SADC, UNICEF Strengthen Partnership for Child Rights in Southern Africa
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa convened a high-level hybrid planning meeting to review the progress of their joint workplan and align strategic priorities for 2026 and beyond.
This marks a significant step forward in implementing the SADC–UNICEF Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at promoting and safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of children across the SADC region.
The meeting brought together technical experts from both institutions who assessed achievements and strategized around key thematic areas such as education, health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), gender equality, child protection, social policy, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), climate action, and emergency preparedness and response.
A core focus of the discussions was to reaffirm the strong partnership between SADC and UNICEF, with both parties expressing their commitment to deepening collaboration.
Emphasis was placed on multisectoral engagement, results-driven planning, and the importance of enhanced coordination with other UN agencies to increase impact—especially in light of evolving challenges in development financing.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was an agreement to host a strategic dialogue involving the SADC Secretariat, International Cooperating Partners (ICPs), and other UN agencies.
This upcoming forum will focus on addressing the needs of children on the move—particularly in relation to migration-related challenges such as trafficking, detention, gender-based violence, and lack of access to essential services.
