The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Federal Republic of Germany have reiterated their strong partnership during recent bilateral talks on development cooperation, held from November 5 to 6, 2025, at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana. The discussions, co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Elias Magosi, SADC’s Executive Secretary, and Ms. Birgit Gerhardus, Head of Southern Africa at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), highlighted the longstanding collaboration between the two parties, with German Ambassador to Botswana, H.E. Ms. Gabriela Bennemann, also attending.
This round of negotiations, which follows the December 2023 talks in Berlin, marks over 40 years of cooperation, focusing on regional priorities such as economic integration, water management, natural resource conservation, and capacity building. Germany committed an additional 26.1 million Euros in support for 2025, directed toward both regional and national projects. The funds will back initiatives like the Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Strategy (LEAP), regional energy plans, and infrastructure projects like the North-South Corridor. Additionally, Germany will assist in advancing sustainable value chains for transition minerals and support programs addressing disaster risk management and gender-based violence.
The partnership was recognized as vital in navigating the increasingly complex global environment, underscoring its role in promoting regional integration, poverty reduction, and sustainable development in line with SADC's Vision 2050 and the RISDP 2020-2030.
This round of negotiations, which follows the December 2023 talks in Berlin, marks over 40 years of cooperation, focusing on regional priorities such as economic integration, water management, natural resource conservation, and capacity building. Germany committed an additional 26.1 million Euros in support for 2025, directed toward both regional and national projects. The funds will back initiatives like the Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Strategy (LEAP), regional energy plans, and infrastructure projects like the North-South Corridor. Additionally, Germany will assist in advancing sustainable value chains for transition minerals and support programs addressing disaster risk management and gender-based violence.
The partnership was recognized as vital in navigating the increasingly complex global environment, underscoring its role in promoting regional integration, poverty reduction, and sustainable development in line with SADC's Vision 2050 and the RISDP 2020-2030.
