Purpose:
Research Methods International was contracted by the SADC Secretariat to develop a comprehensive Strategy and Costed Implementation Plan (2025–2030) for the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC). The consultancy aims to provide strategic and operational guidance to fully operationalise SHOC as a regional coordination hub for disaster preparedness, humanitarian response, and early recovery across SADC Member States.

The strategy is designed to align SHOC’s mandate with regional, continental, and global disaster risk management frameworks, while strengthening institutional capacity, coordination mechanisms, financing arrangements, and accountability systems.

Scope and Approach:

The assignment applies a structured, consultative, and evidence-based approach, including regional stakeholder consultations across all SADC Member States, institutional and systems assessments, benchmarking with comparable regional centres, and the development of a results-based strategic framework supported by a fully costed implementation plan. The process includes field missions to the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana and SHOC Headquarters in Nacala, Mozambique.

Status:
Ongoing. The inception phase was completed in October 2025, with data collection, situational analysis, and strategy development currently underway. The final validated Strategy and Costed Implementation Plan is scheduled for completion in 2026.