The Southern African Research and Documentation Centre, SARDC, is an independent regional information resource centre which seeks to enhance the effectiveness of key development processes in the SADC region through the collection, production and dissemination of information, and enabling the capacity to generate and use information.
SARDC’s objective is to improve the base of knowledge about economic, political, cultural and social developments, and their implications, by making information accessible to governments and policy makers, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, regional and international organizations, development agencies, parliaments, and media.
SARDC has five main areas of focus which are pursued by separate specialist departments for environment and water resources, gender, democracy and governance, regional economic development, and human development, in partnership with other institutions including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) secretariat and sectors, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and networks of national partners in SADC member states.
SARDC has an information resource centre containing over 12,000 subject files on regional issues, a library of books and periodicals, and computerized databases in WIN-ISIS; and is establishing a “virtual library” of internet access to its resources. Take a walk through the Virtual Library at www.sardc.net/library.htm.