The Southern African Development Community – SADC has developed a programme aimed at enhancing the capacity of structures of SADC member states and coordinating the implementation of the regional agenda at national levels.
Strengthening the National-Regional Linkage-SNRL has been established in order to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the regional agenda.
Speaking during the launch of the SNRL in Lusaka on April 09th ,2019 attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Programmes Manager Robson Chakwana said Zambia stands to benefit from SADC programmes in gender, education, health and agriculture.
Chakwana further said in order to bridge the implementation gap, the SNRL programme will support SADC member states to establish and strengthen national structures. He said SADC has a programme which supports states and non-state actors to monitor the progress achieved while implementing the regional integration agenda in member states.
Chakwana further explained that the programme aims at developing the capacity of SADC member states to mobilize financial and other resources required to implement the programme at national level.
And Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chalwe Lombe has expressed confidence that with the new enhanced program, the SADC region will score more successes in key areas such as regional infrastructure projects, intra-regional trade and Industrialization.
He said other areas of benefit include gender, education, health, agriculture and natural resources. Lombe observed that by the end of the Programme in November 2021, Zambia will witness an improved implementation of key SADC projects.
He further observed that Zambia will also see an improved and efficient mechanism of coordinating among all stakeholders on progress made through the SADC online monitoring and evaluation system.
The Permanent Secretary has however called on all Zambians to be positive and embrace the programme participants if the country is to derive maximum benefits.
