REPA geared to drive MDG8 campaign

While 20 years ago the public sector delivered the majority of foreign assistance, today we are faced with a very different reality. Individual remittances, civil society organisations and business developers play instrumental and important roles in how aid models function. As national development strategies continue to evolve, the challenge for both public and private sector leaders is in how to adapt their thinking. The big question isn’t about if they should partner together, but how to do it better
According to the 2010 MDG status report Zimbabwe has made only limited progress on striking strategic partnerships. Hence the country may not meet the targets in MDG8 unless it comprehensively addresses the issues of competitiveness and promotes integration with regional and global markets.
 Zimbabwe has demonstrated greater than expected resilience through the socio-political economic crisis and is still to become one of the fastest-growing economies in the region. Improved political and macroeconomic stability, strengthened political commitment to private sector investment and better access to basic education and social services are drivers behind this trend.
However, the translation of growth into inclusive and sustained development is complex. It will depend on the leadership capacity and political will of its governing institutions to direct taxes, profits and donor funds to much-needed infrastructure investment, better urban design and critical health, and education services. It will also depend on the ability to craft innovative partnerships between business and civil society, as well as the empowerment of small and medium enterprises that continue to be the main providers of income across the continent. Another major challenge will be Zimbabwe’s increasing exposure to global risks such as prolonged global financial market instability, commodity price volatility and climate change. 
– How can Zimbabwe take on a leadership role and guard against newly emerging global and regional risks?
– How can it further attract global and regional investment, and sustain its growth path through greater industrial diversification and innovation?
– How can inclusive growth be fostered through partnerships and the promotion of  Zimbabwe’s small and medium enterprises?
The Regional Export Promotion Agency (REPA) is an independent organisation mainstreaming gender into Trade policy in Zimbabwe. The organisation is making independent research on trade markets to provide Zimbabwean women with expertise and training on business expansion in emerging intra-regional markets.
REPA believes that ideas are powerful once they are seized by vast number of people, therefore is pushing for a people driven regional trade development  agenda that is led from the grassroots respecting gender rights for economic development.
REPA will soon commission a community monitoring mechanism for both communities and private sector contribution for the achievement of the MDG8 in Zimbabwe. This barometer will be used to record best practices of the public and private sector participation towards the targeted areas which will be in ICTs and pharmaceutical industry for 2011 and others sectors will be announced for the next five years. Regional Exports will for the next five years publish the barometer and host annual awards in partnership with the United Nations End Poverty Millennium Campaign Team to honor outstanding best practices by the organisations working towards the targeted achievements by 2015.