SADC (2009): Training and Technical Assistance to Regional Competition Authorities in the SADC Region

Regional integration of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has resulted in significantly reduced intraregional tariffs. At the same time, it has become apparent that non-tariff barriers (NTBs) continue to constitute a significant barrier to trade and regional integration among the SADC countries. One such barrier is constituted by differences in national competition policy regimes. Against this background, the objectives of this project are:

• To enhance the technical and analytical capacity of regional competition authorities through training; and
• To support newly established competition authorities in some of the comparatively less developed SADC Members by helping to identify existing weaknesses and making recommendations for addressing them.

In line with these objectives, BKP Development's support comprises two main activities:

• Training of 30-40 competition officials of comparatively more developed SADC Members in Botswana, with the aim to help enhance the competencies of the officials on core technical competition issues;
• Technical assistance in undertaking a baseline analysis and gap assessment of existing competition laws, policies and the institutional framework in three comparatively less developed SADC Members – Lesotho, Mozambique, Seychelles –  and providing recommendations for the provision of support for the introduction of operational competition policies and legislative and institutional framework, in line with SADC practice.

Project outputs:

• Competition Policy Report on Mozambique, Lesotho, and Seychelles;
• A training manual for competition authorities;
• A four day training workshop with training provided to 40 competition officials from SADC countries.

Name of client: SADC Secretariat and Member States' Competition Authorities.