The evaluation focuses on the African Development Bank’s Regional Integration Strategy for Southern Africa (SA-RISP) 2020–2026, with coverage of the period 2020–2024. Its primary purpose is to assess how far the strategy has progressed towards achieving its intended results and to provide lessons and recommendations for the design of the next regional integration strategy. The evaluation will review both lending operations, sovereign and non-sovereign, and non-lending activities such as policy dialogue, analytical work, and technical assistance.
Key objectives include examining the relevance and design of the SA-RISP as a framework for advancing regional integration, its coherence with regional and continental frameworks such as SADC, COMESA, and the AfCFTA, and its effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. The evaluation will also analyse factors that have enabled or constrained implementation, including operational, institutional, and policy challenges, as well as cross-cutting issues. Ultimately, it aims to draw out lessons learned and practical recommendations to strengthen AfDB’s future engagement in supporting regional integration in Southern Africa.