DIRCO Annual Report

disbursement of US$ 31 million to date. The fund’s contribution to Africa is especially notable, having reached eight African countries, with 14 projects being implemented since 2003. South Africa, like other IBSA countries, makes an annual contribution to the fund. The 14th South Africa-European Union (EU) Ministerial Political Dialogue (MPD) was held virtually on 14 July 2020 in Brussels, Belgium, during which a range of issues relating to further enhancing the South Africa-EU Strategic Partnership within the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its political and socio-economic impact on South Africa and the EU, were discussed. The Ninth South Africa-EU Political and Security Dialogue Forum (PSDF) was held virtually, hosted by DIRCO, on 11 December 2020. The meeting provided a substantive platform for discussing issues of global, continental and regional peace and security.

During the year under review, South Africa remained committed to South-South cooperation and used its engagements with identified countries to the benefit of South Africa and the African continent. The main objectives of South Africa’s fully committed engagement in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) have been to enhance the future growth and development of South Africa and to strengthen intra-BRICS relations and mutually beneficial cooperation across the three pillars of cooperation, namely policy and security, economy and finance, and culture and people-to-people exchanges. South Africa, as a founding member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), serves as the“coordinating country”driving the implementation of the IORA Action Plan (2017 – 2021) in key areas such as the Blue Economy and in strengthening the association’s Institutional Arrangements and Broadening Engagement, which were the key components of South Africa’s strategic approach during its recent Chairship of IORA (2017 to 2019). Regarding the India, Brazil, South Africa Forum (IBSA), the IBSA Fund for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation has, over the span of 15 years, successfully promoted all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 21 partner countries through 27 projects with a total

Multilateralism remains a focal point of South Africa’s foreign policy and engagements are premised on the need to advance the priorities reflected in the National Development Plan (NDP) and the development priorities of developing countries. With its near universal membership and vast agenda, the United Nations (UN) remains the most important multilateral institution and the centre of global governance. Therefore, engagement with the UN, and active participation in its processes, are of vital importance to South Africa and the advancement of the country’s foreign policy priorities.

Annual Report 2020/2021 I Vote No. 6

11