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Socio-economic priority areas are identified in the RISDP, supported by time-bound
targets over a15-year period, 2005-2020. Intervention areas identified in the first RISDP
were: Trade/Economic Liberalisation and development; Infrastructure Support for
regional integration and poverty eradication; Sustainable Food Security; and, Human and
Social Development.
Cross-sectoral intervention areas were: Poverty Eradication; Combatting HIV and
AIDS; Gender Equality; Science and Technology; ICT; Environment and Sustainable
Development; Private Sector; and, Statistics.
The priorities were reviewed and revised in 2007 to comply with a Summit decision
to improve efficiency and increase effectiveness of SADC operations and institutions, and
provide a framework for reallocation of resources. The revised priorities were:
• Trade/Economic liberalization and development;
• Infrastructure in support of regional integration;
• Peace and Security cooperation; and,
• Special Programmes of regional dimension.

Approach to Economic Integration
The economic rationale of SADC integration as espoused in the first Figure 2.1 Milestones to Deeper Economic
RISDP has been closely linked to the benefits derived from increasing Integration in SADC
the market size. The strategic plan notes that the success of SADC
economic integration depends on its ability to generate growth in intra-
regional trade for the benefit of all Member states. This requires
macroeconomic stability to strengthen cross-border investment. The 49
RISDP proposed a linear approach to regional economic integration and
set ambitious milestones to achieve deeper integration before 2020, as
shown in Figure 2.1.

Approval of SIPO
The 2003 Summit also approved the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ on
Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (SIPO) and called for the coordination
and rationalisation of the two plans to maximize synergies. The objective of SIPO
is to create a peaceful and stable political and security environment through which
the region will realise its objectives of socio-economic development, poverty
eradication, and regional integration. The SIPO is an enabling instrument for the
implementation of the regional development agenda, including the RISDP, and was
launched in 2004 at the SADC Summit in Mauritius by the Prime Minister of
Lesotho, Rt. Hon. Pakalitha Mosisili, who was the Chairperson of the Organ on
Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The strategic plan was revised in 2012 to
address new challenges facing the region, Africa and the world, including piracy, climate
change, human trafficking, illegal immigration and economic recession.
Mutual Defence Pact
In compliance with the provisions of the Protocol on Politics, Defence and
Security Co-operation, the SADC developed the Mutual Defence Pact to
operationalize the mechanisms of the Organ and facilitate mutual
cooperation in defence and security matters. The Pact focuses on issues
of conflict resolution, military preparedness, collective self-defence and
self-action, destabilising factors and settlement of disputes. The Mutual
Defence Pact was signed in Dar es Salaam on 26 August 2003.