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BRIEFING TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DSD’S INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS

BRIEFING TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DSD’S INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS. GLOBAL MAP. FRAMEWORK. Purpose of the presentation Introduction Strategic priorities - Continued prioritization of the African Continent -Improving Political and Economic Integration of SADC

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BRIEFING TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DSD’S INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS

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  1. BRIEFING TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DSD’S INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS

  2. GLOBAL MAP

  3. FRAMEWORK • Purpose of the presentation • Introduction • Strategic priorities -Continued prioritization of the African Continent -Improving Political and Economic Integration of SADC -Strengthening South-South relations -Strategic relations with formations of the North -Strengthening Political and economic relations -participating in the global systems of governance • Known IR activities • Improving governance • Benefits • Conclusion

  4. PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION • To provide an update to the Portfolio Committee on current IR engagements in the DSD

  5. INTRODUCTION • In response to government’s strategic thrust of creating a better South Africa, a better Africa and a better World, DSD’s International Relations engagements are aimed at developing and nurturing social development partneships through: - Promotion of bilateral activities that make the most effective contribution to poverty reduction - Harmonization and integration of policies through participation in multilateral structures and organizations

  6. INTRODUCTION CONT… • In determining strategic priorities, the DSD is guided by the following: - ICTS cluster priorities - State of the Nation address - Minister’s budget speech - Presidency and DIRCO directives - Bilateral and multilateral commitments - Request from partners

  7. SUMMARY OF STRATEGIC PRIORITIES North/South Cooperation United Nations IBSA/BRICS South/South Cooperation including NAM & G77 + China African Union (AU) Bilateral Engagements NEPAD Southern African Development Community (SADC) Bilateral Engagements

  8. 1. CONTINUED PRIORITISATION OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

  9. MAP OF THE AFRICA BLOCS

  10. A WAY FORWARD FOR ZIMBABWE

  11. CONFLICT IN THE DRC

  12. 2. IMPROVING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF THE SADC

  13. 4. STRATEGIC RELATIONS WITH STRATEGIC FORMATION OF THE NORTH

  14. 5. STRENGTHENING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS

  15. 6. PARTICIPATING IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEMS OF GOVERNANCE

  16. UN AGENCIES

  17. 6. PARTICIPATING IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE

  18. 7. IMPORTANT EVENTS COMING UPIncoming events • Tbc – Bilateral visit by Brazilian Minister • 14-15 March – Lesotho • Tbc – Thailand Outgoing events • 24 Feb-7 March – Commission on Status of Women, USA • April –Commission on Population and Development • International Social Services Meeting- 21-25 May • European Forum for Restorative Justice- June • Commission on Crime Prevention/ Criminal Justice- April • Bilateral visit to Australia/ India • International AIDS Conference- 22-27 July, USA

  19. 8. STRENGTHENING GOVERNANCE DSD has developed “Guidelines on Coordination of IR engagements” which addresses issues such as finances, insurance, conduct during meetings and reporting. The Department participates and reports to the ICTS Cluster, Internal Coordinating Structure, MANCO and the IR Coordinating Committee where provinces and other relevant structures participate. DSD has drafted the IR engagement strategy based on the Government White Paper on International Relations. Intranet page on IR is available where officials can access and post all reports on activities.

  20. 9. BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS Social development is now on top of the agenda of SADC, AU and UN. Benchmarking exercises have contributed to strengthening policy and programme development, including the establishment of SASSA. Capacity of officials in negotiations, conflict resolution and international project management enhanced. Many countries have gained through visiting the Department.

  21. 10. CHALLENGES No set calendar for international engagements - DSD communicates with DIRCO regularly to get updates In most instances, partner countries do not have funds to implement projects. - DSD promotes trilateral cooperation Mushrooming of international engagements - Even though it is important for DSD to prioritize activities it is even more important to allocate adequate resources to international relations.

  22. 11. CONCLUSION IR is about partnerships, communication and responsibility Acknowledge that the Department has made a huge mark internationally There will always be challenges and limitations The Department is committed to capacity building of all officials Finally IR is not about instant results, but about “the big picture” NDAA!

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