Page 23 - 40th Summit Brochure 2020

Social and Human Development
In the Social and Human Development area, the Secretariat continued to encourage Member States
to align their national qualif cation frameworks to regional standards. While South Africa and Sey-
chelles have already aligned, a number of other Member States have reached advanced stages in the
alignment process, including Mauritius that submitted its Alignment Report for Adjudication.
To promote skills transfer and matching labour supply and demand for regional development and
integration, the employment and labour sector adopted a new SADC Labour Migration Action Plan
(2020-2025). It also adopted the SADC Guidelines on Portability of Social Security Benef ts, which
aims to ensure workers moving within the SADC region maintain social security rights and benef ts
acquired under the jurisdiction of dif erent Member States.
In addition, various frameworks were developed to guide and inform on the malaria control;
the quality of young children’s diets; and youth innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and partic-
ipation in the SADC region.
In the area of Statistics, the Secretariat achieved a signif cant milestone in the development of a Pro-
tocol on Statistics, which serves data needs for policy instruments for regional integration. In addi-
tional, several regional statistical publications were produced and disseminated to stakeholders.

Gender and Development and Women's Economic Empowerment
Notable milestones were also recorded in the area of gender and development, including the com-
pletion by the Secretariat of an “Analytical Assessment of Gender Mainstreaming in the SADC Re-
gional Integration Agenda”. In addition, the SADC Regional Multi-Dimensional Women's Economic
Empowerment Programme was approved, which seeks to promote implementation of SADC com-
mitments on the economic empowerment of women.

Regional Resource Mobilisation
T e SADC Regional Resource Mobilisation Framework was f nalized and approved by the
20 Council of Ministers at its meeting in August 2019. T e framework includes recommen-
dations on alternative sources of funding to f nance SADC programmes, based on an “A
La Carte” option (import levy, tourism levy, Financial Transaction Tax and transport levy),
where Member States are free to choose their own way of generating revenue to f nance
SADC regional programmes, including the possibility of contributing to the regional pro-
grammes and projects through their f scus.

Post-2020 SADC Development Agenda
T e process of developing SADC’s Vision 2050 and the RISDP 2020-2030 continued during
the year. T e process is expected to produce a new 30-year vision that will provide strategic
direction for the region until 2050 and outline a phased approach to implementation of re-
gional programmes and activities. T e process of formulating the RISDP 2020-2030 is the
culmination of a long and intensive process that began in June 2012 following a decision
by the region’s leaders to develop the SADC Vision 2050.

Continental Integration
T e SADC Secretariat continued to engage with the African Union in promoting conti-
nental integration in line with the Treaty establishing the African Economic Commu-
nity, commonly referred to as the Abuja Treaty, of 1991. In this regard, the
Secretariat participated in a number of continental activities.
SADC continued to collaborate with COMESA and the EAC in coordi-
nating the Tripartite agenda, so far 22 countries have signed the Tripartite Free
Trade Agreement (TFTA), and eight countries have ratif ed. T e draf Tripartite
Agreement on Movement of Business Persons was f nalised and adopted during
the year.