Preparations were also underway for a regional workshop on SDG-informed legislative scrutiny focusing on SRHR and climate change, scheduled for 4–5 February 2026 in Lesotho.

The workshop, organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliament of Lesotho in collaboration with SADC PF, aims to strengthen parliamentary capacity to assess legislation through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals, while examining the interlinkages between climate change and access to SRHR services.

Through these engagements, SADC PF continues to deepen collaboration with international partners, strengthen the capacity of Member Parliaments and advance parliamentary leadership on key development priorities affecting the SADC region.

The Secretary General of SADC PF, Ms Boemo Sekgoma, paid a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), H.E. Mr Elias M. Magosi, at the SADC Headquarters in Gaborone on 29 January 2026 to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two institutions.

In January 2026, the National Assembly of Botswana and the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) concluded a key step in the implementation of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV and AIDS Governance Project (2024–2026) through the formal signing of a partnership agreement in Gaborone.

From 21 to 23 January 2026, the Secretary General of SADC PF, H.E. Boemo Sekgoma, was represented by Mr Sheuneni Kurasha, the Director of Parliamentary Business and Programmes, at a Joint Partner Planning Meeting convened by Oxfam and the Forum of Parliaments of Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR).

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural edition of the SADC PF Heartbeat – The Pulse, the monthly bulletin of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.

This Bulletin provides a concise platform to keep Members, partners and stakeholders regularly informed of key developments across the Forum. While the Impact Newsletter continues to provide in-depth analysis and feature stories, the Heartbeat captures the rhythm of engagements, partnerships and initiatives undertaken in pursuit of the Forum’s mandate.

This first issue highlights several strategic engagements undertaken in January 2026 including participation in the African Geopolitical Group Strategy Meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, collaboration with development partners such as Oxfam and the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and the launch of the SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project Implementation Agreement with the National Assembly of Botswana.

As we launch this Bulletin, we invite readers to journey with us each month as we share snapshots of the Forum’s work, partnerships and collective efforts to strengthen parliamentary democracy across the SADC region.

H.E. Ms Boemo Sekgoma
Secretary General
SADC Parliamentary Forum