DFIDSA is contributing £50 million a year to support poverty reduction in South Africa and the southern Africa region.  DFIDSA is shifting from working with South Africa as a bilateral aid partner, to a development partnership with South Africa promoting economic growth and poverty reduction in the southern Africa region.

South Africa

DFIDSA has been one of the main drivers of the joint European Commission Country Strategy Paper (EC-CSP), agreed between the European Commission and eight Member States and signed with South Africa in October 2007.  Under this strategy, all donor partners will work together more closely and align their programmes to support three key areas for South Africa:

• Promoting Economic Growth (supporting initiatives on employment creation, inequality, skills development, and social exclusion). 
• Improving the capacity and provision of basic services for the poor at Provincial and municipal levels (relating to health, HIV and AIDS, education, housing, and the infrastructure to provide basics such as water, sanitation, energy and communication).
• Promoting good governance (fighting crime and corruption, and promoting safety, security and the rule of law, strengthening civil society).

Southern Africa

In 2006, DFID-SA launched its new Regional Plan for Southern Africa, which will contribute at least £100 million over the next 5 years towards regional programmes.  The Regional Plan responds to the recommendations from the Commission for Africa and commitments made by G8 leaders in 2005 to give better and more aid towards Africa’s development.

The Regional Plan supports the priorities of the African Union, NEPAD, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) in the Southern Africa region.  We also work with civil society organisations and other donors to ensure better coordination and impact of donor aid in the Southern Africa region. By 2010, DFID’s support will lead to:

• South African supermarkets sourcing 30% more inputs from other Southern African countries (rather than on the international market)
• A 5 % increase in fruit and vegetable exports from Southern Africa
• More effective border posts with a 30% reduction in waiting time
• Transport costs for landlocked countries reduced by 25% due to improved roads, ports and rail infrastructure
• At least three countries in the region able to predict and plan for hunger needs of their people
  Malaria-related deaths falling by 50%
• A 50% increase in TB case detection and treatment, and
• A reduction in HIV infection rates.