Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE Southern African Development Community has called on member states to strengthen their development needs by allocating resources and tight fiscal discipline in priority sectors that generate sustainable returns even with limited public budgets.
This came out at an intensive three-day training programme yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa, which was attended by more than 170 senior government officials from across Southern Africa.
The training programme organised by SADC in collaboration with the Copenhagen Consensus Center, also exposed participants to how governments can systematically compare competing priorities, including investments that save lives, increase economic returns and improve people’s wellbeing through cost-benefit analysis mechanisms.
Chief Director for Evaluation and Learning in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Taona Chaparadza who attended the programme said the approach used was key to influencing future policy decisions.
“The cost-benefit analysis has unpacked another perspective in the policy ecosystem. The knowledge that we have acquired here is definitely going to be very instrumental to influence future policy decisions,” Mr Chaparadza said.
The programme was attended by officials from ministries of finance, planning, health, education and infrastructure, along with representatives from presidents’ and prime ministers’ offices and central banks.
Head of the Copenhagen Consensus Center Africa Directorate Mr Ralph Nordjo said the interest from participants in using evidence to determine government priorities showed that governments and international organisations can achieve greater social and economic returns from limited resources.
“It has been inspiring to see more than 170 officials from so many countries embrace cost-benefit analysis. The discussions made here were thoughtful and the engagements was exceptional,” Mr Nordjo said.
The Copenhagen Consensus Center works with governments across Africa to expand the use of evidence-based policy prioritisation.
