Southern Africa Regional Plan
6. Partnerships and modalities
6.1 Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
It is essential that all development partners in the region, including Member States and international agencies, seek to work in a way which maximises collective strengths and synergies. The eight RECs recognised by the AU are the fundamental building blocks of regional and ultimately Pan-African integration. Given its broad mandate, which includes socio-economic development and [...]
6.2 Civil society
DFID-SA has had a long engagement with various civil society organisations (including national, regional and international NGOs, Trade Unions and faith groups) on aspects of regional working including HIV and AIDS, gender, peace and security, and governance. In their capacity as advocacy organisations, CSOs have an important role in driving regional integration, by calling both [...]
6.3 Private sector
As drivers of economic growth, businesses are important actors in the achievement of sustainable poverty reduction. As well as working with policy makers to enhance the policy environment for growth, DFID-SA also engages with private sector players to support innovation in their practices that will benefit poor people. DFID-SA’s FinMark programme for example recognises the [...]
6.4 Governments
In considering regional institutions and organisations with regional ‘reach’ we must not neglect essential relationships with national governments. To a greater or lesser extent, member states drive all regional integration – either negotiating on inter-governmental forums or ceding authority to supranational institutions. There are particular questions here for DFID-SA, as a regional DFID office, with [...]
6.5 International agencies
In seeking to build even more constructive relationships with African partners, DFID-SA will also aim to uphold the Paris Declaration principles in its engagement with other international agencies. Mechanisms such as the SADC-International Cooperation Partners thematic groups at the regional level provide frameworks for cooperation and harmonisation. The challenge is to operationalise these more effectively [...]
6.6 Questions: working with partners
Is DFID-SA working with the most appropriate partners to address the priority challenges of the Southern Africa region?
6.7 Questions: using the right modalities
Are we using the right modalities for working with others? Are there other ways of partnering which would add more value at the regional level?
6.8 Questions: Supporting Regional Economic Communities
How can DFID best support the RECs to fulfil their potential as building blocks of regional and ultimately Pan-African integration?
