Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
THE SUMMARY OF NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE REVIEW AND RATIONALISATION OF THE SADC PROGRAMME OF ACTION : 25 JULY 1997 : 14H30
1. THE MANDATE AND PREMISE OF THE WORKSHOP
- To involve all South African stake holders,
- To critically evaluate the findings of the study on the review and rationalisation,
- To form a nucleo of ongoing national consultations and discussions on SADC related issues,
- To formulate a national mandate to translate to regional fora.
2. THE ROLE PLAYERS AT THE CONFERENCE
- The broad South African community including:
i National and Provincial Departments,
ii The NGO Community,
iii The Private Sector,
iv Community based organisations
v Labour
vi Civil Society in general, including representatives from Political parties, Churches, Student Organisations, Media, etc.
3. THE DISCUSSIONS AND THE PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMISSIONS/WORKSHOPS
The main objective of the review and rationalisation exercise is to access the SADC Programme of Action and associated policies and strategies and to determine their relevance and appropriateness to the development and integrations needs of the SADC Member States, making recommendations where necessary.
The discussions in the four commissions may be summarised as follows:
A. The Workshop on the review of policies, strategies and the framework for integration in the SADC region agreed that the SADC programme of action had not been transformed in the light of the shift from functional cooperation to development integration. The group also resolved that the development integration approach was appropriate for the SADC region, given the different levels of development of member states and the fact that the entire region faces an enormous challenge to promote development orientated economic growth. This approach should seek to promote a combination of trade integration, policy coordination and sectoral cooperation that is feasible in the light of concrete conditions and resource availability. The Working Group expressed some reservations about formulations in the study that might imply that sectoral cooperation around infrastructural and development projects should be de-emphasised. It was felt that sectoral cooperation remains essential to development integration.
The Working Group added a number of further observations that it felt were relevant in considering institutional reform. These include:
- A call for stronger member country commitment,
- Stronger overall coordination and accountability of sectors,
- The allocation of sectors in terms of comparative advantages,
- Proper cross-sectoral coordination,
- Defined policy guidelines,
- The optimal use of consultants to find solutions and pro-active options.
B. The Workshop to examine the sectoral approach to implementation of the SADC Plan of Action:
The Workshop agreed that sectoral approach through the sector coordinating units under coordination by member States, as being under implementation currently, is ineffective and should be replaced by mechanisms that can deal with SADC issues multilaterally. The Workshop therefore agrees to the principle of clustering of sectors as suggested by the consultants and advised that the physical grouping together of sectors, as well as the creation of new sectors within the cluster arrangements, be further investigated.
C. The Workshop on the review of the institutional capacity of SADC to achieve its objectives resolved to adopt the Principle of replacing the present functional approach with the proposed cluster-based approach. The decision to adopt the cluster-based approach was also influenced by the findings of the study which the group found convincing, especially on the issue of the non-cost-member states to effectively coordinate their allocated sectors.
On the location of clusters this Group decided that the positioning of the proposed planning and Coordination Directorates in a central location, such as in the existing SADC Headquarters in Gabarone, was recommended. Care must, however be taken to ensure that the location is equipped with sound communication systems to link the Directorates with members states and is physically accessible by air and road. It was however acknowledged that the loss of the existing SCUs from member states could be a cause for serious concern and could conceivably result in some states becoming disaffected with SADC.
The Working Group reached consensus on the adoption of the proposal to establish National Working Committees and suggested that policy development should be a process of continuous interaction. It was also resolved that the rationalisation of the SADC secretariat should be supported.
D. The Workshop on the review of the SADC project portfolio and the development of criteria for project identification, appraisal and identification was of the opinion that the current SADC Portfolio of Projects could be rationalised using the project selection and evaluation framework presently in the study. It was resolved that much more refinement would be required before application regarding the new projects and programmes in the future SADC Programme of Action. It was emphasised that the strategy for regional integration regarding the various sectors, should guide spatial, intra-sectoral and inter-sectoral programmes and identification and implementation of projects.
The Working Group decided that further consideration should be given to:
- A coherent set of criteria and its standardised application across all SADC sectors,
- Sectoral business plans and project appraisal reports,
- A standardised approach, programme and project auditing mechanism for corrective action, and
- Proper communication with regional stake holders in an effort to promote the region.
4. THE WAY FORWARD
- The conclusions of the National Deliberations will be carried to a Regional Workshop during the second half of 1997.
- Internally commitment will be sought on a high political level by means of a National Ministerial Meeting.
- After the Regional consultations, further National consultation will take place on a continuous basis.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 25 JULY 1997