Mr. Zwelibanzi Sapula M. Inst. D, the Chief Executive Officer of the SADC Development Finance Resource Centre (SADC-DFRC), recently conducted a meeting with Mr. Hiroyasu Tonokawa, the Resident Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Botswana. This meeting served as a valuable opportunity to reinforce collaboration and foster synergies between the two organizations.

Discussions involved the SADC-DFRC’s mandate of capacitating Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) by mobilizing capital resources and funding, as well as creating a pipeline of bankable projects through project development and regional integration. The conversations also highlighted JICA’s notable projects, such as the “North-South Carrier Water Project”, “Trans-Kalahari Road Construction Project”, and “Kazungula Bridge Construction Project”, which have strengthened local communities and laid the groundwork for economic resiliency.

Moving forward, both parties identified actionable next steps, including regional workshops to exchange technical expertise and foster knowledge exchange, as well as joint feasibility studies for financially viable, cross-border projects.