Project Preparation and Development Fund (PPDF) III

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The Project Preparation and Development Fund (PPDF) of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) promotes the preparation of feasibility studies and other project preparatory studies for regionally important infrastructure projects in southern Africa. The SADC region has a significant need for economic and social infrastructure in the energy, water, transport, telecommunications and tourism sectors, among others. However, financial and technical resources are lacking for the preparation of regional, particularly cross-border projects. The PPDF is intended to address this core problem by providing funds and expertise for the preparation of infrastructure projects, taking international environmental and social compatibility standards into account. In three financing phases, funds are pledged for project preparatory studies and a pipeline of projects is established or further developed. Public and private organizations can act as sponsors for project proposals. The measure thus supports the SADC in the implementation of its Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIIDMP) and in the development of priority regional infrastructure projects. The PPDF not only finances the preparation of projects that are listed in the RIDMP, but also projects with a regional character that are not yet included in it. The project will further strengthen SADC in the implementation of its regional integration and control function. SADC receives the funds and exercises political control of the PPDF through the SADC Secretariat. The PPDF is implemented operationally by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) as the project sponsor.