Items filtered by date: Monday, 17 May 2021
Joint Virtual Meeting of the SADC PF Standing Committees on Human and Social Development and Special Programmes, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Gender Equality, Women Advancement and Youth Development
Concept Note
1.0 Background
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) faces significant development challenges in both the health and agricultural sectors, many of which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. While SADC Member States are signatory to multiple regional, continental and international instruments that aim to address these challenges, their objectives can only be realised through national-level domestication, implementation and oversight.
As recognised by the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, as well as SADC's Vision 2050 and Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), good governance through enhanced social accountability is an important enabler in eradicating poverty in the region. Progress reports on the implementation of the Abuja and Malabo Declarations, which commit African states to increase investment in health and agricultural development, emphasise the need to strengthen accountability in the use of public funds. In particular, the reports urge states to ensure effective evidence-based planning, efficient implementation of programmes and elimination of resource wastage.