https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/331.html

GIZ SADC/Botswana, Gaborone (2026)

07/08/2026

New eLearning now available on atingi!

Every year, disasters erase decades of development progress. How can we move from responding to disasters towards preventing and reducing risk before disasters happen?

To help development practitioners better understand and address these challenges, the Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management (GIDRM) has launched a new self-paced eLearning course: Transforming our Disaster Risk Lens: From response to prevention.

The course introduces the foundations of Disaster Risk Management and explores how risk considerations can be integrated into development planning and decision-making, with dedicated modules on Good Financial Governance and Social Protection.

Through interactive exercises, practical examples, and the fictional country of Naisa, learners gain practical insights into applying risk-informed approaches across sectors.

3h | Self-paced | In English | Certificate upon completion | Free of charge

👉 Start learning here: https://lnkd.in/dxEZZMif

If you find the course useful, feel free to share it with colleagues and partners who may benefit!

06/08/2026

Congratulations to Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania on forming the ROVUMA/RUVUMA River Basin Commission – Germany is proud to have supported the formation of yet another SADC River Basin Organisation (RBO)

On Friday, 31 July, the governments of Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania signed the milestone agreement to establish the Rovuma River Basin Commission, aimed at strengthening water security and improving the sustainable management of resources shared by the three countries.

The German Government has supported the establishment and development of all RBOs in the SADC region for over two decades — from hosting interim secretariats to accompanying organisational development. The creation of yet another RBOs, the Rovuma/Ruvuma River Basin Commission is based on the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses and underscores the ongoing relevance of water cooperation.

During the signing ceremony Inga Tessendorf, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy Maputo emphasised: “For over 20 years, Germany has championed such initiatives across SADC, knowing that shared waters, when managed responsibly, can unite us all for prosperity, and resilience. Our efforts align with our broader commitment to evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable water governance.”

Through the German-SADC cooperation programme Transboundary Water Management (TWM), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Germany looks forward to further strengthening its collaboration with IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa, GWPSA and other partners to support the Commission's establishment and growth, while sharing lessons and successes from many years of cooperation with the SADC Secretariat and existing River Basin Organisations across the region.

06/08/2026

Business Support Organisations: Making Regional Integration Work for Businesses

At the SADC Industrialisation Week 2026 in Durban, South Africa, the SADC Secretariat—supported by the German Government—participated in a session on “The Role of Business Support Organisations in Regional Integration”. The panel discussion showcased how Business Support Organisations (BSOs) turn negotiated frameworks like the SADC Trade Protocol, the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, and AfCFTA into practical market access for enterprises.

Why BSOs matter:
✔️ Translate complex trade rules into business-friendly guidance
✔️Raise awareness and train exporters to use preferences and procedures
✔️Reduce compliance costs and friction at borders
✔️Drive cross-border trade, jobs, and inclusive growth

Panel highlights:
☑️ Mr. Khulekani Mathe (SADC Business Council/BUSA): “The role of business organisations is evolving; we have to add value and respond to challenges.”
☑️ Ms. Happines Nyiti (AJA): “Business is about data and information. The German Government opened our opportunities on AfCFTA trading and NTB reporting.”
☑️ Ms. Dimakatso Malwela (CONWOBAA): “We are setting structures so women business associations can take part in industrialisation.”
☑️ Mr. Tulo Makwati (German Cooperation/GIZ): “What matters is using and understanding trade agreements. Germany and the SADC Secretariat are capacitating the private sector, working closely with BSOs.”
☑️ Mr. Chidi Ileka (Senior Advisor, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank): “We support the Africa Trade Gateway to help BSOs and companies scale.”

🙏Key takeaways:
✔️ Mapped how BSOs support exporters and SMEs across the region
✔️ Identified structural and capacity constraints limiting BSO effectiveness
✔️ Agreed actionable recommendations to strengthen capabilities and coordination, including stronger BSO-government coordination and use of trade agreements and standardised tools for trading

Germany’s regional cooperation provides technical support to BSOs to coordinate stakeholders, scale services, and improve business use of regional agreements and trade facilitation tools, with the aim of making the SADC market more competitive and integrated.

