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Southern Africa Regional Programme   
In 2000, we established a regional office in Pretoria, to support the emerging regional programmes in Southern Africa. The role of this office is:

  • To support individual country offices in developing their capacity to deliver programme objectives;
  • To develop regional programmes that address cross-border issues;
  • To develop our ability to access resources in Southern Africa.

Skillshare International identified 3 sectors with potential for regional programmes:

HIV/AIDS
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has had a negative impact in terms of human resource development and economic growth of many SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries. This makes HIV/AIDS the single largest threat to survival of society in the Southern African region. The negative impact on life expectancy in the region is a matter that cannot be over-emphasised. The need to focus and work in partnership with SADC regional institutions is critical for Skillshare International's work in the region.

Environment
Environmentally, Southern Africa faces a range of challenges that include soil degradation, desertification, limited water resources, and domestic and industrial pollution. The rural and peri-urban poor, who rely on wood and kerosene for energy, encounter great difficulties in accessing natural resources in a sustainable manner. Skillshare International as a partner in sustainable development has a major role to play in supporting and jointly forming regional partnerships aimed at realising optimum utilisation of environmental resources in the region.

Education, Training and Employment
In SADC countries and Africa in general, there has been inadequate effort to address socio-economic needs of the majority of the population. The full development of education, training and employment mechanisms, and sustainable development, in any country cannot be achieved in isolation of the inputs and involvement of other partners. Skillshare International’s focus has been on forming regional partnerships with stakeholders to improve education and training and employment possibilities in the region.

The 2 crosscutting themes within the sectors are set out below:

Economic Empowerment
Another main challenge facing the SADC region is the high level of poverty experienced in some member states. Income generation and entrepreneurship is an important and sustainable approach towards alleviation of poverty. Skillshare International sees itself as a partner in providing innovative ways to support regional institutions that focus on economic empowerment and entrepreneurial skills development.

Good Governance, Democracy and Human Rights
Most SADC countries are currently undergoing transformation in the areas of governance, democratic principles and human rights. Human development potential, economic growth and sustainable development is closely associated with good governance and human rights. In this regard, Skillshare International commits itself to support jointly with other regional partners the realisation of good governance, democratic principles and respect for individual and group rights within the region.


The regional programme has created links between partner organisations across borders. These linkages have assisted organisations that may be working in isolation in their own country to gain valuable support from a similar organisation in another country. Furthermore, the regional programme has facilitated the setting up of joint projects with partner organisations working in different countries.

SADC has identified the strengthening of regional integration and institutions as a key objective in its attempt to achieve an integrated approach to human development. To this end Skillshare International commits itself to include NGOs, the business community and other civil society organisations in programmes, policy setting agendas, and planning and implementation of projects where the necessary expertise exists.

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is based on a vision of eradicating poverty in African countries and placing countries, individually and collectively on a path of sustainable growth and development. In order to end the present state of underdevelopment, a range of resources are required; these include capital, technology and human skills. In order to mobilise these resources new partnerships will need to be developed, partnerships that are based on shared responsibility and mutual interest.

Skillshare International, through its regional programme, coupled with its expertise gained in the individual country programmes, is well placed to play a positive role in the strengthening of organisations across the region.

Partner Development Programme

Since 1997, Skillshare International has been developing a new capacity building initiative known as the Partner Development Programme (PDP). The main component of the programme is the Leadership Development Programme (LDP), whose purpose is to develop the ability of key community, non-governmental (NGO) and civil society leaders to provide effective strategic leadership to their organisations and the wider development community in southern Africa.

The programme was launched in 1999 in response to the popularity and success of an initial series of 3 leadership development workshops facilitated by Skillshare International for NGO, community based organisations (CBO) and government institution leaders in Southern Africa. With initial funding support from DFID, the programme drew in organisational leaders from 4 countries in Southern Africa, this was subsequently extended to 6 Southern African countries. The LDP is based on an approach to development that recognises the inter-dependence between economic and social development, organisational development and personal development.

"This innovative programme has been highly valued by the participants for its relevance to their personal development as leaders and for their work with staff teams and colleagues to address processes within their organisations ...There is early evidence that, in most cases, participants are playing more facilitative and enabling roles within their organisations. Most participants have been able to effect changes already that are beginning to embed principles of continuous improvement and team working to good practical effect in their workplaces"
DFID evaluation report February 2000

Regional programme partner organisations   top of page 

Southern Africa Development Community (SADC): The regional HIV/AIDS Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) capacity building project came about following a comprehensive proposal developed with a wide range of stakeholders in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS), who are now participating in the project. The assessment revealed that there is a capacity gap across the 4 countries in communication strategies and technical expertise in BCC, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation. The project will respond to the identified needs by placing 4 development workers over 3 years to support and strengthen youth focused and gender sensitive behaviour change communication. This is part of an effort to support an ongoing SADC/DFID multi-sectoral BCC strategic intervention to reduce HIV/AIDS infections in the 4 countries. It will build and strengthen the capacity of partner organisations in behaviour change communication programme in those countries.

Baylor Children's Centre of Excellence (COE) is based in Botswana. The aim of the partnership between Baylor and Skillshare International is to share learning across Southern African countries in HIV/AIDS. To enable the sharing of experiences and best practices between Baylor Botswana Children's Clinic of Excellence, National ARV Programme in Botswana and Swaziland Hospice at Home, Skillshare International facilitated a workshop in Lesotho.

Action for Conflict Transformation Support Centre (ACTION)

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Harare (IFRC)