The New Partnership for A f r i c a ’s De v e l o pme n t (NEPAD) presents the region with opportunities based on synerg i e s that exist within the region’s own blueprint, according to a high level meeting on NEPAD convened by SADC Council of Ministers in Mauritius in August.

The meeting noted that the region sees the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) as “SADC’s regional expression and vehicle for achieving the NEPAD ideals.”

It was also noted that the objectives, underlying principles and priority areas of both plans were similar. Both initiatives value peace and security; democracy and good governance; capacity building; poverty eradication; gender and development; HIV and AIDS; science and technology; information and communication technologies (ICT); agriculture and food security; environment; social and human development; infrastructure; trade and economic liberalisation.

The similarity in priority areas between the continental and regional initiatives also means that SADC and the African Union may pursue related projects. “Projects submitted to NEPAD should also appear in the national and regional development plans as priorities,” said Albert Muchanga, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary.

The meeting recommended that the SADC and NEPAD Secretariats should work closely for better results. The need for SADC to take on board issues emerging from the NEPAD process was also noted at the meeting.

In addition, the SADC Summit noted that Council had mandated their representatives of the region on the NEPAD Steering Committee and the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) -- Angola, Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique and South Africa -- to strengthen their interaction with the region. It was agreed that South Africa will be the spokesperson of the group and should report to the regular summit.