SADC and UNICEF Sign MoU to Boost Regional Collaboration for Children’s Well-being
His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi, the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), warmly welcomed Ms. Etleva Kadilli, the Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), during her visit to Gaborone, Botswana. She was accompanied by Dr. Joan Matji, the outgoing UNICEF Country Representative for Botswana to SADC.
The key agenda of the visit was to formalize the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SADC and UNICEF, which will guide their collaborative efforts over the next five years, from 2025 to 2030.
The MoU will build on the longstanding partnership between SADC and UNICEF, particularly in policy formulation and providing technical and financial support for several regional programs and initiatives. UNICEF’s presence spans all SADC Member States, contributing significantly to humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, health, HIV, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, and social protection.
During the meeting, H.E. Magosi expressed deep gratitude for UNICEF’s continuous technical support and acknowledged the organization’s significant role in advocating for children’s rights. He praised UNICEF’s contributions to promoting sustainable socio-economic development across the SADC region.
He also noted the ongoing collaboration between the two organizations, particularly in developing regional nutrition strategies that align with the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030) and the SADC Vision 2050.
Magosi also highlighted several critical areas requiring attention to improve children’s well-being, including tackling diseases, child abuse, trafficking, HIV/AIDS, climate change, and the local manufacturing of medicines and vaccines. He reaffirmed UNICEF’s vital role in advancing health and nutrition programs and acknowledged the progress achieved in these areas.
Ms. Kadilli, in her remarks, praised the partnership and mutual cooperation between UNICEF and SADC, stressing the importance of continued collaboration to ensure equitable access to essential services for children, such as health, education, nutrition, and water.
She emphasized UNICEF’s alignment with both the region’s vision and the African Union (AU)’s Agenda 2063, alongside Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040, which aims to secure a prosperous future for Africa’s youth.
Kadilli further underscored the necessity of disaster risk reduction and public health emergency preparedness to safeguard lives and enhance sustainable development across the region.
The SADC region continues to face alarming challenges, particularly the high prevalence of growth stunting among children. As of 2024, approximately 21 million children under the age of five are affected by stunting, a rise from 18.6 million in 2022. UNICEF has been pivotal in addressing HIV among children and adolescents, offering technical support to Member States through its Regional Hub and the Global Alliance to End Pediatric AIDS.
The MoU signed between SADC and UNICEF is accompanied by a comprehensive five-year action plan. Both parties have committed to maintaining close collaboration, with a focus on ensuring better outcomes for the children and youth of the Southern African region.
This MoU promises a future of continued efforts and success for UNICEF and SADC in their shared mission to promote the well-being of children and the sustainable development of the region.
