metat an Extra-ordinary Summit in Windhoek, Namibia and approved the restructuring of SADC institutions. Key features of this restructuring include the grouping of the 21sectors into clusters under four directorates at the Secretariat, and the establishment of SADC national committees to coordinate their respective individual Member State interests relating to SADC. The restructuring exercise aim at facilitating the implementation of a more coherent and better co-ordinated strategy, with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of SADC policies and programmers. The Extra-ordinary Summit also approved the preparation of this Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) by the Secretariat to complement restructuring and to provide a clear direction for SADC policies and programmes over the long term. The RISDP re-affirms the commitment of SADC Member States to good political, economic and corporate governance entrenched in a culture of democracy, full participation by civil society, transparency and respect for the rule of law. In this context, the African Union's NEPAD Programme is embraced as a credible and relevant continental framework, and the RISDP as SADC's regional expression and vehicle for achieving the ideals contained therein. The RISDP emphasizes that good political, economic and corporate governance are prerequisites for sustainable socio-economic development, and that SADC's quest for poverty eradication and deeper levels of integration will not be realised if these are not in place.