It is now 23 years since the inception of Development Southern Africa. Back in 1984 the primary objective was ‘to provide a journal in which research results, reviews, discussions and notes can be published and which will stimulate participation in thinking and debating about issues covering the wide field called “development”’(Brand, Citation1984:1). Since then the journal has remained a fascinating enterprise (both intellectually and policy wise) and a unique articulation of issues and debates on sustainable development.
It should be noted that the Development Bank of Southern Africa has evolved from being a conduit for public finance from the government to the homelands (1983–94), to financier and partner (1995–2001) and through financier, partner and advisor (2001–6) to the current role of financier, partner, advisor, implementer and integrator. This is a long story of careful objective assessment of corporate responsibility that has striven for proactive relevance, representivity and a focus on development niches that require attention within the region and beyond. The Development Bank of Southern Africa's realignment process has also included the phasing out and phasing in of new business areas.
The Development Southern Africa journal is now housed within a newly constituted research unit, which is part of the Research and Information Division at the Development Bank of Southern Africa. The unit has launched five research focus areas that speak to the core mandate and functions of the Development Bank of Southern Africa: (1) regional integration, (2) development impact, (3) spatial development, (4) poverty and inequality and (5) infrastructure development. There are additional areas of focus that the journal will address as it continues to grow and expand its scope and coverage beyond these five areas. For example, it will publish work on capacity building and local level development since these and more are key development challenges being addressed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
This March 2008 issue officially launches the new cover of the journal. This Development Southern Africa re-brand was subjected to a number of processes and we are pleased to finally publish this cover. The journal cannot eschew the challenge of co-travelling with the Development Bank of Southern Africa as a visibility tool and as the Development Bank of Southern Africa's sustainable development intellectual and policy mouthpiece. This has called for a serious rethink of the journal's mission and vision within the Development Bank of Southern Africa, which involves creating space for the ‘unheard’ voices, sharpening focus, defining relevance, maintaining quality assurance and ensuring and broadening both representivity and dissemination.
The journal's exceptional contribution is its integrated approach to development issues and debates. Striving for both development community and development literacy requires a concerted effort, ‘which aims specifically at promoting … interaction, not only between specialists in the various disciplines, but also with and between developmental practitioners and the intended beneficiaries of development’ (Van der Kooy, Citation1984:3).
On behalf of the journal we take this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone concerned – authors, reviewers, editorial members and readers. You have all contributed and are continuing to contribute in various ways by ensuring that the journal is counted among the leading intellectual and policy drivers on matters of sustainable development in the Southern African Development Community, the continent and around the globe.
In appreciation.
Mogomme Masoga and Lulama Makhubela
REFERENCES
- Brand , SS . 1984 . Introduction . Development Southern Africa , 1 ( 1 ) : 1 – 2 .
- Van Der Kooy , RJW . 1984 . Editorial . Development Southern Africa , 1 ( 1 ) : 3 – 5 .