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The Southern African Development Community - Development Finance Resource Centre (SADC-DFRC) is a subsidiary institution of SADC established under the SADC Protocol on Finance and Investment (FIP). We serve as the region's premier resource centre for development finance solutions, collectively owned by the SADC Development Finance Institutions Network.
As a result of the recommendation of the DFS98 study, fifteen (15) DFIs adopted a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2000, establishing the DFI Network. In August 2000, the Network agreed to establish the DFRC under a Trust Deed, and to finance its recurrent administrative expenditure from start-up, then approach Donor Agencies or Internaitonal Cooperating Partners (ICPs) for other infrastructure, technical and capacity building needs. The DFRC began operations on 1st July 2003 as the Secretariat and Central Hub for the DFI Network following approval of its establishment by the SADC Council of Ministers at their October 2002 meeting in Angola.
The DFI Network and the DFRC became protocol-based institutions of SADC, following ratification of the SADC Finance and Investment Protocol in July 2011. The FIP incoporates the Network establishing MOU as Annex 9.
The Southern African Development Community - Development Finance Resource Centre
(SADC-DFRC) is a subsidiary institution of SADC established under the SADC Protocol on
Finance and Investment (the FIP). It is collectively ‘owned’ by the SADC Development
Finance Institutions (DFI) Network, also an FIP organisation, with a current membership of
thirty-seven (37) national DFIs. Through technical and capacity building support, as well as
resource mobilization, advisory services, policy research and advocacy, our mandate is to
promote the effective mobilisation of resources by the financial sector, in particular the
DFIs, for investment in key areas with the potential to stimulate sustainable and inclusive
growth, generate employment and alleviate poverty, in line with the objectives of SADC
under the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP).
To be the go-to Centre of Excellence for development finance solutions, driving economic development and fostering a prosperous, regionally connected SADC region.
To support Development Finance Institutions and Governments by providing capacity building, resource mobilization, research, and advisory services that enable economic development, foster regional integration, and contribute to a prosperous and regionally connected SADC economy.
The DFRC is a lean organisation manned by a small group of professional staff in key strategic areas in line with its mandate. To effectively deliver on the mandate, therefore, the DFRC has adopted a collaborative approach which involves utilisation of strategic development and technical partners in the selected focal areas. In this regard, the DFRC operates as facilitator and catalyst to DFIs, SADC Member States, Governments, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and other key development stakeholders.
Development Finance Study of SADC 1998 (DL)
The DFS98 is one of the three studies that were undertaken under the EU funded SADC-FISCU 1998 Research Project. This study recommended that SADC creates a SADC wide network of existing national DFIs and a Development Finance Resource Centre to support the network’s capacity building needs. The centre was also to have a policy research and analysis capacity and offer advisory services to SADC governments and DFIs, and to be complemented by a Development Fund.
As a result of the recommendation of the DFS98 study, 15 DFIs adopted a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2000, establishing the DFI Network. In August 2000, the Network agreed to establish the DFRC under a Trust Deed, and to finance its recurrent administrative expenditure from start-up, then approach Donor Agencies for other infrastructure, technical and capacity building needs. The DFRC began operations on 1st July 2003 as the Secretariat and Central Hub for the DFI Network following approval of its establishment by the SADC Council of Ministers at their October 2002 meeting in Angola.
The DFI Network and the DFRC are now protocol based institutions of SADC, following ratification of the SADC Finance and Investment Protocol in July 2011.
Also recommended by the DFS98 study was the establishment of a SADC Development Fund, and that a full feasibility study be carried out to determine the viability, sustainability and potential modus operandi of such a fund. This recommendation was implemented with a two-phase KfW-funded feasibility study, managed by the DFRC and the DBSA acting as the implementing agency.
Phase I examined the desirability, viability and sustainability of a development fund. It began in December 2002 and culminated in a report to the DFI Network by consultants in June 2003. The study recommended a Project Preparation and Development Fund (PPDF), for the preparation, promotion and development of bankable projects. Its recommendations were adopted by Ministers of Finance on 7 August 2003 and endorsed by the SADC Council at its Meeting in Dares Salaam, Tanzania in August 2003.
Phase II began in 2004 and examined the modus operandi, location and potential structuring of the Fund. Germany’s KfW again funded this phase of the project. A draft report was discussed with the Network DFIs and Senior Treasury Officials in January 2005, and a final report completed in May 2005.
Phase III is the final design for implementation of the Fund, whose objective is the establishment of an operational framework for the Fund, with specific emphasis on: the development of a strategic plan for sustainable financing of the PPDF by Member States; the development of its key internal operations and systems, including management of funds arising from diverse sources; the development of criteria for selecting and funding activities;
the development of criteria for the selection of a Host institution for the PPDF in its early stages; the development of a first draft Annex to the SADC Finance and Investment Protocol to cover the existence and operations of the PPDF; and the actual establishment of the PPDF.
The DFI Network and the DFRC are now protocol based institutions of SADC, following ratification of the SADC Finance and Investment Protocol in July 2011.
The three institutional mechanisms – the Network, DFRC and the PPDF – are three essential components of an emerging development finance system in SADC and will provide an exceptional and mutually supportive circle of close cooperation for development, while maintaining their independence and separation of responsibilities.
