 Introduction  Regional integration in SADC  Opportunities and challenges for CSOs in regional integration  Way forward  Conclusion

 SADC has 15 member countries  SADC treaty provides for establishment of SADC National Committees (Article 16a)  SNCs part of the 8 SADC institutions (Summit of Heads of States and Government, Organ on politics, defence and security, Council of Ministers, tribunal etc)  Comprises gvt, private sector, CSOs, NGOs, workers and employer organisations  SNCs responsibilities include: provision of input at national level on formulation of SADC policies or programmes, implementation of SADC programmes, creation of National Steering Committees (NSCs) at national levels

 NSCs responsible for implementation of programmes outside the SNCs meetings  Each member state shall create and fund a Secretariat for the SNCs which should meet at least 4 times a year  Only a few countries have functional SNCs, Moza, Mauritius, Bots, Swazi,  No formal SNC in Zimbabwe, ad-hoc meetings towards Summits but does not include all stakeholders.

 Despite progress in establishing region mechanisms for integration, SADC still fragmented  National sovereignty rules over regionalism  National programmes and plans designed with little coherence with regional objectives  Several protocols signed since 1992, but many not implemented for various reasons  In absolute terms, intra SADC trade grew by 155% between 2000 and 2009  As a proportion of total trade it grew from 15.7% and 18.5% over same period

 Total trade almost quadrupled between 2000 and 2011 from about US$9.1 bn to US$35.4 bn  However, exports are dominated by raw materials, less value addition and beneficiation  Major strides in tariff liberalisation though FTA still to be fully functional, other countries yet to fully liberalise trade e.g Zimbabwe  TBT has risen since the reduction of tariffs commenced in 2008  Implementation of standards measures constrained by physical and regulatory infrastructure  SPS issues in agriculture are hampering trade

 Rules of origin also a challenge – product specific especially clothing and textiles and agro-processed products  Intra trade in services, framework still under negotiations  Small scale traders issues  Recently adopted an industrialisation strategy in 2015 to drive regional integration  To be implemented in three phases and linked to African Agenda 2063  SADC regional integration inward looking and no framework to integrate into the global economy  SADC regional integration based on EU model but not very sure if this model can address the challenges on SADC

 Historically state and non state actors have frost relations and partnered very little  Major reason is that one is politically empowered to govern whilst the other one abrogated itself as a watchdog  However, today’s global challenges requires substantive and transformative partnerships to address these challenges  Each stakeholder has got unique expertise and resources that the other may not have  When aggregated they have potential to address our challenges  Hence this gap need to be bridged if we are to eliminate poverty and inequality through integration in SADC  The gap between the state and non state actors can be addressed at structural, resource, policy and research levels by elaborating the role of each stakeholder

 Over the years CSOs have accumulated skills, expertise and knowledge on some critical areas of integration such as trade, climate change and finance  CSOs have also attracted fair sums of financial resources that can be leveraged by state resources  CSOs have developed alternative policies and thinking  CSOs have designed implementation and monitoring tools of regional integration programmes  CSOs also provide employment to thousands  These can be at hand in areas where the state lacks capacity and the state can build on to advance regional integration programmes  Current warm relationship with state institutions  There is some existing relationships between CSOs and government

 State still view CSOs with suspicion – source of funding  Best alternative is to scale up domestic resource mobilisation  Limited space for civil society to participate in regional integration  Some CSOs have limited capacity to intervene  Best alternative is to form alliances  Design, implementation and monitoring sometimes lack capacity and resources  Best alternative is for policy research institutes and other think tank CSOs to contribute and networking  National planning not in sync with regional objectives  Best alternative is to revive and strengthen the SNCs for coherence of programmes

 Various approaches for CSOs and non state actors to address regional integration challenges: 1) Identify issues and challenges that concerns CSOs 2) Identify group of CSOs that have vested interest and expertise in advocacy and monitoring implementation of thematic issues 3) Find or initiate space to participate in the integration processes 4) Build CSO’s capacity to adequately respond or intervene to particular issues 5) Form alliances and harness available resources from the diverse backgrounds of all stakeholders 6) NANGO as convener, should continue playing its role and take the views and recommendations to the focal point (MoFA).

 Challenges posed by regional integration are complex and can be addressed in an inclusive manner.  As provided by the SADC Treaty and RISDP, all stakeholders pointed out need to be actively involved in regional integration programmes.  Concerns that include national sovereignty and domestic resources mobilisation should be addressed.  SNCs have the potential to harness the capacity of all stakeholders for successful implementation of SADC programmes in an inclusive way.

Thank you, Tatenda, Siyabonga