Recommendations for new SADC Executive Secretary

The briefing outlines priorities for the new SADC Executive Secretary, emphasizing the implementation of existing commitments over new legal instruments, the institutionalization of public-private dialogue to support trade, and the improvement of transparency and information access to foster regional integration.

• The new Executive Secretary should prioritize the implementation of existing commitments and programs—such as the SADC Regional Development Fund, the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan, and the removal of non-tariff barriers—rather than negotiating new legal instruments or pursuing a customs union.
• SADC needs to improve its engagement with the private sector to remedy its lag behind other African regional economic communities in public-private dialogue. This involves regular meetings with the business community to understand constraints faced by investors and traders, which would lead to more practical policies and increased intra-regional trade.
• The Executive Secretary is advised to enhance transparency and the public's understanding of regional debates, specifically by redesigning the SADC website, providing electronic access to resources like member state tariff schedules, and expanding the work of the SADC Research Hub.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2013). Recommendations for new SADC Executive Secretary. https://saiia.org.za/research/recommendations-for-new-sadc-executive-secretary/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Recommendations for new SADC Executive Secretary. 2013. https://saiia.org.za/research/recommendations-for-new-sadc-executive-secretary/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Recommendations for new SADC Executive Secretary |date=27 November 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/recommendations-for-new-sadc-executive-secretary/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2013recommendations, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Recommendations for new SADC Executive Secretary}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/recommendations-for-new-sadc-executive-secretary/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }