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This report documents a workshop held in August 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa, hosted by the SADC Secretariat and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The meeting focused on defining and implementing 'facilitating investment for sustainable development' for SADC member states, distinguishing this approach from traditional investment facilitation and trade facilitation.

This policy brief examines the failure of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to enforce its democratic electoral standards, using Zimbabwe's July 2018 elections as a primary case study. The author argues that SADC's institutional weaknesses and a culture of 'brotherhood' solidarity among leaders prevent the effective implementation of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, leading to a culture of impunity for member states that violate democratic norms.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the distribution of power and influence within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that while South Africa remains the dominant economic and military power, the region would benefit from decentralising responsibilities by identifying 'regional champions' or 'locomotives' to drive specific sectoral priorities outlined in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP).

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the state of regional economic development within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It analyzes the decline in intra-regional trade and investment since 2013, the persisting overdependence on primary commodities, and the structural, infrastructural, and political-economic barriers hindering deeper integration. The document evaluates current initiatives, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), while providing case studies on sector diversification in Mozambique, the macadamia nut regional value chain, and transport infrastructure in Tanzania and Namibia.

This briefing by the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) synthesizes four years of research on the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI), trade liberalisation, and regional integration (RI) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It examines the FDI regimes of several member states and specific sectors, such as energy and transport, to identify barriers to broad-based economic development and the creation of regional value chains.

This research paper examines the role and challenges of informal cross-border trade in Zimbabwe, specifically in the context of government-imposed import bans on basic commodities. It argues that while governments view informal trade as a source of revenue loss and unfair competition, it provides critical employment and essential goods in an economy with high formal unemployment.

This report analyzes the maize value chain within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to inform the Southern African Trade Hub’s (SATH) implementation strategy, focusing on production, trade, utilization, and the necessity of coherent regional policy.

This briefing from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of food safety, health security, and human security in Southern Africa. It argues that food insecurity and reliance on unsafe food sources strain already constrained health systems and hinder socioeconomic development, calling for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to increase agricultural capacity and reduce dependence on food exports and aid.

This report examines the alignment between global, regional, and national development strategies for food security and sustainable agriculture in Zambia. It finds significant gaps between the aspirational goals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the actual implementation of policies in Zambia, which remain heavily focused on maize production and large-scale commercial farming. While national policies mention diversification and sustainability, political incentives and subsidy structures (like the FISP) reinforce a maize-centric system that fails to address systemic barriers to food security for smallholder farmers. The report suggests that small-scale ICT interventions and conservation farming offer potential pathways toward the SDGs, but require systemic shifts in governance and investment to be scaled effectively.

This policy brief examines the leadership of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from 2014 to 2015, specifically the roles of Zimbabwe as the overall chair and South Africa as the chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDSC). It analyzes how domestic political dynamics, foreign policy, and institutional constraints influence their ability to shape the regional organization's agenda.

This policy brief examines how the mono-cultural nature of economies within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which are largely dependent on minerals or agriculture, influences five priority policy intersections for social, environmental, and economic development.

This policy brief introduces the 'Green Guide (GG): Aligning political and social contexts for Green and Inclusive Growth' project, which focuses on the political complexities of transitioning economies toward greener and more inclusive growth, specifically within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

This policy brief examines the role of the extractive industries (EIs) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and argues for a shift from 'trickle-down economics' toward an inclusive green growth strategy to mitigate environmental degradation and social harm.

This research paper examines the relationship between South Africa's normative foreign policy goals—centered on democracy, human rights, and good governance—and its economic diplomacy within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The author argues that there is an inconsistent linkage between these two areas, as South Africa often prioritizes economic interests and historical political alliances over the enforcement of its normative values.

This research paper by Christopher Wood of the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the stalled negotiations of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union. The author identifies four primary obstacles—export taxes, the Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause, agricultural safeguards, and rules of origin—and proposes specific compromises to ensure the agreement's completion and successful implementation.

This policy brief examines South Africa's energy transition and its strategic international partnerships. It highlights the country's reliance on coal while pursuing a target of 30% clean energy for new capacity by 2025. The document details South Africa's role as a regional energy hub via the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and its complex relationship with the EU, which balances broad strategic partnerships with specific bilateral cooperation and South-South engagements (BRICS, IBSA).

This research paper examines the state of transport infrastructure in central and northern Mozambique, focusing on how foreign investment in the mining and energy sectors is driving infrastructure development. The authors analyze whether these projects, often led by foreign companies due to limited state capacity, foster national development and regional integration or primarily serve resource extraction.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs provides three primary recommendations for Dr Tax, the new Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), focusing on the implementation of existing commitments, improved private sector engagement, and increased transparency of regional processes.

This research paper examines the prevalence and impact of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. It argues that while tariff liberalisation has progressed, NTBs—particularly those resulting from poor design and implementation—significantly constrain regional trade and undermine the benefits of the SADC Free Trade Area. The author uses evidence from private sector entities like Shoprite and Woolworths to illustrate the high costs of administrative compliance and border delays, and proposes the creation of a coordinated action plan and a 'naming and shaming' mechanism to accelerate the removal of these barriers.

This case study examines the funding landscape for infrastructure development within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting the critical funding gap and the complementary roles of traditional donors, new development partners, and private investors. It emphasizes the need to transition from aid-dependency to 'bankable' projects that can attract private capital to support regional integration and economic growth.