SADC

16/10/2026

𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐂 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐦 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭

The Secretariat, through its institution responsible for coordinating the conservation and sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources, the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC), has made another deposit of germplasm from the SADC region at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Located in the Svalbard Archipelago near the town of Longyearbyen, Norway, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault serves as a secure global repository for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Often referred to as the “Doomsday Vault” because of its strategic importance, it functions as a global backup facility for seed collections in the event of natural disasters, conflicts, or other catastrophes that could threaten crop diversity.

Major research institutions and governments worldwide store their plant genetic resources at the facility because of its high level of security and ideal conditions for long-term seed conservation.

The SPGRC deposited an additional 300 accessions from the SADC region, bringing the total number of SADC accessions stored at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to 18,017.

The deposit was made on behalf of the SADC region by Her Excellency Ambassador Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, South Africa’s Ambassador to Italy, during the seed deposit ceremony held from 13 to 14 October 2026. South Africa is the current Chair of SADC.

Speaking at the ceremony in Longyearbyen, Ambassador Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to achieving food and nutrition security for all. She highlighted the significance of the Ezulwini Declaration on Resilient and Sustainable Seed Systems for a Food-Secure Africa, recently adopted by Africa’s Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Food Security, as a key milestone in strengthening the continent’s agricultural resilience.

Celebrating the milestone of surpassing 18,000 SADC accessions in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the Head of the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre, Dr Justify Gotami Shava, also reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with global institutions to address the effects of climate change through the enhanced conservation and sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources.

He emphasised the critical role of safeguarding crop diversity in supporting resilient food systems and sustainable agricultural development across the region.



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16/10/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗬𝗘, 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗔

The SADC Secretariat concludes its three-day Gender Equality Seal (GES) Technical Working Session today, 16 October 2026, in Mahalapye, Botswana. The session, held from 14 to 16 October 2026, forms part of the Secretariat’s ongoing efforts to strengthen gender mainstreaming and promote gender equality across its institutional policies, programmes and operations.

The technical working session brought together representatives from three Directorates, namely the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; Infrastructure; and Industrial Development and Trade (IDT), which undertook the Gender Equality Seal self-assessment exercise.

The three Directorates were supported by the Communication and Public Relations Unit (CPRU), Human Resources and Administration (HRA), Policy, Planning and Resource Mobilization (PPRM), Finance, and Procurement, which provided inputs to the assessment process within their respective areas of responsibility.

Through the exercise, participants reviewed institutional practices, assessed progress in integrating gender equality considerations into their work, identified existing gaps and proposed actions to strengthen gender-responsive planning, implementation and reporting.

The session marks an important step in SADC’s efforts to institutionalise gender equality, strengthen accountability and create a more inclusive and gender-responsive organisation, in line with regional and international gender equality commitments.

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16/10/2026

16/10/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗬𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗬𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in partnership with AfricaCERT and the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Social Communication (MINTTICS) of the Republic of Angola, convened the AfricaCERT and SADC Cyber Drill and Cybercrime Cooperation 2026 in Talatona, Luanda, Angola, from 5th- 9th October 2026. The seventh SADC Cyber Drill brought together 282 delegates from SADC Member States, alongside regional information and communications technology (ICT) implementing agencies and key regional stakeholders, including the Communication Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), the Southern African Telecommunications Association (SATA) and the Southern African Postal Operators Association (SAPOA).

The event aimed to strengthen regional cooperation and coordination in cybersecurity and cybercrime response by enhancing Member States’ capacities to detect, manage and respond to cyber incidents. Through practical exercises, specialised training and collaborative simulations, the programme provided a platform for cybersecurity professionals and relevant institutions to test incident-response procedures, identify operational gaps, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and improve preparedness for cyber threats affecting the region. Hosting the exercise in Angola also supported the country’s efforts to strengthen its national cybersecurity capabilities and advance the development of its Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT).

