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Bookmark this page: www.oecd.org/daf/corporateaffairs/soe/africa
The OECD is supporting the development of policy initiatives to improve the corporate governance of State Owned Enterprises in selected African economies. The work program is initially focused on the southern African sub-region and involves an in depth policy dialogue amongst SOE specialists in the region. The work program involves the OECD and its partners undertaking a range of initiatives including surveys of country practice and in-depth case studies of SOEs in selected African economies, benchmarking them against the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises
The Southern African SOE Network
To promote reforms in the SOE sector in Southern Africa, the OECD, in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has convened a Southern African SOE Network.
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OBJECTIVES:
- to raise awareness on the challenges and the benefits of good corporate governance of SOEs;
- to evaluate the current SOE corporate governance policy frameworks and practices inthe region highlighting exemplars of good regional practice, through survey work and case studies
- to influence policy making by providing a forum in which policy makers, practitioners and experts can share knowledge and experience
- to support viable and effective reforms in the area of SOE corporate governance adapted to the conditions in Southern African economies.
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Workshops:
The meetings involve the most prominent, active and influential policy makers, practitioners and experts regarding corporate governance of SOEs in the region. They constitute a peer group that can develop linkages to promote reforms in the sub-region and to develop regional-specific responses to the policy challenges highlighted in the OECD Guidelines. The Network also includes relevant experts from other countries, particularly from the OECD Working Group on Privatisation and Corporate Governance of State-owned Assets.
The Network held its first meeting in Cape Town, South Africa on 6-7 May 2008 and will convene again in 2009.
Outcome of the Network
The Network will develop a sub-regional Policy Paper, to set out the key priorities for corporate governance reform of SOEs based in the sub-region. This Policy Paper will be the product of the Network’s deliberations and will be a consensus document.
Why SOEs?
In southern Africa, the role of state-owned enterprises is of significant importance across most jurisdictions. SOEs in these economies are active in key infrastructure and service industries including water, energy, financial services and transportation. These sectors are of critical importance to the well being of all citizens and to the competitiveness of upstream and downstream private sector companies and industries. SOEs are also involved in dominant industrial sectors such as mining and textiles that represent the largest employers.
How improving corporate governance in SOEs can help?
Enhancing the performance of the SOE sector via better governance practices has great potential to improve economic and social outcomes in southern Africa. Foremost, gains in SOE performance will positively impact citizens, and the economy more generally, by facilitating goods and services in key sectors to be delivered more effectively. Conversely, the continued under-performance of SOEs results in poor returns on invested Government capital (lower dividend streams), ongoing stress on government budgets (via continuing subsidies), and higher costs for private sector businesses which rely on SOEs for their inputs.
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