REGIONAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT & ANALYSIS PROGRAMME

In 1999, SADC established the Regional Vulnerability Assessment Committee (RVAC) with International Cooperating Partners and other stakeholders. This committee has spearheaded critical improvements in vulnerability analysis and food security at both regional and country level. At Member State level, National Vulnerability Assessment Committees (NVACs) coordinate the annual vulnerability assessment and analysis. NVACs are multi-sectional committees led by relevant government ministries with wide ranging memberships, which includes different government departments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organisations involved in poverty reduction and socio-economic development. NVACs carry out annual and periodic vulnerability assessments, in addition to special studies on selected topics such as nutrition, climate change and related themes that are critical in VAA. In 2006, building on previous initiatives, the SADC Secretariat began implementing the Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) Programme. Since its inception, the Programme has worked to create institutional and conceptual achievements, building strategies and interventions that integrate short-term responses to emergencies and livelihoods hazards with broader, longer-term approaches to chronic poverty, and livelihood vulnerability.