Accelerating SADC’s Development: Non-State Actors Gather for Regional Dialogue
This event, to be held both in-person and online, aims to address critical challenges in the region, including resource management and accountability.
LILONGWE, Malawi - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is gearing up for its third Regional Dialogue for Non-State Actors (NSAs) on the SADC RISDP 2020-2030, set to take place on September 13-14, 2023, writes Winston Mwale.
This event, to be held both in-person and online, aims to address critical challenges in the region, including resource management and accountability.
The SADC, consisting of 16 member states, is home to approximately 354 million people. Despite its diversity, the region faces common development challenges, compounded by issues like debt and climate change.
The SADC's Vision 2050, along with its 10-year strategy, the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, envisions a peaceful, inclusive, high-income industrialized region with sustainable well-being for all citizens.
The RISDP 2020-2030's success depends on how member states align national policies, programs, and budgets with their goals.
Effective public resource management is crucial, contributing to accountability and efficiency. Poor resource management can result in wastage of scarce resources.
Many SADC member states have fallen short of international commitments, such as the African Union's Abuja and Malabo Declarations, which require increased investment in health and agricultural development.
Recent reports indicate that only a few member states allocate sufficient resources in these areas.
Rising debt and inflation due to climate change-induced disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing global crises have highlighted the region's overreliance on external credit and donor funds.
Some states have had to reprioritize budgets away from vital social services to manage debt.
To address these challenges, SADC has plans to finance the RISDP 2020-2030 through the creation of the Regional Development Fund (RDF).
However, progress has been slow, with only nine member states signing the agreement to operationalize the RDF.
Recognizing the need for accountable financial management, the SADC Parliamentary Forum adopted a Model Law on Public Financial Management in July 2022, aiming to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
To enhance social accountability, non-state actors must be involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of initiatives.
Historically, there have been limited opportunities for NSAs to engage in SADC processes, but recent efforts are strengthening multi-stakeholder SADC National Committees and establishing a Regional NSA Engagement Mechanism.
The third RISDP NSA Dialogue, hosted by an expanding group of co-conveners, will take place from September 13-14, 2023. Participants will assess progress in social sectors, examine climate change's impact, and provide recommendations to enhance accountable public resource management.
The dialogue aims to build on other regional events, fostering collaboration among NSAs and stakeholders. It will convene space for NSAs to assess progress, develop recommendations, and inform the strengthening of SADC-led NSA engagement mechanisms.
The event, held in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, will gather regional and national civil society organizations, smallholder farmers associations, private sector associations, workers' organizations, media outlets, and SADC institutions.
The 2023 RISDP NSA Dialogue holds promise for advancing accountable resource management and sustainable development across the Southern African region.