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Harmonised Seed Regulatory System
In 2007 the Harmonised Seed Regulatory System was approved and entered into force in
2009 after two-thirds majority of signatures were received from Member States. The sys-
tem outlines harmonised procedures on the common regional variety release and regis-
tration; the quarantine and phyto-sanitary measures; and the quality assurance and
certification systems.

Improved Agriculture Research
The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern
Africa (CCARDESA) was approved by the SADC Council in 2010 and established in July
2011 to coordinate agricultural research, technology generation and dissemination.
CCARDESA has recorded a number of achievements that include the review of
agricultural policies and extension strategies of countries in the region to assess the extent
to which climate change adaptation has been mainstreamed into national policies and
strategies. CCARDESA has also carried out research on climate-proofing of the value
chains for sorghum, maize and rice in Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozam-
bique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Adoption of SADC Food and Nutrition Strategy
SADC approved the SADC Food and Nutrition Strategy (2015 -2025) in 2014, which con-
tinues to inform nutrition interventions in the region. Its strategic objectives are to promote
availability of food through improved production, productivity and competitiveness; im-
124 prove access to adequate and appropriate foods in terms of quality and quantity; promote
and protect the wellbeing of women and adolescents; and ensure stable and sustainable
availability, access and use of food.
A total of 10 Member States are already supporting the strategy through imple-
mentation of their national food and nutrition security strategies.

Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Programme
The Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) Programme was established
in 1999 and is being implemented in 15 SADC Member States. The RVAA has evolved
to be one of the most reliable and robust early warning tools for agriculture as well as food
and nutrition security interventions in the region. As part of this programme, most
Member States have established national vulnerability assessment committees that conduct
annual vulnerability assessments. These contribute towards the Regional Vulnerability As-
sessment Analysis which provides the status of food and nutrition insecurity in the region
and informs decisions to address it.

Environment and Climate Change

The SADC Protocol on Environmental Management for Sustainable Devel-
opment is the overarching instrument for environmental management in the re-
gion. The Protocol is at various stages of ratification and is yet to enter into force.

Common Framework for Conservation
A key instrument is the SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement
signed in August 1999 to establish a common framework for conservation and sustainable
use of wildlife in the region. This Protocol entered into force in November 2003, and is
being implemented and partially domesticated in 12 Member States.
The objectives of the protocol include the sustainable use of wildlife; the exchange
of information concerning wildlife management and utilisation, and the enforcement of
wildlife laws; as well as assistance in building national and regional capacity for wildlife
management, conservation, and enforcement of wildlife laws.