SADC and USAID Strengthen Ties for Regional Development
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) convened the inaugural Steering Committee of the SADC-USA Regional Development Agreement (RDOAG).
This partnership, established in August 2023 with a projected budget of USD 224 million, aims to address pressing development priorities in areas such as economic growth, environmental sustainability, youth democracy and governance, and health.
At the opening ceremony, H.E. Mr. Howard Van Vranken, the U.S. Ambassador to Botswana and Special Representative of SADC, reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to supporting the region in overcoming significant challenges, including economic inequality, health crises, conflict, climate change, unemployment, poverty, and corruption.
He emphasized that the RDOAG represents a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaborative efforts and partnerships.
During the meeting, USAID provided updates on the programming and implementation of the RDOAG, noting that USD 104 million has already been allocated for various initiatives. The SADC Secretariat expressed gratitude to the U.S. Government for its ongoing support, highlighting additional development initiatives under the Millennium Challenge Account and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The RDOAG is aligned with the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) for 2020-2030, underscoring a cohesive approach to regional challenges.
Both parties recognized the need for enhanced support in critical areas such as environmental and climate change management, natural resource management, democracy and governance, food security, economic growth, and health. To facilitate collaboration and avoid overlapping efforts, they agreed to deepen sectoral engagements through existing SADC-International Cooperating Partners (ICP) Thematic Groups.
As part of their commitment to transparency and accountability, both sides also agreed to schedule site visits to various projects funded under the RDOAG, aiming to promote visibility and enhance overall impact.
The Steering Committee meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Mubita Luwabelwa, Director for Policy Planning and Resource Mobilisation, and Mr. Richard Burns, Deputy Mission Director for USAID Southern Africa.
The USAID Country Representative to Botswana, Ms. Vikkie Stein, and technical staff from both organizations participated, marking a collaborative effort to address the region’s development needs effectively.
Source: SADC
