Africa-Press – Botswana. The development objectives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region are important for a more just world, and thus worth the financial and technical support of development partners such as the US.
The US Ambassador to Botswana and Representative to SADC Mr Howard van Vranken expressed the sentiments during the signing ceremony of the SADC-USA Regional Development Objective Agreement in Gaborone on Thursday.
Mr Van Vranken said while the US had bilateral frameworks with individual SADC states, they saw it fit to renew their support to shared regional objectives, in particular fostering stability, economic growth and sustainable development in the region.
“We firmly believe that progress is not possible without inclusion, and that is why our partnership with SADC focuses on building capacity, strengthening instructions, and promoting a resilient Southern Africa,” Ambassador Van Vranken said.
He revealed that activities under the agreement would seek to achieve gender equality and women empowerment.
“Women are one half of the world’s population but only contribute 37 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP). We cannot achieve economic development with these troubling statistics. US Agency for International Development (USAID) is accelerating its funding commitment, by putting women and girls at the centre of our global development and humanitarian work,” he said.
SADC Executive Secretary, Mr Elias Magosi said the US had been a critical partner to SADC and the new agreement would draw lessons from past ones with a view to enhance coordination and coordination structures.
“It is critical that we ensure continuous monitoring and enhanced communication and visibility of the results and impact to be achieved through this partnership. Our citizens must see and feel that we are making a lasting impact in their lives,” Mr Magosi said.
He outlined that economic growth, the environment, energy, the youth, democracy and governance as well as health were some of the focus areas of the new partnership.
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