SADC Resource Mobilisation Strategy 4.2 Expenditure Management All resources (externally and internally sourced), shall be managed using the SADC Secretariat’s own management systems. The SADC Secretariat shall ensure that the procedures for Directorates and Units are synchronized with the RISDP and SIPO monitoring and annual reviews to allow progress at all levels to be fed into the overall RISDP and SIPO’s performance assessment process. 4.3 Budgeting, Accounting and Procurement a) The SADC Secretariat shall facilitate an effective and credible budget preparation process consistent with the SADC MTS. The development of realistic budgets will remain a priority. b) The capacity for planning, monitoring, evaluating and managing the budget will be strengthened further to facilitate reliable and timely reports that clearly separate commitments, allocated budgets and actual expenditure. c) The SADC MTS review process shall be used as a vehicle for making strategic choices regarding the developmental aspirations and needs. d) The Secretariat will strengthen the implementation capacities to ensure that expenditures are in line with approved budgets and enhance the monitoring of budget execution to minimise the levels of discretion that could threaten the expenditure execution systems. e) The SADC Secretariat will implement reforms where necessary to strengthen and modernise its accounting systems. f) The SADC Secretariat shall develop clear guidelines to ensure that its procurement system is transparent, efficient (both administrative and transactional), cost-effective and a fair use of standard principles pertaining to procurement activities. Cooperating Partners will be encouraged to align their procurement with the SADC Secretariat principles and standardised procedures. g) The SADC Secretariat shall put in place supportive infrastructure, particularly an enhanced electronic database that would capture key procurement information as well as the use of ICT solutions to publish/share information on procurement opportunities and awards of contracts. 15