SADC Urges Prudent Use of Resources to Strengthen Regional Integration
The Deputy Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for Corporate Affairs, Dr Judith Kateera, has called for the prudent utilisation of financial resources to strengthen the regional integration agenda.
Dr Kateera made the remarks on 24 February 2026 in Gaborone, Botswana, during the opening of the Validation Workshop for the Draft SADC Budget Manual and Investment Policy.
The two documents will be submitted to the forthcoming meetings of the Finance Sub-Committee and Finance Committee, ahead of consideration and approval by the SADC Council of Ministers scheduled for 12–13 March 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa.
“We must safeguard resources entrusted to us, optimise the use of available resources prudently, and ensure that our budgeting processes are disciplined, transparent and strategically aligned with our mandate. Sound financial governance is not an administrative exercise – it is a strategic imperative,” Dr Kateera said.
She urged participants to ensure that the Draft Budget Manual and Investment Policy are robust, future-ready and user-friendly, while remaining fully aligned with the Secretariat’s mandate. She emphasised that the documents should strengthen transparency, safeguard resources and enhance the Secretariat’s long-term financial resilience.
Once approved, the SADC Investment Policy will guide the prudent treasury management of idle or surplus funds at the Secretariat, including Special Funds arising from Member State contributions. The policy prioritises capital preservation, liquidity and risk-adjusted returns.
Meanwhile, the Budget Manual is designed to promote financial discipline by clearly defining roles and responsibilities, improving resource allocation and enabling performance tracking against financial objectives.
The validation workshop provides a platform for participants to identify and address any outstanding technical issues, inconsistencies or gaps, and to ensure alignment with the SADC Financial Regulations, the SADC Treaty and established Secretariat procedures.
The workshop is being facilitated by DPC & Associates and has drawn participants from various Directorates and Units within the SADC Secretariat.
Development of the two documents has been supported by the European Union through the Extended Institutional and Capacity Building (EICB) Project, with funding amounting to €2.5 million.
The EICB Project aims to accelerate implementation of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030 through targeted capacity-building initiatives at both Secretariat and Member State levels.