06/08/2026

SADC Advances Tourism-Friendly Border Initiative to Transform Visitor Experience Across Southern Africa

Border crossings are often a visitor's first and last impression of a destination. That's why Southern African Development Community (SADC) has brought together border management agencies, tourism authorities and the private sector to advance Tourism-Friendly Border Posts across the region.

Held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the Joint Consultative Workshop focused on improving customer service, accelerating digitalisation, strengthening regional cooperation and developing harmonised Tourism-Friendly Border Post Guidelines.

Convened by the SADC Secretariat through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, with support from the German Government and the European Union in Botswana. This initiative reinforced a simple but powerful message: secure borders and exceptional visitor experiences can and should go hand in hand.

Together, we are building a more connected, competitive and welcoming Southern Africa.

Read full article here: https://tfcaportal.org/news/sadc-advances-tourism-friendly-border-initiative-to-transform-visitor-experience-across

German Embassy Gaborone

03/08/2026

Building Regional Champions for a Thriving Wildlife-Based Economy in Southern Africa

Last week, participants from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region came together in Johannesburg, South Africa from 27-31 July 2026, for the SADC Wildlife-Based Economy (WBE) Champions Training by strengthening the knowledge, partnerships and leadership needed to advance sustainable wildlife-based economies across the region.

The training was hosted by the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) in collaboration with the African Leadership University - School of Wildlife Conservation (ALU-SOWC) and the African Wildlife Economy Institute (AWEI) via Stellenbosch University. This initiative is supported by the German Government and the European Union and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Over five days, the training explored:

• Responsible wildlife resource management and sustainable use.
• Governance, policy frameworks and the implementation of the SADC Wildlife-Based Economy Strategic Framework (WBESF).
• Biodiversity value chains, ethical business development and community benefit sharing.
• Cross-border cooperation, regional integration and the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA and SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) for wildlife-based trade.
• Sustainable finance and practical approaches to implementing wildlife-based economy initiatives at a national level.

The training brought together 30 government representatives, researchers, community leaders, NGOs and private sector stakeholders to exchange experiences, learn from one another and strengthen regional collaboration. By investing in a network of Wildlife-based Economy Champions, SADC is transforming regional policy into practical action that supports biodiversity conservation, inclusive livelihoods and sustainable economic growth.

Read full article here: https://tfcaportal.org/news/building-regional-champions-for-a-thriving-wildlife-based-economy-in-southern-africa

German Embassy Gaborone
European Union in Botswana

31/07/2026

🪒🧱 Breaking Down Non-Tariff Barriers to Boost Regional Trade in SADC 🤝🥃

At the ongoing 9th SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) the SADC Secretariat, supported by the German Government, gathered leaders, private sector experts, and international partners for the session “Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and Market Access” in Durban, South Africa.

The resolution of NTBs brings regional integration in the SADC market forward:
✔️ Limit border delays
✔️ Cancel bottlenecks in trade
✔️ Avoid duplication of documentation
✔️ Allow regulatory convergence and predictability for businesses

🎤 Key highlights from the session:
➡️ High-Level Commitment: Dr. Dhunraj Kassee, Director of Industrial Development and Trade at the SADC Secretariat, highlighted that “83% of logged NTBs have been successfully resolved between 2009 and 2026”.
➡️ Addressing Services Trade: The services sector accounts for “60% of regional GDP and 30% of employment”. SADC is breaking ground by pioneering the SADC Mechanism to Support Resolution of Barriers to Trade in Services, making it the first African Regional Economic Community to adopt such an integrated platform.
➡️ Private Sector & Freight Insights: Logistics operators, corporate exporters, and agricultural bodies shared frontline experiences on supply chain disruptions, permit misalignments, and border congestion.
➡️ Gender Inclusive Trade: A key focus was placed on empowering women traders and small-scale cross-border entrepreneurs, ensuring trade mechanisms address gender-specific administrative hurdles and safety concerns.

