Managers of projects and programmes implemented by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) with support from International Cooperating Partners and SADC Member States on 29 April 2025 dedicated a day-long session to review progress and performance of the projects and programmes with the view to ensure efficient utilisation of the resources and maximum delivery of the intended results.
The session was facilitated by the SADC’s Directorate of Policy Planning and Resource Mobilization with technical support from the Project Management Support Unit (PMSU). The PMSU provided a background on the Project Management Support Services and a Project Management Analytical Report on Projects under Channel One.
The meeting was co-chaired by the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Ms. Angele Makombo N’Tumba and SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, Dr. Judith Kateera at the SADC Secretariat and it drew participation of Directors, Heads of Unit and Managers of Projects and Programmes.
In their remarks, the two SADC Deputy Executive Secretaries underscored the need to foresee and address project operational issues before they become emergencies to deal with. To use the word of Arnold Glasow who said that “One of the true tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.”
They highlighted that such sessions should be held regularly to serve as a strategic platform to share information, celebrate success and find solutions to problems affecting the institution. Projects and programmes are the means to achieve the objectives espoused in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 and Vision 2050.
The two SADC Deputy Executive Secretaries pledged Management commitment and support to address the bottlenecks faced by projects and programmes to improve efficiency, effectiveness and impact of SADC’s projects and programmes on SADC citizens.
Twelve projects and programmes were presented, highlighting updates on the progress made, challenges encountered and plans that have been put in place to enhance their management and performance. The SADC projects and programmes are all aligned to the strategic priority areas of the RISDP 2020-2030 and Vision 2050 namely: Peace, Security, and Good Governance; Industrial Development and Market Integration; Infrastructure Development in Support of Regional Integration; Social and Human Capital Development; and Cross-cutting issues which include Gender, Youth, Environment and Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management.
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