The SADC Development Finance Resource Centre (SADC-DFRC) celebrated its 10th Anniversary on 5th December, 2013 at Gaborone International Conference Centre in Gaborone, Botswana. The Celebration was in recognition of the institution’s achievements and contributions to the SADC regional developmental goals of sustainable economic development, employment generation and poverty alleviation over a decade, through path-breaking and innovative capacity building programmes, policy research and advisory services provided to SADC development finance institutions (DFIs) and governments.

The event was graced by His Honour the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr. Ponatshego H Kedikilwe.

While lauding the DFRC and the DFI Network for their contribution to the regional development finance architecture, the Vice President emphasised that the importance of developing strong and sustainable partnerships between the public and private sectors to exploit the natural resources of SADC for the benefit of its citizens. He gave major examples of development projects that constituted the potential areas of cooperation in Botswana. Read More.

The Vice President also informed the gathering that the government of Botswana had taken important policy steps to mobilise and allocate financial resources to development projects by establishing a range of development finance institutions actively involved in the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as agricultural, industrial, infrastructure and external trade projects.

In welcoming the Vice President, The Chief Executive Officer of the DFRC, Mr. Stuart Kufeni outlined the major accomplishments of the SADC-DFRC over the past ten years. He recognised that despite major challenges the institution experienced at infancy stage, the DFRC with the support of the DFI Network, immensely contributed to the evaluation of regional, national and Institutional development finance structures.

The SADC Development Finance Resource Centre, is a subsidiary institution of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and serves as secretariat of the SADC Development Finance Institutions Network among other functions. The SADC-DFRC is mandated to provide technical and capacity building support, policy research and advisory services to promote effective mobilisation of resources in the financial sector in particular DFIs, for investment in key areas with the potential to stimulate growth, generate employment and alleviate poverty, in line with the objectives of SADC under the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP). 

The SADC DFI Network membership currently stands at thirty two (32), with seven (7) local members, being the Botswana Development Corporation, Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency, Botswana Housing Corporation, Botswana Savings Bank, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, Local Enterprise Authority and the National Development Bank.

Since its inception, the DFRC has delivered more than 105 training programmes to well over 3000 staff of DFIs, SOEs and Governments. The courses cover various skills requirements, and include areas such as:  Economic and Financial Investment Appraisal and Risk Analysis; Corporate Governance Practice and Policy; Management Development Programmes to mention a few.

In pursuance of its developmental role, the SADC-DFRC has developed strong relationships with the SADC Governments and International Cooperating Partners such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (ADB), German Development Agency (GIZ), European Union (EU), Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). This has resulted in the DFRC accessing financial and technical support for programmes that have benefited various development stakeholders but principally the DFIs, Member State Governments and State-owned Enterprises (SOEs).

The DFRC also successfully established the SADC Public Private Partnership Network in 2011 which has to date conducted various PPP skills development programmes for SADC Governments in addition to promoting public-private dialogue. It has recently also developed the SADC PPP Policy Framework which was adopted by Ministers of Finance and Investment at their recent meeting in Maputo this year. 

On the advisory services front, the DFRC has assisted DFIs in restructuring their operations and has also conducted studies and workshops towards improving the policy and regulatory environment for development finance in member countries and the region as a whole. The DFRC has also rendered technical advice and actively participated in the discussions on the establishment of the SADC Project Preparation and Development Facility (PPDF) SADC Regional Development Fund (RDF) whose establishment is now at an advanced stage.

This celebration coincided with the bi-annual meeting of the SADC DFI Network and the DFI Chief Executives Officers’ Forum which will be held the same day. The event was attended by  Government Officials, Chief Executive Officers of Development Finance Institutions and Commercial Banks, SADC Governments Ambassadors, International Cooperating Partners, other development finance stakeholders among others. Read More.

Mr. Charles Chikaura, current Board Chairman of the SADC-DFRC reiterated the commitment of the SADC DFI Network to the work of the DFRC, and as an integral part of the SADC programme of action on regional integration. Read More.

The Chairman of the SADC DFI Network, Ambassador Leonard Iipumbu, also emphasised on the evolving and anticipated linkages between the national development finance institutions, and the emerging regional development finance structures. Read More.