The Southern African Development Community (SADC) established mechanisms to facilitate effective cooperation with International Cooperating Partners (ICP). The machinery includes the overarching Joint SADC-ICP Task Force (JTF), under which multiple Thematic Groups have been created. Each Thematic Group addresses specific priority areas, working on a technical level. The Agriculture and Food Security Thematic Group (FANR-ICP) meeting was held in Gaborone, Botswana on 3-4 December 2019, followed on the 5 December by the JTF meeting also in Gaborone. In attendance were representatives from aid agencies, NGOs and international organisations.

The SADC-ICP dialogue facilitates engagement between SADC and the ICPs and creates a common understanding of joint considerations and approaches for the implementation of the region’s strategies and priorities.

In her opening remarks at the JTF meeting, the meeting co-chair, Ms Agnes Richard Kayola underscored the   importance of the SADC-ICP dialogue as it provided a unique platform for engaging with ICPs, as equal development partners, and facilitated strengthening of cooperation.

Stop Illegal Fishing participated in the FANR-ICP meeting, hosted by the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources. The FANR-ICP meeting allowed the Secretariat and ICPs to inform one another of ongoing and possible upcoming areas of work within the SADC Region. This enables stock to be taken of what has been achieved, identification of possible synergies and avoidance of duplication of work.

Three main crosscutting issues were raised throughout the FANR-ICP meeting – climate change and the need to be prepared, nutrition and adequately feeding a growing population, and cooperation between silos.

Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF) is currently providing support towards the SADC Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC), which is under development and is to be hosted by the Republic of Mozambique. Additionally, SIF is providing support to Madagascar and Mozambique to implement port State measures under the GIZ/BMZ funded Port State Measures to Stop Illegal Fishing (PSM-SIF) project.

More information on the JTF meeting can be found in the December 2020 SADC Newsletter.