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 C O M M U N I T Y Secretariat prepared a background study. This study was regional integration and development has been limited. based on a review of literature, policy and strategy The RISDP has identified gaps and challenges in the documents such as protocols and plans. It took into current policies and strategies, and used them to reorient consideration regional and international parameters, those policies and strategies. such as NEPAD, AU, WTO, Cotonou Agreement and the Millennium Summit Declaration. The RISDP is based on this study, and takes into account the views of various stakeholders. The following highlights summarise the RISDP: 6. In light of the identified gaps and challenges, Chapter Four focuses on a number of priority intervention areas, of both cross-sectoral and sectoral natures, that are critical for the achievement of SADC's objectives, in particular in promoting deeper regional integration; integrating SADC into the world economy; promoting 4. Chapter Two analyses recent economic, human and balanced, social trends. It notes that the economic situation in SADC eradicating poverty; and promoting gender equality. The improved in the 1990s, but is still unsatisfactory, with selected priority intervention areas, their goals, specific several countries experiencing low and decreasing levels areas of focus and strategies are briefly summarised of per capita gross national product, low growth rates of below. The targets and time frames can be found in gross domestic product, relatively high budget deficits Chapter 4 of the RISDP and in the Annex. equitable and balanced development; and interest rates, relatively low savings and investment The RISDP accords top priority to poverty eradication rates and high external debts burdens, all of which have with the aim to promote sustainable and equitable contributed to high levels of poverty. The challenge for the economic growth and socio-economic development that region is to create an environment that is conducive to the will ensure poverty alleviation with the ultimate objective attainment of high and sustained rates of equitable of its eradication. The focus areas, strategies and targets economic growth and poverty reduction by overcoming for poverty eradication are covered in all the other priority the constraints of under-development and dependence on intervention areas because it is a cross-cutting issue. primary sectors of production, improving macroeconomic For the HIV and AIDS priority intervention area, the conditions and maintaining a conducive climate for goal is to decrease the number of HIV and AIDS infected increasing savings and investment. and affected individuals and families in the SADC region With respect to human and social trends, the level of so that HIV and AIDS is no longer a threat to public health human development improved in some SADC Member and to the socio-economic development of Member States between the middle and the late 1990s. However, States. The intervention area focuses on the incidence of on account of a widespread decline in life expectancy at HIV and AIDS infection, the socio-economic impact of HIV birth, decreases in real per capita incomes and due to and AIDS, the policy and legislative frameworks and setbacks in school enrolment rates, the level of human resources for the HIV and AIDS multi-sectoral response in development declined in the majority of Member States SADC. The main strategy is to promote the re-allocation of over the same time period. The region is thus haunted by responsibilities for planning, coordination, implement- relatively high levels of income poverty, high and in some ation, monitoring and evaluation of the SADC response cases rising levels of HIV and AIDS infection rates, rising across all its sectors. levels of illiteracy in some countries, and shortages of The goal of the gender equality and development critical human skills in key areas, among other challenges. priority intervention area is to facilitate the achievement of substantive equality between women and men in the 5. Chapter Three analyses and evaluates current SADC region through mainstreaming gender into all policies and strategies in the various areas of regional co- national and regional policies, programmes and activities, operation and integration. The thrust of these sectoral and the adoption of positive measures to accelerate policies and strategies has been found to be broadly progress in this regard. Specific interventions focus on consistent with SADC's strategic priorities. However, gender policy and institutional frameworks, women's these policies and strategies have not been very effective human and legal rights, gender mainstreaming, access to in addressing the strategic priorities, and their impact on and control of resources, and access to key political and