Southern Africa

The 26th Meeting of The Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) of Southern Africa

The 26th ICSOE of Southern Africa will: - (i) review the social and economic conditions in Southern Africa focusing on the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic responses (ii) consider and endorse the implementation of the programme of work of SRO-SA, the planned programme of work and the budget for 2021; and (iii) review the implementation of regional and international agendas, including NEPAD and other special initiatives in the sub region focusing on progress in the implementation of the agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

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Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting - The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Trade in Services: Opportunities and Strategies for Southern Africa

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) will convene an Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting on the theme of “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Trade in Services:  Opportunities and Strategies for Southern Africa”. This Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting (AEGM) will be held as a prelude to the 26th Session of the Inter-Governmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) of Southern Africa on the theme: “Policies and strategies towards effective private sector-led growth and job creation in Southern Africa”.

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Blue Economy, Inclusive Industrialization and Economic Development in Southern Africa

Oceans and seas cover 72 per cent of the surface of planet Earth and are home to 95 per cent of the Earth’s living organisms. The world’s oceans are essential to life on the planet, provide the largest source of oxygen and protein, absorb around a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions, recycle nutrients and play a significant role in the regulation of global climate and temperature. Globally, over 3.1 billion of the world’s population live within 100 km of the ocean or sea in about 150 coastal and island States (FAO, 2018).

Promoting growth and economic transformation in Southern Africa: The challenges and implications of declining commodity prices

Heavy reliance on primary commodities has rendered many of the economies of Southern Africa vulnerable to fluctuations in international markets as shown by the case of the region’s mineral resource and agricultural sectors. A key observation indicated in the present study is that the high dependence of resource-rich Southern African economies on commodities makes them vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations, which has resulted in the unexpected contraction of public resources and, in certain instances, created negative spill over effects into the rest of the economy.

Integration in Southern Africa: The role, prospects and progress of the Tripartite Free Trade Area

The present study focuses on the development and conclusion of negotiations for the Tripartite Free Trade Area, which brings together the member states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Strategies and policies for the integration of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises into the industrialization process in Southern Africa

Following the adoption of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Industrialization Strategy in 2015, Southern African countries have come to recognize that micro, small and medium scale enterprises must play a key role in the region’s industrialization.

Harmonization of regional industrialization strategies and policies in Southern Africa

The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which industrialization strategies and policies in Southern Africa, in particular the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) industrialization policy and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) industrialization strategy, are aligned with one another and with other regional, continental and international industrialization frameworks.

The 26th ICSOE to address COVID-19 challenges and discuss Policies for Private Sector led Growth in Southern Africa

Lusaka, Zambia, 19 August 2020 (ECA) – A Consultative Meeting of the Bureau of the 25th Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) of Southern Africa took place on 17th August 2020 and reconfirmed that the 26th ICSOE’s theme will be, “Policies and Strategies towards Effective Private Sector led Growth and Job Creation”. This will build on the work that has been accomplished by the two past ICSOE’s which focused on supporting the industrialization process in Southern Africa.

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Structural transformation, employment, production and society

The Economic Commission for Africa defines structural transformation as the fundamental changes in economic and social structures that advance inclusive and sustainable development This definition addresses three key questions: \

a) What is structural transformation? It is a fundamental and multidimensional process observed in all countries reaching high levels of development;

Report on the Ad hoc Expert Group Meeting on Land, Identity and Socioeconomic Transformation in Southern Africa

The land question is perhaps the most important issue of public policy debate in Southern Africa, especially its interface with identity and the issues of access, ownership, control, and usage, and the implications for increased and inclusive production, market expansion, poverty reduction, and economic empowerment of the majority of the citizens in the subregion. Land is an economic, social and cultural resource in many African countries.

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