SADC-Germany Bilateral Negotiations on Development Cooperation

Gaborone, Botswana, 30 October 2025 - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Federal Republic of Germany will convene bilateral negotiations on development cooperation from 05-06 November 2025 at the SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana.

The negotiations will be co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Elias M. Magosi, SADC Executive Secretary, and Ms. Birgit Gerhardus, Head of Division for Southern Africa at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany. The Negotiations provide an opportunity for both SADC and the German Government to reflect on issues of mutual interest, with a view to strengthen cooperation towards regional integration, poverty eradication and sustainable development.

Both SADC and the Federal Republic of Germany enjoy a history of cooperation and partnership that is anchored in mutual respect, shared priorities, and a common vision for a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Southern Africa. Since 1992, the German Government has consistently supported the implementation of the regional integration agenda through dedicated support on regional economic integration, transboundary water management, sustainable natural resource management, and institutional capacity building both at the regional level and at the level of SADC Member States.

The upcoming negotiations will serve as a platform to review progress, align priorities and commit new funds, in line with German priorities and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030.

Discussions will focus on the following priority areas of cooperation:

• Regional Economic Integration-advancing trade facilitation, industrialisation, and economic resilience across Member States;

• Transboundary Water Management-enhancing sustainable and equitable use of shared water resources;

• Transboundary Use and Protection of Natural Resources-promoting biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods;

• Cooperation Outside the Priority Areas (Core Areas)-identifying complementary initiatives to strengthen institutional capacities at regional and national level and address emerging regional challenges.

The bilateral negotiations reaffirm the shared commitment of SADC and Germany to deepening cooperation for dignified living conditions of the people of the SADC region and to contributing meaningfully to the attainment of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

While in Botswana, the German delegation will visit institutions supported by SADC-German cooperation that exemplify regional cooperation, institutional strengthening, and sustainable development. These include:

• Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) Secretariat, which is supporting transboundary water governance and ecosystem management across Angola, Namibia, and Botswana

• SADC Accreditation Unit, which is strengthening regional quality infrastructure through harmonised standards and conformity assessment procedures

• SADC Accreditation Service (SADCAS), a multi-economy accreditation body offering internationally recognised services to laboratories, certification bodies, and inspection entities

• Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS), which is developing and implementing national standards, and providing testing and certification service