Comments for Southern Africa Regional Plan

Comment on 3.4 Vulnerability by Nicholas Freeland

Nicholas Freeland — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:28:51 +0000

Vulnerability in southern Africa is far more complex and multifacted than this analysis (HIV/AIDS, climate change and water scarcity) would imply!!

Comment on 2.3 Supporting efforts across Africa by Nicholas Freeland

Nicholas Freeland — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:25:15 +0000

DFID should recognise that promoting initiatives such as the AU Social Policy Framework is only the start of the process – what matters is the subsequent work to strengthen the AU’s ability to promulgate, enforce, and monitor such frameworks.

Comment on 2.2 Promoting democracy and governance by Nicholas Freeland

Nicholas Freeland — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:21:16 +0000

And it should be emphasised in the regional plan that for all the proposed “areas of engagement” (promoting growth, reducing vulnerability, etc), improved governance and accountability are fundamental prerequisites.

Comment on 1.2 Success so far by Nicholas Freeland

Nicholas Freeland — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:17:24 +0000

This seems a rather selective set of examples of “success so far”! On what basis are “increased exports of fair-trade birdfood” included, and no mention of RHVP’s evidence-building or policy work on social protection?!!

Comment on 6.4 Governments by Nicholas Freeland

Nicholas Freeland — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:13:12 +0000

There are also opportunities to focus on the legislative, as well as the executive, branches of national governments. RHVP’s partnership with the SADC Parliamentary Forum has scratched the surface of the huge demand from parliamentarians for knowledge, information and policy advise to inform their debates on a wide range of issues around hunger and vulnerability.

Comment on 6.2 Civil society by Nicholas Freeland

Nicholas Freeland — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:09:57 +0000

Engaging with the media, and building the capacity of the national and regional media to analyse and report on the “areas of engagement” that you have identified represent an avenue for promoting civil society involvement.

Comment on 5.2 Reducing vulnerability, increasing resilience by Nicholas Freeland

Nicholas Freeland — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:05:37 +0000

And more generally, the potential role of social protection seems undervalued in these proposals. It is fine to focus on particular areas such as HIV/AIDS, water resources, climate change and RVAA – but the interaction of all of these on “reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience” can only be considered within a more comprehensive framework of social protection – not just at national level, but also considering broader regional implications and externalities of national policies.

Comment on 6.8 Questions: Supporting Regional Economic Communities by Southern Africa Trust

Southern Africa Trust — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:51:55 +0000

Budget support as opposed to programme/project finance

Comment on 6.7 Questions: using the right modalities by Southern Africa Trust

Southern Africa Trust — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:50:53 +0000

Support to partnerships between governments, private sector and civil society
Allow partners to make proposals on modalities for support: innovations,
Allow margins of error!

Comment on 6.6 Questions: working with partners by Southern Africa Trust

Southern Africa Trust — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:49:53 +0000

Using appropriate national institutions in member countries to strengthening capacity across countries

Linking national and regional support to countries and RECs

Rely on local partners (governments, private sector, civil society organisations) to