The South West Development Authority, SOWEDA is an Administrative Public Establishment that was set up by presidential decree No.87/1874 , of 17th December 1987.  It is an arm of the government in the South West Region serving as overseer in identifying and implementing government programmes, with the ultimate goal of improving on the socio economic and social development of the people of the South West Region. As the official seed sower of the South West Region, SOWEDA is placed under the supervisory authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The activities of SOWEDA are funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance. SOWEDA is endowed with a legal personality and financial autonomy.

SOWEDA’s chief mission is the continuous pursuit of ways to raise the standards of living of the rural population through agricultural development and the improvement of infrastructure like roads, markets, water supply schemes and electrification projects. SOWEDA is also charged with providing soft loans, proposing development projects to donors including GOC for financing and the Establishment continues to serve as a Centre for holding information on development.

To fully achieve its set goals, SOWEDA works in close collaboration with its supervisory authority, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Its Board of Directors comprises of stakeholders who are directly implicated in the attainment of the objectives of SOWEDA. The Director General mans the implementation of the Establishment’s general policy with assistance from different departments and units.