DFID Southern Africa: Regional Plan
1. The Regional Plan
(371 kb) was launched on the 28 February. It responds directly
to the recommendations of the
 Commission for Africa, which calls for regional
approaches to complement country led interventions to reduce poverty.
2. Regional approaches can help many African countries which are too small in
population to constitute significant markets, to attract foreign investment and
get a foothold in global markets. Regional approaches can also create regional
“public goods “ for example road and rail systems, energy and communications. And they
can make it possible for countries to address many social challenges such as
accessing affordable drugs; providing essential skills to deliver health and
education services.
3. Regional approaches complement the country led approach.
4. DFID’s Regional Plan will give support in a limited number of areas where
the UK can make a distinct contribution. These areas are Growth, Jobs and Equity
(includes investment in infrastructure improvements); Resilient Livelihoods
(includes agriculture, food security, water, climate change, infectious
diseases); and Peace/Security. All areas take forward agreements reached at
Gleneagles and documented in the Africa communiqué.
5. In 2006 DFID will pilot new programmes in these areas:
- We will launch a programme to help set up one stop border posts.
This will reduce waiting time for goods transporters to clear
customs/immigration at borders.
- A new programme to help to improve trading standards.
- We will support further work with the UN on infectious diseases.
- We will be commissioning a scoping study with a view to making new
investments on climate change in Southern Africa.
- Following up on the Gleneagles commitment to increase aid to the
water sector, we will be investing in transboundary water management.
- The 2006 budget for the Regional Plan is £20m.
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