In April 2010, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) established a Liaison Team in Gaborone, Botswana, to work with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through its Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. DPPA and the SADC Secretariat signed a Framework of Cooperation in September 2010 aimed at strengthening collaboration in the areas of conflict prevention, management and resolution to assist both organizations to build their capacities and jointly contribute towards the promotion of peace and security in the Southern Africa sub-region.
Accordingly, the DPPA-SADC Liaison Team ensures effective implementation of the Framework of Cooperation. The Liaison Team maintains regular, swift and effective communication with the SADC Secretariat; advises DPPA and other departments/offices on relevant strategic and policy issues in order to strengthen the partnership; collaborates closely with the SADC Secretariat Directorate of the Organ to identify areas for potential cooperation and/or support capacity building activities identified by SADC towards the maintenance of regional peace and security; mobilizes UN internal technical and other resources to assist SADC initiatives in peace and security; facilitates coordination of UN system wide assistance to SADC peace and security efforts. In the absence of a regional special political mission for Southern Africa, the Liaison Team advises UN leadership on general matters of peace and security for both regional and national levels and serves as a DPPA outpost in the region.
Under the Framework of Cooperation of 2010, the two organizations agree on annual joint workplan providing for UN technical support to SADC’s mediation structures, SADC Election Support Unit, and assistance to SADC in enhancing the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security in the region. With DPPA's support, SADC developed a regional strategy on women, peace and security, a regional mediation training curriculum as well as the roll out of regional and national mediation trainings. DPPA also supports the development of SADC regional strategies for the prevention of election-related violence, as well as the implementation of the regional women, peace and security agenda, in the context of the Security Council resolution 1325.