The Diagnostic Report of the RIDMP draws attention to the fact that the region is facing a number of challenges, including: • Insufficient energy supply to serve increased production and to extend access; • Highly priced, unpredictable transport and logistics services, especially for landlocked states; • Lack of low-cost access to information and communications technologies; • Inadequate meteorological services for effective and efficient planning and management of water resources, energy production, transport services and other climate-sensitive sectors; • Unacceptably high number of citizens without access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and water for irrigation to improve systems for agricultural production which will contribute to food security; and • Slow response to new tourism trends and opportunities. The SADC region is embarking on the fundamental task of creating an enabling environment by delivering infrastructure requirements by 2027 in order to facilitate the realisation of sustainable regional socio-economic development and integration within the framework of the SADC Infrastructure Vision 2027. While some of the proposed targets appear to be ambitious, the region has adequate potential to sustain the envisaged development requirements through commitment and continued collaboration. The challenges and aspirations outlined above generate the imperative necessity to drive the SADC Infrastructure Vision 2027 by translating it into a rolling programme, anchored on the six pillars constituting the regional infrastructure programme. Executive Summary 5