SOUTHERN African Development Community (SADC), Dr George Ah-Thew met with the British Minister Lord Collins of Highbury on Wednesday to discuss mutual interests and enhancing cooperation between the United Kingdom and SADC in the realms of diplomacy, socio-economic development and in addressing sexual violence within the SADC regional integration agenda.

Lord Collins serves as the United Kingdom’s Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, Government Whip, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

He also acts as the government spokesperson for equalities and the Prime Minister’s special representative for preventing sexual violence in conflict.

During their meeting at SADC headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana, Lord Collins reiterated the UK's dedication to strengthening its engagement with SADC, emphasizing key areas such as energy, climate change, and infrastructure development.

He highlighted the importance of face-to-face interactions with the SADC Secretariat to continue fostering strong, respectful partnerships for the benefit of both SADC and UK citizens.

“The UK maintains bilateral agreements with several SADC Member States, including the SACUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique. The collaboration at regional level with SADC includes areas such as climate change, water security, regional trade, and wildlife protection,” he said.

The UK government has committed £12 million to support SADC's Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) over six years through the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.

The UK has also endorsed Climate Investment Fund Market Mechanisms, aiming to raise $7.5 billion over the next decade for adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

Dr Ah-Thew expressed appreciation for the UK's longstanding diplomatic ties and developmental cooperation within the SADC region.

He outlined SADC’s readiness to explore new areas for development and cooperation, presenting an overview of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030.

This strategy aspires to transform the region into a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, and industrialized middle- to high-income region, aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Dr Ah-Thew emphasised regional priorities, particularly key projects necessary for implementing the SADC RISDP 2020-2030. These initiatives aim to enhance intra-regional trade and investment, advance the SADC free trade area, and support financial market integration.

He acknowledged the UK Government’s commitment to deepening engagement in areas such as energy, climate change, infrastructure development and transfrontier conservation.