🛤Going forward:
To build a truly resilient, inclusive, and industrialised SADC market, the focus must shift from simply tracking barriers to aggressively enforcing resolution frameworks, leveraging digital tracking tools, and streamlining border logistics.

"Eliminating trade barriers is not just a technical requirement; it is an economic necessity for our regional resilience and competitiveness."- Dr. Dhunjraj Kassee, SADC Secretariat.

In cooperation with the SADC Secretariat, Germany has supported the identification and resolution of NTBs in the SADC region with the aim of supporting trade among regional companies and making the SADC market more competitive and integrated.

To report an NTB in goods in the SADC region, please visit https://tradebarriers.org or https://lnkd.in/d3DEfjfa for NTBs in the services sector.

30/07/2026

SADC Pooled Procurement Services (SPPS) – Driving Regional Access to Quality Medicines 💊

At this year’s SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) 2026 in Durban, South Africa, the SADC Secretariat, with support from the German Government and the European Union (EU), hosted an informative session on “Advancing regional manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and access to affordable quality medical products through demand consolidation”.

Under the German-EU Cooperation supported project, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, SADC Pooled Procurement Services is turning regional commitments into action:

✔️ Group Contracting Model developed
✔️ Governance structures established
✔️ Member State readiness assessments completed
✔️ SADC Medicines Database (SMD) developed
✔️ Growing political commitment to pooled procurement

As SPPS moves into the implementation phase, policymakers, procurement agencies, manufacturers, investors, development partners and the private sector will work together to build a stronger regional pharmaceutical market.

Aligned with SADC Industrialisation Week, SPPS advances:
➡️ Pharmaceutical industrialisation
➡️ Supply chain resilience
➡️ Equitable access to affordable, quality-assured medicines across the SADC region.

Through regional cooperation, Germany and EU are helping build more resilient health supply chains while fostering sustainable economic development.

30/07/2026

Zambia Private Sector Strengthens Readiness for the AfCFTA

Supported by the German Government, the SADC Secretariat, together with the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), hosted a two-day sensitization workshop for agro-processing and FMCG companies in Lusaka on 21–22 July to strengthen private sector understanding of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Dhunraj Kassee, SADC Director for Industrial Development and Trade, highlighted that the AfCFTA is helping businesses unlock new trade opportunities, drive industrialisation, and promote sustainable development across Africa.

Mrs. Lilian Bwalya, Permanent Secretary at MCTI, reaffirmed Zambia's commitment to preparing businesses to expand exports, create jobs, and join regional and continental value chains through the AfCFTA.

Mr. Emmanuel Mumba, CEO of ZACCI, stressed that building the knowledge and skills of businesses is essential for them to compete successfully in Africa's single market.

Zambia, which ratified the AfCFTA in February 2021 and has a national implementation strategy, has already started trading under the AfCFTA preferences. Its first shipment (animal-feed supplement premixes from Botswana) arrived in October 2025 and the country is preparing to commence exports.

The two-day sensitization workshop covered practical modules on NTBs, Rules of Origin, export procedures, trade facilitation, and trade in services. These modules were delivered by experts from the SADC Secretariat, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), and MCTI. The workshop concluded with interactive discussions on practical strategies to strengthen Zambia’s participation in intra-African trade and enhance private-sector competitiveness.

What this means for Germany

Germany is supporting the AfCFTA to strengthen regional trade, promote industrialisation, and create sustainable economic opportunities across Southern Africa through stronger regional integration.

German Embassy Gaborone
African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat

24/07/2026

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) invites suitably qualified, experienced and innovative individuals to apply for the following.

GIZ SADC/Botswana

07/08/2026

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

03/08/2026

31/07/2026

30/07/2026

30/07/2026

24/07/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Organization

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request