Welcome to the United Nations
2023 VNR MAIN MESSAGE
a. Introduction
Zambia’s second Voluntary National Review is being undertaken against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, debt situation and climate change effects. It focuses on the progress made between 2019 and 2022, and highlights the key challenges Zambia is facing towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The review reports on SDGs 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17.
b. Alignment of National Development Plan
The Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), 2022-2026, is 87 percent aligned to the SDGs, underscoring Zambia's commitment to the 2030 Agenda. To support implementation of the Agenda, the country has fostered an inclusive, whole-of-society approach to development, with an institutional framework for monitoring national development plans towards the National Vision 2030.
c. Accelerating Economic Recovery towards a more resilient and inclusive future
o Through the 8NDP, Zambia has embarked on an economic recovery programme to restore macroeconomic stability, support fiscal stabilisation and foster higher and more inclusive growth. To support these interventions, the country obtained an Extended Credit Facility worth US$1.3 billion from the IMF and concessional financing from other multilateral financing institutions, among others. Zambia is also making efforts towards debt restructuring which is expected to underpin its economic recovery.
o To support climate change adaptation and resilience building, Zambia has continued to enhance institutional capacities in accessing climate financing as well as forging partnerships with bilateral and multilateral institutions. The policy and legal framework is being strengthened to address climate change and other environmental challenges as well as incorporate emerging issues.
o To reduce the burden on the fiscus, Public Private Partnerships are being promoted and implemented as an alternative source of financing the country’s infrastructure development agenda.
o To strengthen collaboration between the public and the private sector, Government, in 2022, launched the Public Private Dialogue Forum with the support of the Cooperating Partners. This underscores Government’s conviction that the private sector has a pivotal role to play in the country’s development and attainment of the SDGs.
o To enhance domestic revenue collection, Zambia has digitised its tax system through a home-grown digital solution and is implementing the Government Service Bus and payment gateway, which also makes many government services accessible online at all times.
d. Leaving No one Behind
Zambia has made significant progress in empowering the poorest and most vulnerable in society. This includes the implementation of the revised Education-For-All Policy, which has enhanced access and equity in education. Key reforms include removal of tuition fees, examination fees and reintroduction of bursary support for vulnerable students in public schools. Further, a total of 30,496 teachers were recruited in 2022.
Government is also enhancing access to education for Children with Special Education Needs and disabilities by providing user-friendly facilities. Additionally, a programme has been introduced in colleges of education to equip teachers with basic knowledge in identifying and assessing learners with disabilities.
To bring financial resources closer to the people, the Constituency Development Fund has been increased from ZMW1.6 million to ZMW28.3 million per constituency, providing communities with opportunities to make choices and implement projects to improve their well-being.
Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries increased to 1,024,000 in 2022 from 880,539 in 2020. The number of households receiving the Food Security Pack increased to 290,000 in 2022 from 263,000 in 2021. Beneficiaries of other social programmes such as Keeping Girls in School also expanded to 43,520 girls in 2022 from 28,964 girls in 2021, while the number of districts implementing the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme increased to 59 from 39.
Zambia has commenced implementing an Integrated National Registration Information System (INRIS) to boost vital registration. The INRIS is the national and civil registration management system intended to provide biometric-enabled National Registration Cards and issuance of birth and death certificates. Government has also decentralised registration of vital statistics to district and sub-district levels to ensure no one is left behind.
e. Way Forward
The results in the progress and monitoring of the SDGs are mixed, with gaps in the availability of necessary data among the challenges. Zambia remains committed to building back better from the polycrisis and will continue to rely on support from partners in its development efforts.