Read the full story on the SADC website:
https://www.sadc.int/latest-news/sadc-strengthens-regional-cybersecurity-and-cybercrime-cooperation

16/10/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮6

On the occasion of World Food Day, 16 October 2026, the SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Mr. Elias M. Magosi, has called for greater investment in innovation, strengthened regional cooperation, and climate-resilient agriculture to address food insecurity and malnutrition across Southern Africa.

In his statement under the theme “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”, H.E. Magosi emphasises the importance of harnessing science, technology, and partnerships to build sustainable and resilient agrifood systems, protect livelihoods, and ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all.

The full statement is available in all SADC official languages on the SADC website through the link below:

https://www.sadc.int/document/statement-executive-secretary-sadc-he-mr-elias-m-magosi-world-food-day-2026 (English)

https://www.sadc.int/fr/document/declaration-du-secretaire-executif-de-la-sadc-son-excellence-monsieur-elias-m-magosi (French)

https://www.sadc.int/pt-pt/document/declaracao-do-secretario-executivo-da-sadc-s-exa-elias-m-magosi-por-ocasiao-do-dia-mundial (Portuguese)

16/10/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗖𝗖𝗔𝗦 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

His Excellency Mr Elias M. Magosi, Executive Secretary of SADC, met with Her Excellency Ambassador Mariam Mahamat Nour, Vice-President of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), accompanied by His Excellency Ambassador Oluimo Da Silva, Ambassador-Commissioner for the Common Market, Economic, Monetary and Financial Affairs. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand on 15 October 2026.

The engagement provided an opportunity for the two Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to discuss issues of mutual interest, diplomatic cooperation, exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation on regional integration, institutional coordination, peace and security, and shared continental development priorities. SADC emphasised the importance of effective coordination and a clear division of labour among regional organisations in supporting the African Union’s (AU) continental agenda. The discussions highlighted the value of sharing experiences, learning from good practices and strengthening collaboration among RECs to address common challenges and promote regional stability.

The two parties also exchanged views on key issues affecting the RECs, highlighting the importance of identifying and prioritising continental issues and ensuring that regional perspectives are reflected in the African Union’s agenda. They underscored the value of the RECs’ collective platform in promoting shared priorities and strengthening coordination among regional institutions.

Discussions further focused on facilitating the movement of people and goods across borders, including visa arrangements and the implementation of relevant AU frameworks. Both sides recognised that easing cross-border movement is essential to advancing regional integration, strengthening connectivity, promoting youth mobility and employment, and expanding intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

To advance the discussions, both parties agreed to establish technical teams to identify priority areas for cooperation and develop modalities for sustained engagement between SADC and ECCAS. This will provide a basis for more structured collaboration and coordinated action on shared regional and continental priorities. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of SADC and ECCAS to strengthening cooperation among African institutions and advancing regional integration in support of the continent’s broader development and stability objectives.

The principals were accompanied by Dr Mike Masiye, SADC Director for Policy, Planning and Resource Mobilisation and Ms Rachel Mbako Mpondo, ECCAS Director of Cooperation and Resource Mobilisation, as well as other officials from both parties.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation, SA

15/10/2026

𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗖 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲/𝟮𝟳 𝗘𝗹 𝗡𝗶𝗻̃𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻

In view of the 2026/27 El Niño and Cyclone Season forecast, SADC through the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) will from 20-23 October, 2026 convene a meeting of Member States and partners in Johannesburg, South Africa, to consolidate contingency plans for preparedness and response for the El Niño phenomenon.

On the sidelines of the International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Africa held in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique, the Director of SHOC, 𝗠𝗿. 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮, explains how the region, through SHOC, is preparing to strengthen preparedness and response measures to mitigate the potential socio-economic impacts of the expected climate phenomenon.

15/10/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮

The inaugural International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Africa was held in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique, from 13 to 15 October 2026 under the theme: “Scaling Proactive Governance and Strategic Investment for Disaster Risk Reduction and a Resilient Africa.”

The SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs Dr. Judith Kateera has welcomed the successful convening of the conference, which brought together policymakers, development partners, experts, and stakeholders to strengthen collective action on disaster risk reduction and resilience across the African continent.

15/10/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰-𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝟯𝟴𝟬 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁

Bangkok, Thailand, 14 October 2026 – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for stronger public-private partnerships to unlock investment opportunities towards regional integration. The call was made during a roundtable discussion on mobilising public and private capital for Africa, held on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand.

The roundtable was jointly convened by the Poland’s state-owned development entity; Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), the Joint European Financiers for International Cooperation (JEFIC), Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and the Africa-Europe Foundation to explore ways of mobilising investment for Africa’s development.

In his address, His Excellency Mr Elias M. Magosi, SADC Executive Secretary called for predictable, transparent and investor-friendly environment, stronger Africa-Europe partnerships, and closer collaboration among governments, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and the private sector to address financing gaps. He emphasised the need for governments to establish enabling policy and regulatory frameworks that allow DFIs to fulfil their role effectively.

He also urged DFIs to deepen their understanding of governments’ development priorities and take a proactive leadership role in mobilising the resources needed to finance Africa’s development agenda.

He highlighted project preparation as critical to developing a predictable and sustainable pipeline of bankable projects, emphasising the need to shorten the preparation process to between three and six months. He noted that Africa’s challenge lies in ensuring that investment opportunities are adequately prepared and structured to attract capital.

In this regard, development banks play an essential role in supporting project preparation and reducing investment risks through guarantees, blended finance, technical assistance and tailored financing solutions that respond to the specific needs of projects and investors.

The SADC Executive Secretary underscored industrialisation as a critical priority for Africa’s development, calling on Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to support African governments in implementing national and regional industrialisation strategies. He emphasised that advancing industrialisation would expand productive capacity, create greater opportunities for intra-African trade and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

While acknowledging the role of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in mobilising private capital, H.E. Magosi emphasised that public financing remains essential to development and should be used to mobilise and complement private investment, rather than replace it. He highlighted strong governance, clear risk allocation, policy stability and regulatory certainty as critical foundations for successful partnerships and long-term infrastructure financing.

H.E. Magosi reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to transforming regional priorities into investable opportunities through investment reforms, energy connectivity, strategic corridors and integrated capital markets. He called for stronger collaboration among African governments, European partners, DFIs and the private sector to mobilise sustainable investment, advance regional development and create economic opportunities for the people of Southern Africa.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation, SA
BGK - Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego
World Bank Group
IMF Africa

14/10/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

On the sidelines of the International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Africa in Maputo, Mozambique, the Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Dr. Judith Kateera met the President of the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) in Mozambique, Her Excellency Luisa Celma Caetano Meque to discuss matters relating to regional preparedness in particular for the anticipated El Niño phenomenon forecast for the 2026-2027 season.

The meeting focused on strengthening preparedness and response measures to mitigate the potential socio-economic impacts of the expected climate phenomenon. The two discussed the need for strengthening the SADC Humanitarian Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) through sustainable and innovative resource mobilisation.

Dr. Kateera expressed appreciation to the Government of Mozambique for the support to the SHOC, including the donation of the building that houses the centre and on-going efforts on strengthening the operational capacity of the centre.

In relation to the forecasted El Niño, the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary called for proactive actions to strengthen resilience in the region. In this regard, Dr Kateera highlighted the need to operationalise the SADC Regional Development Fund as a key instrument for supporting disaster preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives.

On her part, the INGD President H.E. Luisa Celma Caetano Meque underscored the importance of community involvement in preparedness and response efforts, noting that local communities are often the first responders during emergencies. She also stressed the need to scale up simulation exercises and preparedness drills to enhance readiness at national and regional levels.

The discussions come as SADC Member States prepare to convene in Johannesburg, South Africa, to consolidate national preparedness plans into comprehensive regional preparedness and response contingency plan for the 2026/27 rainfall and cyclone season.