8 6 S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N D E V E L O P M E N T The ICM shall, among other things: C O M M U N I T Y It is clear from the above that the Secretariat is Oversee the activities of the core integration areas responsible for the day to day management and (including trade, finance and investment; infrastructure coordination of the RISDP implementation. This entails and services; food, agriculture and natural resources; strategic planning for the review and continuous updating and, social and human development and special pro- of the RISDP, institutional coordination of the various grammes); actors, programme coordination to ensure adequate Monitor and control the implementation of the RISDP interface and synergies between different outputs and in its area of competence; activities, and monitoring and evaluation of the RISDP in • Monitor and evaluate the work of the Directorates; meeting its objectives. • Create permanent or ad-hoc sub-committees as may • • be necessary for cross cutting issues; and • Exercise decision-making powers to ensure rapid implementation of programmes. From the above, it is clear that Council receives regular progress reports from the ICM on the implementation of the RISDP, and gives final approval to any major change of a policy and strategic nature. The ICM on the other hand directly monitors the implementation of the RISDP and gives policy guidance to the Secretariat, receives regular reports from the Secretariat, makes recommendations to Council on major changes relating to policy direction. However, the ICM is mandated by the Treaty to make decisions to ensure rapid implementation of programmes that would otherwise await 6.4.3 Programme Level The key structures in the implementation of a particular programme should include some or all of the following bodies: • The Secretariat; • Cooperating Partner/s; • Technical Committees and Sub-Committees; • Programme Steering Committees; • Member States participating in the programme; • SADC National Committees; • Other Stakeholders; • Implementing Agents; and • Contractors. It is important to point out that the key actors on a formal meeting of Council. In line with the Report on the Review of the Operations of SADC Institutions, the ICM should also these bodies will vary between programmes, depending upon the objectives, and scale of implementation. The Secretariat is responsible to the Integrated operate at cluster level. This will ensure that the cluster level ICM oversees the implementation of the RISDP, and provides technical guidance on specialised issues on behalf of the ICM. Committee of Ministers to ensure that a programme delivers on its objectives, taking into account the interests of Member States and SADC. It is also responsible to the funding agencies (Cooperating Partners and/or Member 6.4.2 Operational Level At the operational level, management and coordination of the RISDP during implementation is primarily the responsibility of the Secretariat. According to the Treaty, the Secretariat is the principal executive institution of States) to ensure that the funds are used to produce the required outputs. The Secretariat, therefore, takes overall responsibility for the programme management (at a strategic level). In this context, the Secretariat will be responsible for the following: • signing of financing agreements on behalf of SADC; SADC and shall, among other things, be responsible for: • Strategic planning and management of the • • Submission of harmonised policies and programmes Facilitating and coordinating the participation and contributions of Member States; programmes of SADC; • Funding negotiations for approved activities, and the • Coordinating and supervising Implementing Agents to the Council for consideration and approval: and to ensure the timely submission of progress reports, Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of and certify invoices and disbursements of funds for regional policies and programmes. work done;