STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
DR B.S.S.DLAMINI
AT THE LAUNCH OF SWAZILAND ECONOMIC POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH CENTRE
At the Royal Swazi Spa Hotel
Wednesday 5 June 2013
Programme Director,
Your Royal Highnesses
Honourable Deputy Prime Minister,
Honourable Ministers,
Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps
Regional Administrator,
Representatives of both Houses of Parliament
Representatives of our Funding Partners & Bilateral Donors,
Board of Directors and Executive Director of the Swaziland Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It gives me great pleasure to be part of this event today to launch the Swaziland Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre which already carries the distinctive acronym of “SEPARC.”
Up until now we, in the Kingdom of Swaziland, have relied largely on individuals and organisations from outside to carry out the necessary research work about our country. Whilst a great deal of research work has been professionally and technically excellent, when such work is driven by motivation that is not one’s own it may not always be entirely relevant to the development needs of the Nation.
The introduction of SEPARC in the development framework of Swaziland will be an inspiration to the many researchers who have, for a long time, been immensely keen to be carrying out research work but could not do so because they lacked the proper guidance and resources. Furthermore, an in-country policy centre will attract, and be in a position to promote, policy debate and dialogue between Government, civil society and the private sector.
We also believe that the work of SEPARC will give rise to the highly valuable interaction between all the sectors that will enable Government policies to be even more responsive to the development needs of the Nation. It will strengthen the national capacity to develop, implement and evaluate public policy by undertaking independent policy analysis and research, and sharing the results with Government, its development partners, private sector, and civil society.
That is not to suggest that previous policies were non- responsive to sector needs and inputs, but to emphasise that SEPARC will help to close a development gap that has compromised the impact of our policies.
Although advice from technocrats played a major role in informing Government policy direction, the role to be played by SEPARC will shape such policy decisions even much better. We strongly believe that SEPARC will further enhance the influence of research in the policy making processes.
As we speak, there is a prevailing concern that, in Africa, public policy making processes are not informed by, and reflective of, research-based evidence. This is due largely to the limited interaction between researchers on one hand and public policy makers on the other. Yet, in view of the fact that policy making processes evolve largely due to changing socio-economic environments, a country like Swaziland simply cannot afford to operate without an organization such as SEPARC.
As we continue in the process of recovery from the impact of the global economic crisis and knock-on effect of the recessionary economies of our main export markets, we look forward to the contribution of SEPARC towards our achieving faster, sustainable economic growth levels.
And recognition of the value of well-informed research is of great importance. The presence of us all here today and the official status of this new institution and its launch does, I believe, reflect how Government views the Centre’s future role and significance. The key part that it has to play will be respected and, indeed, encouraged. The Centre, in turn, must remember at all times that its presence and influence in policy making, and development planning and programming will only be meaningful if it produces timely, relevant and accurate information.
We would like to urge our development partners to adopt the same attitude and look energetically to making full use, and deriving maximum benefit from the services of this organization. And it does need to be emphasised that all those individuals and organisation that have not regarded research findings as central to decision-making do need to change that mindset.
Having been clear about the standards expected of SEPARC, and the need for Government and our development partners to fully utilise the Centre’s services it is important to be aware that this is not just Government creating yet another institution within its family so to speak. We have been crucially aware of the need for a think tank of this nature and the importance of giving it the status and the semi-autonomy of a public enterprise.
Another advantage of a well-resourced research and policy analysis focal point is its ability to develop skills and capacity in Government and our development partners. Capacity shortcomings have compromised the implementation and effectiveness of Government policies.
We have been advised that, just last week, SEPARC met a number of Government Ministries and Departments to assess the areas which urgently require capacity building. We encourage all those, and other, Government Ministries to support this programme and the entire work of SEPARC. If we all give that support, the arrival of SEPARC on the scene will make a significant contribution to the development of much needed capacity in various parts of Government.
We also hope that the researchers at SEPARC will find it to be fertile territory for the nurture and growth of their skills in research and informed policy development.
To our great partners - the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBGF), we would like to express our deep appreciation and advise them of the excellent timing for supporting the establishment of SEPARC exactly when our country needed such an institution.
We are aware that there are many other bodies similar to SEPARC that have been established in other African countries and are having a significant impact in the development of those countries. We are grateful to the Foundation for realizing the need for such a think tank and also for believing that Swaziland can run such a programme.
We would like to assure the Foundation, our funding partners and bilateral donors that we will not allow this good work to die in our hands. In fact, as Government, we will continue to provide all the necessary support to ensure the sustainability of this worthy initiative.
It is now my honour on behalf of His Majesty’s Government to declare the Swaziland Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (SEPARC) officially launched.
Thank you.