Gaborone – The Southern African Development Community Executive Secretary, His Excellency Elias Magosi, met with Dr. Matthias Naab, Director of the United Nations Development Programme Regional Service Centre for Africa, on 4 November 2025 at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana. The talks focused on enhancing collaboration to advance sustainable development, regional integration, and institutional capacity-building across SADC member states.
Dr. Naab, who oversees UNDP’s engagement with regional and continental institutions, leads efforts to provide policy, technical, and programmatic support to 46 African countries. During the meeting, Magosi welcomed Dr. Naab and his delegation, noting the longstanding partnership between SADC and UNDP and describing their Memorandum of Understanding as a key framework for strategic engagement.
“The MoU provides a clear pathway to strengthen our collaboration in advancing regional integration, good governance, peace and security, and the sustainable development agenda,” Magosi said. He outlined priority areas including governance and institutional capacity development, climate change adaptation, digital transformation, youth empowerment, and gender equality. He added that focal points from SADC will coordinate closely with UNDP counterparts to ensure results at both regional and national levels.
Dr. Naab reiterated UNDP’s commitment to supporting SADC’s Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030. He stressed the organisation’s readiness to mobilise expertise across its networks to support SADC’s institutional priorities and accelerate the implementation of agreed initiatives.
Both parties agreed to fast-track the finalisation of a Joint Action Plan to operationalise the MoU, define deliverables, and set timelines. They also pledged to convene technical working sessions to review progress and strengthen coordination.
Magosi concluded by thanking UNDP for its ongoing support and reaffirmed SADC’s determination to deepen collaboration to achieve inclusive and sustainable development across the region.
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