Germany Backs SADC With €26.1 Million for Regional Growth and Security
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Federal Republic of Germany have reaffirmed their longstanding cooperation following a new commitment of €26.1 million in development support. The agreement was reached during bilateral negotiations held from 5–6 November 2025 at the SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Gaborone.
The high-level talks were co-chaired by SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Mr Elias Magosi, and Ms Birgit Gerhardus, Head of the Division for Southern Africa at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Germany’s Ambassador to Botswana and Special Representative to SADC, H.E. Ms Gabriela Bennemann, also took part in the discussions.
The biennial negotiations marked more than 40 years of cooperation between the two partners. The previous round was convened in Berlin in December 2023.
Germany’s €26.1 million pledge will support key regional priorities, including regional economic integration and trade, transboundary water management, natural resource and biodiversity conservation, with particular attention to reducing human-wildlife conflict. A portion of the funds will also go towards strengthening institutions and building capacity at both regional and Member State levels.
Alongside bilateral funding, Germany will deploy resources from its continental envelope to support a number of strategic regional programmes. These include SADC’s Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Strategy (LEAP), the Regional Energy Master Plan, the North-South Corridor infrastructure initiative, and the “Silence the Guns” Plan of Action aimed at combating illicit arms flows.
Additional support will also be channelled into developing decarbonised and inclusive value chains for transition minerals.
Germany’s global programmes will further contribute to disaster risk management, efforts to combat gender-based violence, and strengthening aquatic food systems across the region.
Both sides acknowledged the challenges posed by rising geopolitical pressures and global economic uncertainties. In this context, they stressed the importance of enhanced cooperation in advancing regional integration, poverty eradication, and sustainable development in line with SADC Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020–2030).
The SADC Secretariat welcomed Germany’s continued support and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with development partners to deliver on shared priorities.
