SOCGA/SNSC Strategic Alliance

The Swaziland National Sports Council is a Government agency established in 1978 to facilitate the development of sport nationally and since then it has been under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is established by its constitution and is recognised by the Government of Swaziland through a Memorandum of Agreement. This Memorandum of Agreement, signed in 1999 empowers Council to implement the Sports Policy which encompasses the sport development continuum from Foundation through to Excellence; and the managing and disbursement of Government Funding to All Sports bodies recognised by the Council in terms of it’s Constitution. On the other hand, the Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA) got recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1972, as an affiliate. It is established in line with the Olympic Charter, to promote the fundamental principles of Olympism. The main goal is to contribute to the building of a peaceful and better world through educating youth in sport that is practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, thus require mutual understanding in a spirit of friendship, solidarity and Fair play. SOCGA leads delegations to the Olympic Games and Continental, Regional and other International Multi Sports Competitions organised under the patronage of the IOC. Its membership comprises of Olympic Sports affiliated to their International Federations and other sports bodies as laid down in the Constitution.

On the 31st of October 2003 an unexpected turn of events saw the Swaziland National Sports Council and the Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association signing an agreement of Cooperation. The rivalry between the two organisations was a known fact within and beyond the sporting circles in the Country. This agreement was a process towards the Strategic Alliance Agreement, which the two organisations signed on the 12th of August 2005. Whereas the Cooperation Agreement sought to recognise coincidences, in the objectives of these entities and the complimentary in which their activities were structured, it did not fully address the synergistic effects of bringing the organisations together as the Strategic Alliance has done. The Strategic Alliance Agreement, developing from the Agreement of Cooperation, details the implementation strategy of the Cooperation Agreement, which the two organisations will follow to realize positive development of Sports in Swaziland. The formation of the Alliance involved the amalgamation of the programs run by these two organisations and this will prevent the duplication of some of these programs. If all goes according to plan a merger of the two organisations should be anticipated in the near future but this will be done in consultation with all stakeholders.
At the moment there are five departments in the organisation, which are;
a. The Office of the Chief Executive Officer
Responsible for the overall administration of the office and four officers are under it, inclusive of the CEO.

b. The Sports Development Department
The core business of the Alliance is Sports Development thus this is also referred to as the core depart. Five officers at the moment are under it.

c. The Finance Department
The lifeblood of any organisation is its finance. At the moment five officers are under this department.

d. The Marketing and Information Department
At times this department is referred to as the catalyst in the organisation as it has to liaison with all the other departments. So far it employs two officers.

e. The Olympic and Commonwealth Affairs Department
This department is responsible for the running of the National Olympic Committee. Its main responsibility is international participation and training of elite athletes. One officer is responsible for the department at the moment.

f. Corporate Affairs Department
Another new department that so far employs one officer and, it is responsible for the statutory framework and human resources of the organisation.