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Forum (SADC PF) is an autonomous institution of SADC established in 1997 as a
regional inter-parliamentary body of 14 national parliaments representing over 3,500
parliamentarians in southern Africa. The proposed Regional Parliament would
facilitate more extensive debate on regional issues and thus accelerate the
implementation of SADC protocols that need to be ratified and domesticated into
national legislation, and become a key driver of integration and development efforts,
thus bridging the gap between citizens and regional integration processes.

SADC TV
The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) demonstrated the SADC TV Channel
to ICT Ministers in September 2018. This initiative is anchored in the Revised SADC
Communications and Promotional Strategy 2016-2020, and Phase I involves streaming
of content online using Content Hub Sharing. Streaming of the programme “Eyes on
SADC” will begin with a 30-minute news broadcast until it becomes a full channel. Twelve
Member States are contributing content for the SADC TV Channel.

Pooled Procurement of Pharmaceuticals
The SADC Pooled Procurement Services (SPPS) became a reality after an MOU was
signed on 9 October 2018 for pooled procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical
supplies. The Medical Stores Department of the United Republic of Tanzania was selected
to host the SPPS which is expected to reduce the cost of pharmaceuticals and medical
supplies in the region as much as 40 percent by allowing Member States to share
information on prices and suppliers, and enable negotiation of better prices for high quality 75
medicines.
SAPP to Increase Energy Trading
The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) has adopted a Plan to increase energy trading
in the region and reduce the cost of power supply through leveraging diverse energy
resources to increase access, reduce load-shedding and improve service provision. The
Pool Plan 2017-2040 is intended to identify a core set of generation and transmission
investments that can provide adequate electricity supply to the region efficiently,
economically and in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner.
Encouraging investment in joint power generation projects that cover more than
one country was one of the two main solutions for the crippling energy shortage in the
region that were presented by SADC Ministers responsible for Energy to the Power Sector
Investors Roundtable held in Livingstone, Zambia in July 2009. Potential investors at the
roundtable said joint power generation projects hold the key to regional growth as national
projects may be too small to attract investors.
The SADC region commissioned 4,175 MW of new power-generation capacity in
2018/19, and a total of 24,554 MW has been added in the last 10 years. Another
proposed solution that is now being implemented is the construction of more transmission
interconnections across borders, coordinated through the SAPP to enable Member States
to benefit from new generation capacity installed in other countries, as the region is not
fully integrated in this regard.

Renewable Energy Centre
The SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency (SACREEE) was launched in Windhoek,
Namibia on 24 October 2018 to promote greater use of
renewable energy sources in the region, and to set
standards and facilitate the harmonisation of standards
for various products and technologies.