The SADC PPDF was established to support the promotion and preparation of major infrastructure bankable projects in the SADC region. The facility operates under the guidance of the SADC Secretariat and is funded by development partners, notably the German government.
The goal of the facility is to address the shortage in project preparation funding for infrastructure projects in the region and emphasises collaboration, sustainability, and alignment with regional priorities outlined in the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP)
The project is implemented by the Germany Development Bank, KfW, via the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). The DBSA is the Project Executing Agency (PEA) appointed to implement the SADC Agreement under the 1st MoA signed on 25 November 2017, the current agreement was signed in 2022.
The German government has funded the facility in three phases, totaling EUR 24.3 million.
The purpose of the SADC PPDF is to create a conducive environment for investment by financing the preparation of infrastructure projects based in at least one SADC Member State or those with a direct and positive impact on another Member State
The PPDF concentrates on those projects that will be considered as enablers of regional integration providing technical assistance for project identification, preparation and feasibility studies as well as for advisory, and capacity building purposes that will lead to investment in projects.
Thus the PPDF provides technical assistance in infrastructure project identification, preparation and feasibility studies with a view to presenting bankable projects to investors and lenders.