Regional Dialogue for Non-State Actors to focus on SADC’s development

With a focus on accelerating the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s development through the socially accountable generation and use of public resources, non-state actors under the economic bloc will convene a dialogue under the auspices of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan(RISDP) 2020-2030.

Taking place from 13-14 September 2023, there will be parallel, integrated regional and national hybrid meetings in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa (regional).

ActionAid will be coordinating the meeting in Zimbabwe as a hybrid event from 13 to 14 September 2023 at Rainbow Towers in Harare, under the theme ‘Accelerating SADC’s Development through the Socially Accountable Generation and Use of Public Resources.’

Building on SADC RISDP NSA Dialogues in 2021 and 2022, an expanding group of co-conveners will host the third SADC RISDP NSA Dialogue from 13-14 September 2023. The hybrid (virtual and in-person) dialogue, consisting of parallel regional and national meetings, will review how SADC member states have worked toward strengthening accountability in the generation and management of public resources to ensure support for gender-responsive public services, as included in the RISDP.

The dialogue will focus on identifying progress and challenges in the key social sectors of health, education, and agricultural sectors; assess regional actions supportive of women and young people; and interrogate the generation of resources for development through industrialisation and trade. This year’s Dialogue will also explore how the region is responding to the growing impact of climate change on development in SADC. The regional meeting will also provide recommendations on advancing the implementation of the RISDP’s regional and national plans.

The event is co-hosted by: Southern Africa Trust, Economic Justice Network (EJN) of the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCCISA), Southern African People’s Solidarity Network (SAPSN), Southern Africa Coordination Council (SATUCC), SADC Council of NGOs, Care International, Global Campaign for Education, and the Partnership for Social Accountability (PSA) Alliance ((a consortium of ActionAid International (AAI), Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) of Rhodes University, Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) and SAfAIDS)), with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).