Analysing the Development Process for Infrastructure Projects in SADC

The case study examines SADC's efforts to address infrastructure deficits through the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) Vision 2027, which targets six priority sectors. It highlights the shift from donor-led projects to a bottom-up, member-state-driven approach to ensure regional ownership. The document identifies critical barriers, including financing gaps, conflicts between national and regional priorities, and a lack of regulatory frameworks. It also analyzes the roles of traditional Western donors versus emerging partners like China and India, and South Africa's position as a regional champion for infrastructure investment.

• SADC has established the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) Vision 2027 to guide priority projects across six sectors: energy, transport, tourism, information and communication technologies, meteorology, and transboundary water. The plan is structured in three phases: short term (2012–17), medium term (2017–22), and long term (2022–27).
• The North–South Corridor (NSC) serves as a pilot Aid for Trade infrastructure programme for the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement. It includes the Dar es Salaam Corridor (linking the port of Dar es Salaam with the DRC and Zambia copper belt) and the North–South (Durban) Corridor (linking the port of Durban with the DRC–Zambia copper belt via Zimbabwe and Botswana, and connecting to Malawi via Harare).
• Infrastructure support from emerging partners, specifically China and India, has primarily focused on resource-rich countries to facilitate the extraction and export of natural resources, often benefiting only specific industries rather than the general population.
• SADC's infrastructure development faces significant challenges, most notably a critical dependence on external financing. Other barriers include bureaucratic red tape, conflicts between domestic and regional priorities, incapacitated secretariats, and a risky business environment characterized by corruption and political instability.
• The RIDMP employs a bottom-up process to ensure member states identify projects linked to national development plans, which reduces the risk of conflict between national and regional interests and prevents the duplication of projects.
• South Africa acts as a regional champion for infrastructure, utilizing its membership in the G-20, BRICS, and IBSA groupings to advocate for African and SADC infrastructure needs and investment.

APA

Dube, M. (2013). Analysing the Development Process for Infrastructure Projects in SADC. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/REV_SAIIA_perisa_infr_dube_dvlpt-process_20131213.pdf

Chicago

Dube, Memory. Analysing the Development Process for Infrastructure Projects in SADC. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/REV_SAIIA_perisa_infr_dube_dvlpt-process_20131213.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dube |first1=Memory |title=Analysing the Development Process for Infrastructure Projects in SADC |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=August 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/REV_SAIIA_perisa_infr_dube_dvlpt-process_20131213.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dube2013analysing, author = {Dube, Memory}, title = {{Analysing the Development Process for Infrastructure Projects in SADC}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/REV_SAIIA_perisa_infr_dube_dvlpt-process_20131213.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }