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Southern Africa is making progress on regional stability and economic integration but remains well short of its growth and development targets, according to the latest assessment of the region by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).The overall performance score of 5.06 out of 10 for the 16-member intergovernmental organisation comes amid a mixed regional picture, with progress in areas including security, agriculture and regional mobility offset by weak growth, high youth unemployment, unresolved conflicts and incomplete implementation of regional integration commitments. The report measures performance against the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020 to 2030 (RISDP), which Sadc uses as its long-term framework for regional socioeconomic and political development. The revised report is intended to link the assessment more directly to progress, challenges, emerging risks and results from implementation of the plan.Business Day understands that the report was discussed on Wednesday in a closed session of the bloc’s council of ministers’ meetings. The assessment comes as Sadc prepares for its 46th ordinary summit in Durban this week. South Africa, which assumed the SADC chair for 2026/27, has made regional industrialisation and trade a priority. Its agenda includes a push to increase intra-Sadc trade to 50%, expand regional value chains and ensure greater beneficiation of critical minerals in the region, while also improving energy, transport, port, digital and water infrastructure.South Africa takes over SADC Chairpersonship (2026–27) with 4 priorities: - peace & security- industrialisation (critical minerals, agri, 50% intra-SADC trade goal)-infrastructure - human capital development for Africa's youth— Thando Maeko (@HelloThando) August 12, 2026
