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The Southern African Regional Poverty Network
SARPN's ultimate goal is to contribute to the sustainable reduction of poverty through effective pro-poor policy, strategy and practice in the SADC region. Its purpose is to deepen and widen debates on policy, strategy, practice and decision-making processes that impact on poverty in the region. SARPN provides platforms that widen participation by bringing people together across the region to exchange ideas, and disseminates information to deepen understanding of poverty issues and improve policy and practice.
During its first two years the organisation has made a significant contribution to the development of poverty reduction policy and practice, particularly in the land sector, and stakeholders have strongly endorsed the role it is playing. However, it needs to improve performance in two areas:
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Greater strategic clarity and focus - a more explicit strategy for impacting on poverty policy at country and regional level.
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Improved internal enabling conditions - including a review of all high level organisational design issues from governance and location to structures and staffing.
Based on intensive stakeholder input SARPN has developed a strategy and plans to address these issues that builds on its profile and the niche it has carved for itself in the SADC region. It is seeking support to implement the strategy and take its work forward. An Interim Governing Body broadly representing the region has approved the proposal.
Strategic intent
SARPN understands poverty to be the result of people being left out of processes of economic growth and development and of structural inequalities of wealth and power that have national, regional and international dimensions. Effective poverty reduction strategies must be multidimensional, informed by both structural and residual causes at all levels, and must target gender, locational and other influences affecting poor people in specific situations. Strategies must be locally owned, widely shared, and translated into concrete programmes.
SARPN's strategy is based on the following principles:
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Poverty is the central challenge in the region;
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A rights-based approach to development is needed to address poverty effectively;
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The inclusion of all stakeholders is essential for effective poverty reduction;
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Poverty reduction involves informed political choices;
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Equitable access to debate and decision-making processes are essential for effective and informed participation; and
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Stronger regional linkages are required for effective poverty reduction.
In line with its role as a regional public good SARPN is committed to:
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Good, effective and inclusive governance;
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Open access to information;
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Regional consultation;
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Complementing and enhancing other initiatives.
Stakeholders
SARPN's primary stakeholders are those people in the region that directly experience the negative effects of poverty. At present, however, poor people generally have very limited say in policy processes. SARPN's strategy therefore aims to contribute to poverty reduction by targeting:
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Those individuals, groups and organisations with the responsibility and potential to have a significant impact on poverty reduction;
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Those that can make a meaningful contribution to giving the 'voice of the poor' a more meaningful role in policy processes;
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Those doing evidence based research and documenting experience in poverty reduction programmes.
This involves building a network of links and working relationships with and between a range of individuals, institutions and organisations involved in policy processes or with the potential to make a meaningful contribution to them. An essential component of SARPN's strategy will be the systematic mapping of policy processes and role players in the region to enable it to develop more precise and targeted strategies and interventions.
Key focus areas
Based on stakeholder consultation and analysis of the context SARPN has identified the following key focus areas for its programmes over the next three years.
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Land, food security, HIV/AIDS, gender and hunger;
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Social safety nets in the context of relief, rehabilitation and development;
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Economic integration and regional and international trade;
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Macro approaches to poverty reduction including initiatives related to the MDGs, PRSPs, RISDP, poverty-related monitoring and evaluation, implementation challenges and capacities, governance and participation.
Programme plans and outputs
SARPN will achieve its purpose through a set of interrelated programmes and outputs.
Events: Inclusive debates in key focus areas that bring together key stakeholders.
Linkages: Strong links and networks within and between strategically important stakeholders.
E-Debate: Facilitated e-debates widen access and mobilise interest.
Resource and information: Wider access to and dissemination of relevant information.
Communication and media: Key information is accessible to groups working with the poor.
Profiling SARPN: Strong strategic relationships with key role-players in all stakeholder groups.
Strategic design
An independent Board of Governors broadly representative of the region, and of its race and gender profile will govern the organisation. A consultative forum and a reference group of partners and specialists from the region will help to review strategy and plans, enhance opportunities for synergy and co-operation and improve SARPN's regional identity as an open access network.
SARPN is aiming at a flexible organisation accessible to stakeholders in the region. It will consist of a small core staff of skilled poverty specialists and of country nodes throughout the region. The director will give strategic leadership and build SARPN's profile and the relationships with stakeholder groups that are vital to its success. The physical location of the core staff requires good access to information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and transport networks.
Funding strategy
SARPN is targeting multi-year funding from a broad donor base. The strategy aims to ensure that the necessary long-term funding arrangements are in place to allow SARPN to achieve its purpose.
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| Contact SARPN |
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Address:
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PO Box 11615, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
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Telephone:
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+27 (0)12 342 9499 |
| Fax: |
+27 (0)12 342 5636 |
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