|
|
Country Program Materials
|
|
USAID/RCSA Links
USAID/RCSA
Mission www.usaid-rcsa.org/
Mission Director:
Local Address:
- Plot No. 14818
Lebatlane Road
Gaborone West, Extension 6
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel: 267-394-449
Fax: 267-31-64-263
From the US:
- DOS/USAID 2170
Gaborone Place
Washington, D.C.
20521-2170
|
|
|
USAID's Strategy in Southern Africa The Regional Center for Southern Africa (RCSA) based in Gaborone,
Botswana, covers 12 of the 14 countries that are members of
the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), namely Angola,
Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The region is anchored by the modern and dominant economy of South Africa,
and many of the countries in Southern Africa continue to be
predominantly agricultural, and very poor. Challenged by poverty,
hard hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and once again facing the
threat of famine, this region has seen its average life expectancy
drop from 57 to 33 years. The political crisis in Zimbabwe
illustrates the fragility of democratic institutions in the
region. Against this bleak picture is the more positive one of a
region with relatively well-developed infrastructure, diverse
natural resources, generally better health and education than
the rest of sub-Saharan Africa (aside from HIV/AIDS) and nascent
democratic governments. With the cessation of hostilities
and subsequent peace in Angola, and potentially in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC), exciting new opportunities for
development are presenting themselves in the region. The United States has three main interests in Southern Africa.
First, the United States would like to increase trade and
strengthen economic ties with Southern Africa. At the same
time, the United States is extremely concerned about the region's
unfolding food security and HIV/AIDS crises, both from a humanitarian
perspective and because they are decimating a limited pool
of skilled workers and managers, thereby eroding the basis
for regional economic development and trade. Finally, the
United States has an interest in strengthening democracy to
improve the climate for trade and reduce the risk of conflict
in the region.
Back to Top ^ |