SADC, Germany Prepare for Bilateral Development Negotiations
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the German Embassy in Botswana convened a Technical Meeting at the SADC Headquarters in Gaborone to advance preparations for the forthcoming Bilateral Negotiations on Development Cooperation, scheduled for November 2025.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ms Angele Makombo N’tumba, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, and Mrs Simone Görtz, Head of Economic Cooperation at the German Embassy. It served as a strategic platform to refine negotiation priorities and review progress on previously agreed actions, underscoring both parties’ commitment to regional integration, sustainable development and inclusive economic growth.
A key focus was the operationalisation of the €36.4 million pledged during the 2023 Berlin negotiations. To date, five Implementation Agreements worth €15.4 million have been concluded, with the remaining €21 million earmarked for programmes in Transboundary Water Management, the Transfrontier Conservation Area Facility and the KAZA TFCA. Negotiation priorities for 2025 will centre on the Cooperation for the Enhancement of SADC Regional Economic Integration (CESARE) Programme, Climate Resilience and Natural Resources Management, Strengthening National-Regional Linkages, and the Studies and Expert Fund.
Programme updates highlighted the CESARE Programme’s third phase, backed by €5.4 million and additional EU support, which is driving progress in trade in services, regulatory harmonisation and regional connectivity. Other milestones include capacity-building initiatives under the Quality Infrastructure project, accelerated implementation of the €4 million Transboundary Water Management programme, and the €24 million TFCA Facility supporting ranger training, conservation and cross-sector collaboration.
The Secretariat also reported on the Mid-Term Review of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030. The final report, due to be presented to the SADC Council in March 2026, will provide a comprehensive assessment of progress and guide future implementation.
Further discussions considered the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund (RDF), intended to mobilise resources from Member States, partners and the private sector to address financing gaps in regional projects. The Secretariat additionally highlighted the recently approved SADC Communication, Awareness and Visibility Strategy (2025–2030) and appealed for Germany’s support in implementing priority activities.
The meeting reaffirmed the enduring SADC-German partnership, with both sides pledging to strengthen cooperation through strategic investments and collaborative programming. These efforts are expected to set the stage for impactful negotiations and advance transformative development across the region.
